Dangerous Medicine
Drug use is a growing problem in America and it is highly publicized. We see anti-drug campaigns constantly using advertisements and making commercials to emphasize it’s importance. We hear of all the people dying or over-dosing on different kinds of drugs, and how certain drugs are taking over our communities. We are all aware of the potential dangers of street drugs, and they should not go unnoticed, nor should any other substance that is “Killing” off our nation.
Illegal drugs are not the only thing that should be observed; actually this is one of the least causes of death in the United States. The top three annual causes of death are tobacco, poor diet/physical inactivity, and alcohol. All three are legal, and all three amount to approximately 885,000 deaths per year! The direct and In-direct use of all drugs amount to about 17,000 deaths per year, not to mention all of the other death factors that come into play before illicit drug use. There are eight other causes to be exact; microbial agents, toxic agents, motor vehicle crashes, prescription medicine, suicide, incidents involving firearms, homicide, and sexual behaviors. That to me is very shocking to hear, we spend substantial amounts of money trying to stop illegal drug use, but there are more lives lost through suicide, homicide, and prescription over-doses. I can see that there is not enough education about this subject and priorities are out of order.
I believe that one subject we tend to veer away from is Prescription drug use, it is growing rapidly, and it is hardly acknowledged. We trust in our Doctors and their professional medical opinions, but what we should be aware of is the facts. Doctors are writing prescriptions for even the most minor of problems. They have thousands of different medications available to our everyday needs, or wants should I say? The medical field is a largely growing industry that is making money off the public, weather you are rich or you are poor. In 1990, Americans spent 37.7 billion on prescriptions; in 1997, national spending on prescriptions reached 78.9 billion. Medication applies to all ethnics, ages, sizes, and gender.
Doctors will also play on the affects of meds by using us as a ”Guinea pig”, they will try numbers of medications on some of us to try to find the “right’ one, the one that works best for you, not fully explaining the dangers and the side-affects that each have. Many medications have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but have they been tested long enough to know the long-term effects of the drug? Not all adverse reactions to new drugs can be anticipated or avoided under the present system, according to medical experts. “It is simply not possible to identify all the adverse effects of drugs before they are marketed,” say three physicians writing in the NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE. In fact, “Overall, 51% of approved drugs have serious side effects not detected prior to approval”. Maybe that is why there are so many commercials paid for by attorneys stating that if you have taken this specific drug that they can get you the money that you deserve, and that the drug has been linked to major health concerns. I believe that Doctors are abusing their rights to prescribe, and are over-prescribing to their patients. This could be the cause of all the prescription pills and substances that can be bought on the streets; just the same as illicit drugs.
Synthetic heroin for instance; like Codeine, Diconal, Dihydrocodeine, Methadone, Morphine, Opium, Palfium, Pethidine, and Temegesic, used as an alternative to help heroin users free themselves from the addiction and withdrawals of Heroin. Heroin, a white powdery substance also known as smack, chiva, H, junk, dope, etc., is a very addictive drug. The chances of addiction after just one use is very high, and can cause symptoms of withdrawal instantly. The higher the doses are used over time, tolerance, and physical dependency evolves, Making heroin one of the most addictive drugs on the streets. There are different methods of “Breaking the habit,” like treatment centers that offer ways to help you get through the harsh symptoms of withdrawal. You may know these as being called the methadone clinic. The methadone clinics usually give the addict a high dose of methadone when they first show up to make the patient believe that they are going to keep them ”high”, once they agree to continue the treatment plan they lesson the doses and let them go through their withdrawal symptoms. Once the patient has made it through the withdrawal symptoms, they keep them on an acute dosage of the Methadone drug and a drug addiction therapy program. Eventually they are released and often wrote a prescription for the synthetic heroin, Methadone. When back on the streets, the addiction often is triggered by the temptation to consume more meds than what is actually prescribed. There is a greater chance of over-dose or death from Methadone then there is from the initial stimulant heroin. Methadone and other synthetic heroins can be snorted, taken orally, and injected (mainlined), just like heroin. If the recovering patient relapses, there is a good chance that they will return to using heroin or continue to abuse their medications. The results can be devastating. Actually the chance of death from synthetic heroin is greater than heroin itself.
