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Physiology & Medicine / Why do women (and Andy Murray) cry, but not men?

« on: 21/02/2010 10:39:54 »

Interesting point about a cold/crying connection. When I have a cold, my eyes often stream/water, but without any emotional input, apart from frustration from constant dabbing them dry and cleaning my specs. Could it be that the effect of a cold on mucous production, coupled with some sort of emotional increase or input, results in what has been described. I've not seen the Fireman Sam production mentioned though, so can't comment on that as a cause.

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Physiology & Medicine / Re: Could Inclined Bed Therapy (IBT) replace surgery for varicose veins and oedema?

« on: 16/02/2010 19:59:49 »

Just a quick update here, as it's about 18 months now since I commenced IBT. I've had no further incidents of phlebitis since the one mentioned ages ago in this thread, and have not needed to request any steroid anti-inflammatory medication for the spinal flares either.

Last autumn/early winter, I was actually able to walk into a shoe shop and buy a pair of winter boots off the peg that fit both my feet and around my legs, so the oedema improvements have proven consistent and lasting. The swollen veins on the inside of my right knee where I was being troubled by regulart bouts of phlebitis are not visible anymore, either. Will manage to get some photos of those one of these days.

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Physiology & Medicine / Why do some medications cause cognitive impairment and what else causes it?

« on: 16/02/2010 00:12:44 »

Okay, so now you know I am still alive, and have finally managed to find my way back here, I'd be interested in some answers to the above question, please.  []

Thanks.

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Physiology & Medicine / Why do women (and Andy Murray) cry, but not men?

« on: 15/02/2010 12:38:14 »

I am sure that much depends on conditioning, Chris, and an individual's emotionality level. (Average woman's is in mid to high 70s; average man's is low to mid 70s, so not much in it.)

I've seen many men cry - including those others might consider hardened criminals, and I don't mean only when sentenced to another stretch at HM's pleasure, or from physical pain, and although the latter has brought tears to my eyes on times/caused my eyes to smart, during childbirth, and as I recall that, I was too busy turning the air blue to cry!  []  [:I]

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Physiology & Medicine / Re: In the brain, what actually is a thought?

« on: 15/02/2010 12:17:51 »

You might also find it interesting to examine the 'Triune Brain' theories of neurologist Paul MacLean. He proposed that we each have three brains, each representing a distinct evolutionary stratum. (Reptillian/archipallium; paleo-mammalian and neomammalian.)
 
Each brain is connected by nerves to the other two, but operates as its own brain system with distinct capacities.

Indeed, DiscoverDave, it is really amazing.

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Physiology & Medicine / Why do we have finger- and toenails?

« on: 15/02/2010 11:55:10 »

I had to have both big toe nails removed surgically a few months ago. They took a little while to fully heal, but have done so now. I spend a lot of time in boots and around livestock, but haven't noticed any discomfort. Previously, the nails had been damaged several times, and had become  thickened and mis-shapen, thus were curved over and cutting into the sides of the toes.

The surface of the skin where the nails once were is possibly a little thinner than the skin at the end and under the toes, slightly shinier than that on the top of the rest of the toes, but not more sensitive now than that. One can still see the indentations where the nails once were.

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Physiology & Medicine / Anatomical Differences In The Brains Of Psychopaths?

« on: 31/03/2009 01:00:10 »

Does anyone here know of what the differences are in the brains of psychopaths? Are they missing something?

It is possible that some parts of the brain of a psychopath are different, and if you take a look at this link, it may give a clue, when you consider that it is normally considered that a psychopath lack a conscience...

http://www.psycheducation.org/emotion/triune%20brain.htm

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Just Chat! / FAO: Neilep

« on: 28/03/2009 16:25:05 »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2FX9rviEhw&feature=player_embedded

Hope ewe like it.  []

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Physiology & Medicine / What's the earliest memory you can recall ?

« on: 22/02/2009 00:36:43 »

In one of my earliest memories, I was at a neighbours home, just outside the back door, and had been playing with some eels that the man I called 'Uncle Ben' had caught when fishing. They were in a bucket of water until Auntie Jane came alone, got them out of the bucket, wrapped them in newspaers and chopped their heads off so that she could cook them for Uncle Ben's tea. I recall being rather upset over that.