Another prescription medicine that is a cause for concern is the acne medication called Accutane. Accutane, hailed by the FDA in 2001 as “The biggest breakthrough in acne drug treatment over the last 20 years,” is a very popular medication. Since 1982, over five million people in the United States have used Accutane. It is also extremely expensive, with a typical course of treatment costing in the thousands. There are several problems associated with Accutane, many of which are devastating and permanent. The most widely publicized adverse reactions to Accutane have been severe birth defects and suicide. There is actually a warning label for Accutane stating that Accutane may cause depression, psychosis, and a fixation of suicidal thoughts. People taking this medication have a higher than normal rate of suicide, suicide attempts, aggressive and/or violent behaviors. These symptoms may continue even after treatment has ended. The warning label also declares that “Discontinuation of Accutane therapy may be insufficient; further evaluation may be necessary.”However, Accutane has been connected to several other serious side affects as well, some of which are life-threatening. Accutane can cause increased pressure on the brain, a condition called pseudotumor cerebri. Early signs and symptoms of pseudotumor cerebri include papilledema, headache, nausea, vomiting, and visual disturbances. Accutane can also cause organ and system failure. It affects several systems within the body, including the central nervous system, the gastrointestinal tract, the cardiovascular system, and the skeletal system. Loss of bone density is one possible side affect of this medication. Colon, kidney, and liver damage have been reported, as well as damage to the eyes, hearing, and skin. My opinion would be to weigh the risk of treatment against the potential benefits of this medication.
Today drugs are marketed to consumers via TV, so a huge market for a new product can be created quickly and side effects can appear in large numbers of people. The sexual potency drug, Viagra, provides an example of this phenomenon. Within a few months of its introduction, several million people began taking Viagra, and many serious side effects, including fatalities, suddenly appeared. Same thing with many other drugs, the popular non-sedating antihistamine Terfenadine was withdrawn from the market after being found to cause seriously fatal heat arrhythmia (irregular heart beat). However, by that time Terfenadine had been on the market for 12 years. Last September the FDA took the diet pills Fenluramine and Dexfenluramine off the market because of heart valve damage to 31% of those who took it in combination with another diet pill. Phentermine (a combination known as fen/phen) Fenfluramine could also damage heart valves when taken alone. By the time Fenfluramine was banned, it had been on the market for 24 year.
Sometimes there are problems right in front of our eyes that go unnoticed or bypassed due to our trust in others. What we see on TV or what we are told by reputable, professional, intelligent people whom we rely in are not always 100% correct or even based on truth at all; a lot of medical resolutions are based on theory without physical evidence. These examples are something to consider when taking yourself and your loved ones to the doctor. Be aware of the potential dangers in all drugs. Remember that even though you may trust in your doctor and in their opinion does not mean that they can not make error or mistakes. Ask lots of questions about the medication and research it for your self. Drugs come in many forms, many different quantities, and much different potency. Make sure that you read the directions properly and not assume that you already know what you are doing.
By: Kerry Winright
Non Mirage TV
Drug use is a growing problem in America and it is highly publicized. We see anti-drug campaigns constantly using advertisements and making commercials to emphasize it’s importance. We hear of all the people dying or over-dosing on different kinds of drugs, and how certain drugs are taking over our communities. We are all aware of the potential dangers of street drugs, and they should not go unnoticed, nor should any other substance that is “Killing” off our nation.
Illegal drugs are not the only thing that should be observed; actually this is one of the least causes of death in the United States. The top three annual causes of death are tobacco, poor diet/physical inactivity, and alcohol. All three are legal, and all three amount to approximately 885,000 deaths per year! The direct and In-direct use of all drugs amount to about 17,000 deaths per year, not to mention all of the other death factors that come into play before illicit drug use. There are eight other causes to be exact; microbial agents, toxic agents, motor vehicle crashes, prescription medicine, suicide, incidents involving firearms, homicide, and sexual behaviors. That to me is very shocking to hear, we spend substantial amounts of money trying to stop illegal drug use, but there are more lives lost through suicide, homicide, and prescription over-doses. I can see that there is not enough education about this subject and priorities are out of order.
I believe that one subject we tend to veer away from is Prescription drug use, it is growing rapidly, and it is hardly acknowledged. We trust in our Doctors and their professional medical opinions, but what we should be aware of is the facts. Doctors are writing prescriptions for even the most minor of problems. They have thousands of different medications available to our everyday needs, or wants should I say? The medical field is a largely growing industry that is making money off the public, weather you are rich or you are poor. In 1990, Americans spent 37.7 billion on prescriptions; in 1997, national spending on prescriptions reached 78.9 billion. Medication applies to all ethnics, ages, sizes, and gender.
Doctors will also play on the affects of meds by using us as a ”Guinea pig”, they will try numbers of medications on some of us to try to find the “right’ one, the one that works best for you, not fully explaining the dangers and the side-affects that each have. Many medications have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but have they been tested long enough to know the long-term effects of the drug? Not all adverse reactions to new drugs can be anticipated or avoided under the present system, according to medical experts. “It is simply not possible to identify all the adverse effects of drugs before they are marketed,” say three physicians writing in the NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE. In fact, “Overall, 51% of approved drugs have serious side effects not detected prior to approval”. Maybe that is why there are so many commercials paid for by attorneys stating that if you have taken this specific drug that they can get you the money that you deserve, and that the drug has been linked to major health concerns. I believe that Doctors are abusing their rights to prescribe, and are over-prescribing to their patients. This could be the cause of all the prescription pills and substances that can be bought on the streets; just the same as illicit drugs.
Synthetic heroin for instance; like Codeine, Diconal, Dihydrocodeine, Methadone, Morphine, Opium, Palfium, Pethidine, and Temegesic, used as an alternative to help heroin users free themselves from the addiction and withdrawals of Heroin. Heroin, a white powdery substance also known as smack, chiva, H, junk, dope, etc., is a very addictive drug. The chances of addiction after just one use is very high, and can cause symptoms of withdrawal instantly. The higher the doses are used over time, tolerance, and physical dependency evolves, Making heroin one of the most addictive drugs on the streets. There are different methods of “Breaking the habit,” like treatment centers that offer ways to help you get through the harsh symptoms of withdrawal. You may know these as being called the methadone clinic. The methadone clinics usually give the addict a high dose of methadone when they first show up to make the patient believe that they are going to keep them ”high”, once they agree to continue the treatment plan they lesson the doses and let them go through their withdrawal symptoms. Once the patient has made it through the withdrawal symptoms, they keep them on an acute dosage of the Methadone drug and a drug addiction therapy program. Eventually they are released and often wrote a prescription for the synthetic heroin, Methadone. When back on the streets, the addiction often is triggered by the temptation to consume more meds than what is actually prescribed. There is a greater chance of over-dose or death from Methadone then there is from the initial stimulant heroin. Methadone and other synthetic heroins can be snorted, taken orally, and injected (mainlined), just like heroin. If the recovering patient relapses, there is a good chance that they will return to using heroin or continue to abuse their medications. The results can be devastating. Actually the chance of death from synthetic heroin is greater than heroin itself.
Another prescription medicine that is a cause for concern is the acne medication called Accutane. Accutane, hailed by the FDA in 2001 as “The biggest breakthrough in acne drug treatment over the last 20 years,” is a very popular medication. Since 1982, over five million people in the United States have used Accutane. It is also extremely expensive, with a typical course of treatment costing in the thousands. There are several problems associated with Accutane, many of which are devastating and permanent. The most widely publicized adverse reactions to Accutane have been severe birth defects and suicide. There is actually a warning label for Accutane stating that Accutane may cause depression, psychosis, and a fixation of suicidal thoughts. People taking this medication have a higher than normal rate of suicide, suicide attempts, aggressive and/or violent behaviors. These symptoms may continue even after treatment has ended. The warning label also declares that “Discontinuation of Accutane therapy may be insufficient; further evaluation may be necessary.”However, Accutane has been connected to several other serious side affects as well, some of which are life-threatening. Accutane can cause increased pressure on the brain, a condition called pseudotumor cerebri. Early signs and symptoms of pseudotumor cerebri include papilledema, headache, nausea, vomiting, and visual disturbances. Accutane can also cause organ and system failure. It affects several systems within the body, including the central nervous system, the gastrointestinal tract, the cardiovascular system, and the skeletal system. Loss of bone density is one possible side affect of this medication. Colon, kidney, and liver damage have been reported, as well as damage to the eyes, hearing, and skin. My opinion would be to weigh the risk of treatment against the potential benefits of this medication.
Today drugs are marketed to consumers via TV, so a huge market for a new product can be created quickly and side effects can appear in large numbers of people. The sexual potency drug, Viagra, provides an example of this phenomenon. Within a few months of its introduction, several million people began taking Viagra, and many serious side effects, including fatalities, suddenly appeared. Same thing with many other drugs, the popular non-sedating antihistamine Terfenadine was withdrawn from the market after being found to cause seriously fatal heat arrhythmia (irregular heart beat). However, by that time Terfenadine had been on the market for 12 years. Last September the FDA took the diet pills Fenluramine and Dexfenluramine off the market because of heart valve damage to 31% of those who took it in combination with another diet pill. Phentermine (a combination known as fen/phen) Fenfluramine could also damage heart valves when taken alone. By the time Fenfluramine was banned, it had been on the market for 24 year.
Sometimes there are problems right in front of our eyes that go unnoticed or bypassed due to our trust in others. What we see on TV or what we are told by reputable, professional, intelligent people whom we rely in are not always 100% correct or even based on truth at all; a lot of medical resolutions are based on theory without physical evidence. These examples are something to consider when taking yourself and your loved ones to the doctor. Be aware of the potential dangers in all drugs. Remember that even though you may trust in your doctor and in their opinion does not mean that they can not make error or mistakes. Ask lots of questions about the medication and research it for your self. Drugs come in many forms, many different quantities, and much different potency. Make sure that you read the directions properly and not assume that you already know what you are doing.