We moved from that house when I was two years old.

While still there, I can recall a large grey horse that pulled a coal delivery cart. His name was Jimmy, and he used to poke his head in through the front door. I seem to recall he could almost reach the sofa, and once tried to take a biscuit off me. The house was very small - a terraces cottage really and with a door right on the street.

I can also recall travelling on a bus and stroking a lady's fur coat. It was the same colour as our giner cat, Ginger! Still at that house, I recall making mud pies and being told off for getting dirty. There was a sand pit, but I always preferred playing in the 'black dirt'.  []

When we moved to the new house, there was an old man called Bill Cotton living next door and he used to call me over to the fence and lean over to give me fruit or sweets. One morning he called me and had a banana, and I can remember going towards him holding the skirt of my dress down, not because it was windy, but because I was being dressed when he called and my mother hadn't yet put my knickers on me! []

 

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Physiology & Medicine / Does aspirin negatively affect red blood cell count?

« on: 14/02/2009 13:21:17 »

I take at least 300mg of aspirin on a daily basis, and also have been having very regualar blood tests over recent months. Nothing of any significance has shown up in the tests, This despite undergoing chemotherapy for five months. However, I can't say I do any running.

I think much might depend up the individual's personal make-up, though, as drugs affect us all differently.

75mg is a very small daily dose, but if you have symptoms when running that concern you, I'd suggest that you speak with your GP and discuss these.

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Physiology & Medicine / How did doctors treat severe headaches a century ago?

« on: 11/02/2009 15:57:01 »

I didn't suggest the doctor prescribed 'Aspirin' but white willow bark, and probably to be drunk as a tea infusion to ease the pain. There is evidence of that being a common remedy within my family, or the chewing of the willow bark for toothache etc., at around that period of history. My grandfathers - being from farming stock - were both given this by their mothers/grandmothers, and I can recall my own maternal grandmother using it, and she was born in 1878. By 1899 she was working as a children's nurse for people whom she referred to as 'the gentry'. She knew of many old herbal remedies, and later married a horticulturalist, also well versed in propogation and uses of the medicinal herbs.

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Physiology & Medicine / How did doctors treat severe headaches a century ago?

« on: 10/02/2009 20:16:58 »

Possibly they would have prescribed white willow bark, which is an ancient remedy from where the common aspirin has been derived, but research had, I think, by then identified salycin as the active chemical in it, and that it is converted to salycilic acid once in the human system. This, besides being an analgesic, also boosts the immune system, is an antioxidant, and an anti-inflammatory.

Edited to add that salycin can also be found in other plants/herbs, although white willow seems to be the most commonly used one.

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Physiology & Medicine / Why does cancer make you lose weight?

« on: 31/01/2009 01:02:19 »

Slightly off topic, I expected to lose weight when on chemotherapy. In reality I gained about 2 stones. Although I wasn't sick, I found that it, or the anti-sickness drugs, played havoc with my IBS and GI tract considerably. It seems that is still the case a few weeks after completing the chemo.

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Physiology & Medicine / How do painkillers work?

« on: 28/01/2009 11:19:41 »

What I find interesting, is that you say both aspirin and volterol/diclofenac block the production of prostaglandins. Why then is aspirin (stated to act primarily in the periphery) more effective as an anti-inflammatory and painkiller for me, than almost ever other medication that I've been prescribed over the years?

I'm also prescribed Tramadol and various other combination drugs, including codeine phosphate, Gabapentin and so on. However, I wonder if conditions that result in chronic pain, being masked by whatever is taken to address that, always has a cause that the body has no ability to heal, and therefore by addressing the pain, the underlying condition progresses because of activities continuing to be undertaken that one would not undertake if in pain, therefore one actually makes some conditions worse and prevent the body's ability to heal itself?

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Physiology & Medicine / Why do itches move?