By: Kerry Winright
Non Mirage TV
Stages Of Sleep
How often do we think about why we sleep? One generally accepted theory is the body needs occasional rest and maintenance, and shuts down at regular intervals. This would infer that sleep is an evolutionary trait. Another theory is that sleep did not evolve but was always an important feature of nature's orderly, rhythmic way. Some other theories state that sleep was invented because hunting and foraging at night is useless due to our inability to see at night. We know that sleep is restorative, but that observation does not satisfy scientist.
Sleep was once unable to be studied. Doctors and scientist looked at sleep as a passive state which both the body and the brain were unresponsive. That changed when scientist discovered that the brain produced electric current that could be detected with an electrode. Many electrodes are placed on a subject's head, and are connected to an electroencephalogram or EEG. The electric current is measured in waves or cycles per second.
The brain does not passively shut down during sleep. It undergoes several different patterns of brain waves in an orderly fashion. The brain waves determine the stage of sleep, as well as eye movement and muscle tone. The size and frequency of the brain waves depend on a verity of factors. These factors include alertness, urgency, internal, and external stimuli. If multiple activity centers are firing, then the brain waves interfere with each other. This results in small, irregular lines on the EEG. This is a brain wave of a conscious individual and is known as beta waves at 14-20 cycles per second.
Once an individual closes their eyes, neurons no longer receive visual stimuli. Brain waves settle to 8-12 cycles per second known as alpha waves. This is calm, relaxed wakefulness. If this process is undisturbed, one will proceed to the four stages of non-REM (Rapid eye movement) sleep. Stage 1 sleep is known as light sleep. Brain waves slow to 4-7 cycles per second and are called theta waves. During this stage body temperature drops, muscles relax, and eyes slowly move side to side. An individual in light sleep is unaware of surroundings, but is easily awaken.
Stage 2 is the stage of established sleep. In this stage an individual's eyes are still. Heart rate and respiration are slower than when awake. The EEG shows an intermediate size brain wave with short burst of fast activity called sleep spindles. These are caused by brain waves speeding up for .5 seconds or longer. About every 2 minutes there is another feature presented on the EEG called the K-complex. The K-complex is a large wave that last several seconds. Scientists think it represents a system to alert the brain to awaken if necessary. It can be provoked by certain stimuli such as whispering the sleeping person's name. Almost half of the night is spent in stage 2.
Stages 3 and 4 are collectively known as deep or slow wave sleep. The frequency of the brain waves in slow wave sleep is 1-4 cycles per second. These waves are known as delta waves. When at least half of the waves are delta it is considered stage 4 sleep. During slow wave sleep the brain is less responsive to external stimuli, making it harder to be awakened. Less blood flows to the brain. This suggest that it is the stage for the body to repair itself. At the beginning of the stage the pituitary gland releases growth hormone. Growth hormone stimulates tissue growth, and muscle repair. There is also an increase in interleukin that activates the immune system.
After stage 4 the stages reverse until it reaches the brain wave just below consciousness. This is REM sleep or dreaming sleep. This is the only stage where dreaming occurs. It has been described as an active mind in a paralyzed body. The body is mostly paralyzed except for the diaphragm, slight muscle twitches, and rapid eye movement. Blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration speed up to normal conscious levels. A person will enter REM sleep 3-5 times a night. The first time will only last several minutes, but it will progressively increase after every time.
When talking about sleep stages, it is important to know what controls sleep. Circadian rhythm is like an internal clock. It controls when you sleep and wake as many other physiological patterns. Sleep/wake circadian rhythm is highest between midnight and dawn. There is also a small spike during mid-afternoon. This is called a two peak, or bimodal pattern. This accounts for the traditional siesta, or afternoon nap. The structure that controls circadian rhythm is located in the hypothalamus of the brain. It is a cluster of cells on the suprachiasmatic nucleus. The suprachiasmatic nucleus is directly beneath the nerve tracts that receive information from the eyes to the occipital lobe of the brain. This explains the influence of light on the circadian rhythm.
Circadian rhythms are essentially self-regulating, but it receives cues called zeitgebers. Zeitgebers is a German word meaning "time givers". The zeitgebers include light, time, and melatonin. Light shining on the eyes will stimulate the suprachiasmatic nucleus to directly affect the sleep/wake cycle. Time is a zeitgeber. When people look at the clock to follow work, transportation, and social demands it gives cues to the circadian clock to stick to a 24-hour cycle. The last zeitgeber is melatonin. The pineal gland produces melatonin and binds to receptor sites on the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Melatonin levels increase in the evening and decline after dawn. Production of melatonin can be suppressed by being exposed to light even during the night. Large doses of synthetic melatonin can induce drowsiness in some people. There is evidence that it can help reset a person's sleep/wake cycle.
How we sleep and the amount we sleep changes with age. Newborns sleep 11-18 hours a day in chunks. About half of that sleep is spent in REM sleep. Newborns can reach REM sleep in an hour or less. Children and adults take at least 90 minutes. At about 6 months the amount of sleep decreases from 11-18 hours to 9-12 hours a day. At ages 1-3 sleep will increase to 12-14 hours a day. During this phase toddlers might experience resistance to bed time, night awakenings, and nightmares. At ages 3-5 sleep will decrease again to 11-13 hours. Age 6 to puberty 10-11 hours of sleep is needed. Nocturnal melatonin levels are as high as they will ever be. At adolescence teens need 9-10 hours of sleep. Teens sleep/wake rhythm promotes going to bed late and sleeping late.
Ages 20-60 quality sleep is harder to achieve. The time it takes to get to sleep slowly increases. Night time awakenings also increase. Total sleep decreases even though the need remains the same. Sleep stages 1 and 2 increase while stages 3, 4 and REM sleep decrease. It is suspected that these changes are due to decreased melatonin and growth hormone levels; as well as a less pronounced drop in body temperature and increased cortisol hormone.
At age 60 it is even harder to fall asleep. Even more sleep is spent in stages 1 and 2. That of course means less time spent in stages 3, 4 and REM sleep. The older we get the more our health affects our sleep. People with severe or multiple illness usually have harder times sleeping and staying asleep.
The amount of sleep the majority of the population needs to function at their best is 7-8 hours. When the correct amount of sleep isn't reached a number of things are compromised. Reaction time is slowed, erratic and unpredictable. Energy levels, motivation, memory, immunity, and judgment all decrease. Lack of sleep also produces a sleep debt. Sleep debt is like money debt, but it is not paid on a literal one-to-one basis. The sleep doesn't have to be made up for every hour lost. Sleep stages 1 and 2 are shorter so deep sleep (stages 3 and 4) is longer. Once sleep debt is paid the sleep stages return to their normal lengths.
In conclusion, I now have a more profound understanding of sleep. It now makes sense how someone can sleep for a number of hours and still be tired. I also found it ironic how I lost sleep over writing a paper about sleep.
By: Brad Mobley
How often do we think about why we sleep? One generally accepted theory is the body needs occasional rest and maintenance, and shuts down at regular intervals. This would infer that sleep is an evolutionary trait. Another theory is that sleep did not evolve but was always an important feature of nature's orderly, rhythmic way. Some other theories state that sleep was invented because hunting and foraging at night is useless due to our inability to see at night. We know that sleep is restorative, but that observation does not satisfy scientist.
Sleep was once unable to be studied. Doctors and scientist looked at sleep as a passive state which both the body and the brain were unresponsive. That changed when scientist discovered that the brain produced electric current that could be detected with an electrode. Many electrodes are placed on a subject's head, and are connected to an electroencephalogram or EEG. The electric current is measured in waves or cycles per second.
The brain does not passively shut down during sleep. It undergoes several different patterns of brain waves in an orderly fashion. The brain waves determine the stage of sleep, as well as eye movement and muscle tone. The size and frequency of the brain waves depend on a verity of factors. These factors include alertness, urgency, internal, and external stimuli. If multiple activity centers are firing, then the brain waves interfere with each other. This results in small, irregular lines on the EEG. This is a brain wave of a conscious individual and is known as beta waves at 14-20 cycles per second.
Once an individual closes their eyes, neurons no longer receive visual stimuli. Brain waves settle to 8-12 cycles per second known as alpha waves. This is calm, relaxed wakefulness. If this process is undisturbed, one will proceed to the four stages of non-REM (Rapid eye movement) sleep. Stage 1 sleep is known as light sleep. Brain waves slow to 4-7 cycles per second and are called theta waves. During this stage body temperature drops, muscles relax, and eyes slowly move side to side. An individual in light sleep is unaware of surroundings, but is easily awaken.
Stage 2 is the stage of established sleep. In this stage an individual's eyes are still. Heart rate and respiration are slower than when awake. The EEG shows an intermediate size brain wave with short burst of fast activity called sleep spindles. These are caused by brain waves speeding up for .5 seconds or longer. About every 2 minutes there is another feature presented on the EEG called the K-complex. The K-complex is a large wave that last several seconds. Scientists think it represents a system to alert the brain to awaken if necessary. It can be provoked by certain stimuli such as whispering the sleeping person's name. Almost half of the night is spent in stage 2.