« on: 28/01/2009 10:57:07 »

Couldn't think of the word I wanted last time, but the theory the reflexologist had about itches was that they (the itch sites) were connected via the meridian lines... or something like that.  []

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Physiology & Medicine / Re: Could Inclined Bed Therapy (IBT) replace surgery for varicose veins and oedema?

« on: 28/01/2009 01:36:20 »

Showed my legs - the oedema and the veins prone to phelbitis - to my doctor yesterday. He's well impressed.  []

Not doing so good in other areas and have to see an orthopaedic consultant because of problems with my left shoulder and arm that seem to be related to the surgery to remove the lymph nodes. Also having ongoing problems relating to the effect of the chemo on my GI tract. That's aggravating the infernal piles... always said those were my worst VVs, Andrew!  []

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Physiology & Medicine / Neck/Shoulder/Arm Injury - Whiplash? Nerve Damage? Help!!!

« on: 28/01/2009 01:24:37 »

This sounds very similar to the problem that I have, but in my case lower down and in the thoracic region of my spine.

That resulted from an accident some 17 years ago. The only thing I have found that helps the inflammation is aspirin. If I can keep the inflammation under control, the pain is manageable. If I can't, it isn't. My doctor has finally diagnosed me as having arachnoiditis, and yes, that is  nerve related. There is a limit to what the doctor's can do where the spinal nerves are concerned. I've found it helpful to sleep on an inclined bed, though, as having the head end of the bed raised 6" higher than the foot of it seems to put me into a gentle traction and thus relieves some of the pressure. Damage to my lower spine has benefitted from that even more.

I suggest that you have a read through Andrew K Fletcher's work on IBT (inclined bed therapy) and see if you think that could help you, too?

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Physiology & Medicine / Why do itches move?

« on: 28/01/2009 01:06:19 »

Doc B, I get exactly the same problem with those pesky itches, and have always put it down to some sort of inter-nerve connections. A chap who was into foot massage/reflexology once went into a long explanation of this phenomena, but lost me somewhere along the line. He was giving me a reflexology session at the time and I fell asleep on him... well, not exactly 'ON' him, but you get my drift.  []

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Physiology & Medicine / Please Help me with this Handedness experts!!

« on: 18/01/2009 18:35:05 »

The first time I picked up a guitar someone remarked 'Oh,you are left-handed.'

God knows what I am - mixed up for sure. I write mainly with my right hand, but were I to use the left, I'd mirror-write naturally from right to left. I pour a kettle or saucepan with the left hand and stir a cuppa with the right. I use a billhook with the left, a scythe with the right... Perhaps because the first one I picked up was a right-handed one?

I gather it is all supposed to be to do with brain lateralisation.

When I go for an eye test, I naturally read the reflected eye chart from right to left unless I really concentrate and force myself to do that left to right.

As a child I used to use crayons with both hands, and until witnessing the treatment dished out by teachers to anyone in the class caught writing with their left hand! Call it survival!

Took part in some research years ago that linked Scandinavian bloodlines/ancestry with both left-handedness and dyslexia, and if you examine the ancient writings of various cultures, many of those were written and read from right to left, which tends to indicate left-handedness as being predominant at the time those writings were created.

Many people who are dyslexic have above average IQs, too, which may also relate to brain lateralisation.

Fascinating subject.

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Physiology & Medicine / Re: Could Inclined Bed Therapy (IBT) replace surgery for varicose veins and oedema?

« on: 27/12/2008 03:00:31 »

Damn, I didn't notice the date on that quoted post, sorry.

I should also have mentioned that my lumbar spine - the area where xrays show that I've a  chronic degenerative problem/osteoarthritis has been remarkably pain free of late. Usually, at this time of the year, that can be particularly painful - well, give me a constant dull aching sensation that can really wear one's spirits down. As things stand, I get just a bit of discomfort there if I over-do things, and also in my right hip, but that is also pretty good, too. Wish I could say the same regarding the ongoing nerve pain that seems to be lingering at the site of the last op! Despite it being nearly six months since that op, and nearly a month since the last chemo cycle, today it has been feeling as if I've an alien rodent attempting to chew its way out from under my oxter! It's a very weird sensation - especially as the surface of the skin there is still numb!