Stages 3 and 4 are collectively known as deep or slow wave sleep. The frequency of the brain waves in slow wave sleep is 1-4 cycles per second. These waves are known as delta waves. When at least half of the waves are delta it is considered stage 4 sleep. During slow wave sleep the brain is less responsive to external stimuli, making it harder to be awakened. Less blood flows to the brain. This suggest that it is the stage for the body to repair itself. At the beginning of the stage the pituitary gland releases growth hormone. Growth hormone stimulates tissue growth, and muscle repair. There is also an increase in interleukin that activates the immune system.
After stage 4 the stages reverse until it reaches the brain wave just below consciousness. This is REM sleep or dreaming sleep. This is the only stage where dreaming occurs. It has been described as an active mind in a paralyzed body. The body is mostly paralyzed except for the diaphragm, slight muscle twitches, and rapid eye movement. Blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration speed up to normal conscious levels. A person will enter REM sleep 3-5 times a night. The first time will only last several minutes, but it will progressively increase after every time.
When talking about sleep stages, it is important to know what controls sleep. Circadian rhythm is like an internal clock. It controls when you sleep and wake as many other physiological patterns. Sleep/wake circadian rhythm is highest between midnight and dawn. There is also a small spike during mid-afternoon. This is called a two peak, or bimodal pattern. This accounts for the traditional siesta, or afternoon nap. The structure that controls circadian rhythm is located in the hypothalamus of the brain. It is a cluster of cells on the suprachiasmatic nucleus. The suprachiasmatic nucleus is directly beneath the nerve tracts that receive information from the eyes to the occipital lobe of the brain. This explains the influence of light on the circadian rhythm.
Circadian rhythms are essentially self-regulating, but it receives cues called zeitgebers. Zeitgebers is a German word meaning "time givers". The zeitgebers include light, time, and melatonin. Light shining on the eyes will stimulate the suprachiasmatic nucleus to directly affect the sleep/wake cycle. Time is a zeitgeber. When people look at the clock to follow work, transportation, and social demands it gives cues to the circadian clock to stick to a 24-hour cycle. The last zeitgeber is melatonin. The pineal gland produces melatonin and binds to receptor sites on the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Melatonin levels increase in the evening and decline after dawn. Production of melatonin can be suppressed by being exposed to light even during the night. Large doses of synthetic melatonin can induce drowsiness in some people. There is evidence that it can help reset a person's sleep/wake cycle.
How we sleep and the amount we sleep changes with age. Newborns sleep 11-18 hours a day in chunks. About half of that sleep is spent in REM sleep. Newborns can reach REM sleep in an hour or less. Children and adults take at least 90 minutes. At about 6 months the amount of sleep decreases from 11-18 hours to 9-12 hours a day. At ages 1-3 sleep will increase to 12-14 hours a day. During this phase toddlers might experience resistance to bed time, night awakenings, and nightmares. At ages 3-5 sleep will decrease again to 11-13 hours. Age 6 to puberty 10-11 hours of sleep is needed. Nocturnal melatonin levels are as high as they will ever be. At adolescence teens need 9-10 hours of sleep. Teens sleep/wake rhythm promotes going to bed late and sleeping late.
Ages 20-60 quality sleep is harder to achieve. The time it takes to get to sleep slowly increases. Night time awakenings also increase. Total sleep decreases even though the need remains the same. Sleep stages 1 and 2 increase while stages 3, 4 and REM sleep decrease. It is suspected that these changes are due to decreased melatonin and growth hormone levels; as well as a less pronounced drop in body temperature and increased cortisol hormone.
At age 60 it is even harder to fall asleep. Even more sleep is spent in stages 1 and 2. That of course means less time spent in stages 3, 4 and REM sleep. The older we get the more our health affects our sleep. People with severe or multiple illness usually have harder times sleeping and staying asleep.
The amount of sleep the majority of the population needs to function at their best is 7-8 hours. When the correct amount of sleep isn't reached a number of things are compromised. Reaction time is slowed, erratic and unpredictable. Energy levels, motivation, memory, immunity, and judgment all decrease. Lack of sleep also produces a sleep debt. Sleep debt is like money debt, but it is not paid on a literal one-to-one basis. The sleep doesn't have to be made up for every hour lost. Sleep stages 1 and 2 are shorter so deep sleep (stages 3 and 4) is longer. Once sleep debt is paid the sleep stages return to their normal lengths.
In conclusion, I now have a more profound understanding of sleep. It now makes sense how someone can sleep for a number of hours and still be tired. I also found it ironic how I lost sleep over writing a paper about sleep.
By: Brad Mobley
Carnivorous Nation
People seem to fall into two categories. They include those who care about what they eat, and those who don't. Many people eat the way they do because of the way they were raised; their diet is normal to them. However, too many Americans are unconcerned with the amount of meat they consume. The effects on their health, their environment, and government are rarely considered. If they consider the following examples they may be encouraged to reflect, and make a conscious, more informed decision about the amount of meat they eat throughout the day.
One instance of how many Americans are generally unconcerned with the amount of meat they eat are their restaurants. Almost all restaurants serve large portions of meat that are high in cholesterol. Even meat that would normally be low in cholesterol, like chicken or fish, tend to be fried in oil. A few examples of these restaurants are Burger King, Culver's, and of course McDonald's. These businesses seem to be doing very well even in a tough economy.
Not only do people eat large amounts of meat when they dine out, but also in their homes. Many families eat meat at every meal. To illustrate. a typical day might include bacon, and sausage in the morning, bologna or a hotdog for lunch, and steak or chicken for dinner. Many Americans eat this way because it is all they know. Not only is it all they know, but it is easy. It is easy to make lasagna taste good with sausage, or to make fantastic rice with chicken rather than learning how to use spices.
Some Americans eat too much meat not only because it is easy to make food taste good, but because they think it will help them lose weight. The Atkins diet is a theory that states carbohydrates contribute to weight gain. Meat does not contain carbohydrates so eating a strict diet of meat will cause weight loss. This is appealing to many people who want to lose weight, but don't want to learn how to make healthy food taste good. The Atkins diet is fundamentally flawed because the idea is to eat foods high in fat in order to lose excess fat. People who are on the Atkins diet seem to lose weight for the first couple of weeks. However, after they lose the weight they soon gain it back. Atkins dieters not only feel a drain in energy in the inistial stages, but thorough out the diet their cholesterol levels soar.
The Atkins diet may be an extreme example of how Americans are unconcerned with the amount of meat they consume. The country has been plagued with an epidemic for decades. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Despite this fact many people do not critically think about how food affects their overall health. Consider the diet of other countries. The majority of people around the world eat more grain and plant based foods. The other fact to consider is that many countries don't have an epidemic of coronary heart disease. Heart disease simply does not exist in eastern countries like Japan, and India the way it does in the United States.
Another example of how Americans are unconcerned with the amount of meat they consume is the impact on the environment. Large scale farming produces larger amounts of meat for a cheaper price. It also produces large amounts of animal waste. Like many businesses, farming corporations are concerned with making the largest profit possible. This pushes them to cut corners and violate environmental regulations like dumping animal waste in water systems. The incentive of large profits also causes farming corporations to put animals in cramped, inhuman conditions. This makes the animals stressed and more susceptible to infections of microorganisms. The animals then must be treated with antibiotics. Even though women who are being treated with antibiotics are not supposed to breast feed, for some reason it is ok to eat meat treated with antibiotics. No doubt this is contributing to antibiotic resistance. The average American would most likely not be concerned about these facts, and the impact their meat consumption has.
Not only are unethical business practices not enough for Americans to reconsider the amount of meat they consume, but neither is the price. In order to raise animals, particularly animals for meat, large amounts of grain must be grown. Normally animals such as cows would eat grass. In order to raise large cows they must be fed grain. The amount of grain that is fed to one cow compared to the amount of meat one cow provides is incredibly disproportional. If the grain was eaten by humans rather than a single cow hundreds of people could be fed rather than a dozen people that would be fed from a single cow. This drives up the price of meat, but rarely deters Americans from eating large amounts.
The use of water should also be considered when discussing America's meat obsessed diet. Growing large amounts of grain depend on large quantities of water. Because populations are expected to continue to grow, water will become increasingly scarce resource. Last summer's drought has already contributed to an increase in food prices, particularly the price of meat.
Another example of how Americans are unconcerned with the amount of meat they consume is the government. The United States government gives millions of dollars in subsidies to keep the price of meat lower than it would be otherwise. Instead of investing money into education or technology, the government invests money into a product that research shows is a partial cause of cardiovascular disease. The actions of the government reinforce the idea that the amount of meat consumed by many Americans is in their best interest. The federal subsides contribute to the national debt, and does not promote the free market economy that many Americans agree is the best economy.
The amino acids that cannot be synthesized by humans from plant proteins make it necessary to eat meat. However, the amount of meat consumed by many Americans is unnecessary. Modern farming techniques make it possible to produce huge amounts of meat. Government policies help make the meat cheap. Ultimately, it is the demand for the product that drives high production. All of the negative effects on the health, environment, and government caused by eating meat are not enough for Americans to be concerned with the amount of meat they consume.
By: Brad Mobley
People seem to fall into two categories. They include those who care about what they eat, and those who don't. Many people eat the way they do because of the way they were raised; their diet is normal to them. However, too many Americans are unconcerned with the amount of meat they consume. The effects on their health, their environment, and government are rarely considered. If they consider the following examples they may be encouraged to reflect, and make a conscious, more informed decision about the amount of meat they eat throughout the day.
One instance of how many Americans are generally unconcerned with the amount of meat they eat are their restaurants. Almost all restaurants serve large portions of meat that are high in cholesterol. Even meat that would normally be low in cholesterol, like chicken or fish, tend to be fried in oil. A few examples of these restaurants are Burger King, Culver's, and of course McDonald's. These businesses seem to be doing very well even in a tough economy.
Not only do people eat large amounts of meat when they dine out, but also in their homes. Many families eat meat at every meal. To illustrate. a typical day might include bacon, and sausage in the morning, bologna or a hotdog for lunch, and steak or chicken for dinner. Many Americans eat this way because it is all they know. Not only is it all they know, but it is easy. It is easy to make lasagna taste good with sausage, or to make fantastic rice with chicken rather than learning how to use spices.
Some Americans eat too much meat not only because it is easy to make food taste good, but because they think it will help them lose weight. The Atkins diet is a theory that states carbohydrates contribute to weight gain. Meat does not contain carbohydrates so eating a strict diet of meat will cause weight loss. This is appealing to many people who want to lose weight, but don't want to learn how to make healthy food taste good. The Atkins diet is fundamentally flawed because the idea is to eat foods high in fat in order to lose excess fat. People who are on the Atkins diet seem to lose weight for the first couple of weeks. However, after they lose the weight they soon gain it back. Atkins dieters not only feel a drain in energy in the inistial stages, but thorough out the diet their cholesterol levels soar.
The Atkins diet may be an extreme example of how Americans are unconcerned with the amount of meat they consume. The country has been plagued with an epidemic for decades. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Despite this fact many people do not critically think about how food affects their overall health. Consider the diet of other countries. The majority of people around the world eat more grain and plant based foods. The other fact to consider is that many countries don't have an epidemic of coronary heart disease. Heart disease simply does not exist in eastern countries like Japan, and India the way it does in the United States.
Another example of how Americans are unconcerned with the amount of meat they consume is the impact on the environment. Large scale farming produces larger amounts of meat for a cheaper price. It also produces large amounts of animal waste. Like many businesses, farming corporations are concerned with making the largest profit possible. This pushes them to cut corners and violate environmental regulations like dumping animal waste in water systems. The incentive of large profits also causes farming corporations to put animals in cramped, inhuman conditions. This makes the animals stressed and more susceptible to infections of microorganisms. The animals then must be treated with antibiotics. Even though women who are being treated with antibiotics are not supposed to breast feed, for some reason it is ok to eat meat treated with antibiotics. No doubt this is contributing to antibiotic resistance. The average American would most likely not be concerned about these facts, and the impact their meat consumption has.
Not only are unethical business practices not enough for Americans to reconsider the amount of meat they consume, but neither is the price. In order to raise animals, particularly animals for meat, large amounts of grain must be grown. Normally animals such as cows would eat grass. In order to raise large cows they must be fed grain. The amount of grain that is fed to one cow compared to the amount of meat one cow provides is incredibly disproportional. If the grain was eaten by humans rather than a single cow hundreds of people could be fed rather than a dozen people that would be fed from a single cow. This drives up the price of meat, but rarely deters Americans from eating large amounts.
The use of water should also be considered when discussing America's meat obsessed diet. Growing large amounts of grain depend on large quantities of water. Because populations are expected to continue to grow, water will become increasingly scarce resource. Last summer's drought has already contributed to an increase in food prices, particularly the price of meat.
Another example of how Americans are unconcerned with the amount of meat they consume is the government. The United States government gives millions of dollars in subsidies to keep the price of meat lower than it would be otherwise. Instead of investing money into education or technology, the government invests money into a product that research shows is a partial cause of cardiovascular disease. The actions of the government reinforce the idea that the amount of meat consumed by many Americans is in their best interest. The federal subsides contribute to the national debt, and does not promote the free market economy that many Americans agree is the best economy.
The amino acids that cannot be synthesized by humans from plant proteins make it necessary to eat meat. However, the amount of meat consumed by many Americans is unnecessary. Modern farming techniques make it possible to produce huge amounts of meat. Government policies help make the meat cheap. Ultimately, it is the demand for the product that drives high production. All of the negative effects on the health, environment, and government caused by eating meat are not enough for Americans to be concerned with the amount of meat they consume.
By: Brad Mobley