Healthy Blog

In 1762, French philosopher and author Jean-Jacques Rousseau (Cress, 1987) said, "Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains." No statement has ever as eloquently summed up the continuing saga of humanity's struggle between an ever-unfolding potential and limitations imposed by the inheritance of an animal-like nature. Thanks to its massive frontal lobe, the unparalleled ability of the human brain to self-direct continually confronts the instinctual resistance that permeates the neuro-physiological patterns that serve as the "source code" of our existence. Nevertheless, there is a feature in our pattern-driven nature that may also offer our higher-order volition opportunities if we are to grasp its full power. This is the fact that our protective nature - with its competitive and adaptive corollaries - provides us with the capability to continually reinvent our minds and our bodies to address our environment. Should - or when - we prove capable of using our minds to direct this "shape-shifting" ability, just maybe we can increase the likelihood that mankind can finally be free of the chains that Rousseau described.

The external environment and even the most subtle nuances regarding the mind can affect what is now being called use-dependent cortical reorganization - which is a fancy term for the concept of brain plasticity. For those whose cognitive rigidity insists on the fixed, never-changing nature of the human mind, this apostasy is hard to accept. Nevertheless, when neuroscientists find that after a stroke destroys parts of the somatosensory cortex, unexpected areas of the brain begin enabling recently lost abilities, then the firm grip of the localization theory loosens. Indeed, hard-to-believe facts like the retina supplying data to the auditory cortex or sensations from finger tips being processed by the visual cortex begin opening up possibilities that the brain's ability to reorganize is probably its strongest attribute.

Even though respected authorities like Jay Giedd, MD, (Evans, 2007) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are still saying that brain circuits not used by age 25 are lost forever, a queue of respected neuroscientists (Begley, 2007) are lining up to present irrefutable evidence that the brain regularly creates new neurons and its functions can reorganize even throughout old age. In fact, much to the surprise of many scientists and clinicians, neuroscientists are saying that substrate organization is affected by both genetics and the environment. Like every cell or physiological substructure (Lipton, 2005), the substrates of the brain are adapting to changes - such as caused by stroke or trauma. Even mentally created alterations - due to anticipation or imagination - if coupled with attention, will cause reorganization.

While vitally important, an understanding of neurological structure, neurological energy economics, and the implications of inhibitions alone fails to provide a clinician an actionable appreciation of the brain's true potential. What is missing is an appreciation that the brain has a dynamic characteristic, which allows it to practically reinvent itself when the situation warrants it. Even though Bandler (2008) insists that pattern-preservation is one of the primal realities of human existence, as just mentioned, Lipton's focus on adaptation (2005) has to be superimposed over that confrontation if the complete picture is to be obtained. From the time of Broca and Warnicke, neo-phrenologists (i.e. the followers of the localization concept) have congratulated themselves as they continue to find which brain substrate - or even miniscule collection of neurons - relates to a particular sensation or behavior. However, their discoveries are constantly refuted by empirical evidence, as clinicians and researchers find that the perceived rules of neurology are challenged by patients who remarkably recover from various forms of neuro-pathologies such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), strokes, tumors, or genetic problems. These patients not only defy all odds concerning the collective beliefs regarding the probability of their survival and recovery, but they also present scientific researchers, clinicians, and academics with the need to appreciate the dynamics of the brain's ability to adapt.

Vitamin K helps to put calcium where it belongs...in our bones and teeth...and keep it away from the places it doesn't belong such as our arteries. The foods high in vitamin K include most dark leafy green vegetables.

Nutritionists now recommend that vitamin K be included in an osteoporosis prevention diet along with calcium, vitamin D and magnesium in order to increase calcium absorption. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Center provides us with an excellent list of foods high in vitamin K that will help us to build a diet that is great for bone building as well as delicious.

A cup of dark leafy greens can provide more than the recommended daily requirement of 120-150 mcg a day and will also provide the 200 micrograms that some research suggests is necessary for optimal bone health. The following lists shows the amount of vitamin K1 in one cup of cooked vegetables:

• Kale: 1062 mcg
• Spinach: 888 mcg
• Collards: 836 mcg
• Beet Greens: 697 mcg
• Swiss Chard: 573 mcg
• Broccoli: 220 mcg
• Brussel Sprouts: 218 mcg

Chinese cabbage (also known as pak-choi or bok choy) contains only 57.8 mcg in a cup of vegetables but when combined with tofu it provides an outstanding balance of calcium, magnesium and vitamin K for a very bone healthy meal.

It is important to note that spinach, swiss chard and beet greens have a high content of oxalates which tend to bind calcium and prevent its absorption. This does not mean that they should be avoided as they are excellent sources of vitamin K but it may be better to take a calcium supplement when these leafy greens are not part of your meal.

Some research suggests that K2 (MK-4 through 10) from eggs and meats are better at facilitating calcium absorption than K1 from vegetables. Vitamin K2 is highest in products from animals that have been fed on fast growing grasses and may be found in the butter, non-skim milk, cheese, organ meats and fat of these animals. If you are taking a blood thinning medication or an anticoagulant (such as Warfarin, Coumadin or Heparin) be sure to consult your doctor before increasing vitamin K in your diet or supplements.

Asthma is a disease characterized by inflammation of the air passages. The symptoms of asthma can be caused by many things called triggers like pollen, dust, dirt, and even exercise. Yes, even exercise can cause asthma. If you start feeling the symptoms of asthma like coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, chest pain, shortness of breath, and extreme fatigue in 5 to 20 minutes since you started exercising, you may be experiencing exercise induced asthma symptoms.

Exercise induced asthma symptoms are just like the usual symptoms of asthma. The only difference is that these symptoms are triggered by exercising. In children, aside from the usual symptoms of asthma, exercise induced asthma can have discreet representations. You may consider the following examples as exercise induced asthma symptoms: children who avoid or do not like participating in physical activities or games; children who complain of difficulty in playing games and sports with their peers. Those are the symptoms in children can lead to problems with socialization or low self-esteem.

Remember that you may experience this kind of asthma symptoms a few minutes after you start to exercise or even a few minutes after finishing your workout. It is important to observe the time when you feel the symptoms because this will be key in identifying the cause of the symptoms. When you consult a doctor, asthma can be diagnosed by a series of tests and evaluations. Tests may be any of the following: spirometry, peak flow meter, oximetry, and chest radiography. If this will worsen, consult your doctor immediately.

Most people who experience this asthma symptoms wonder if they will have to prevent any form of physical activity for the rest of their lives. The answer is no. In fact, many great athletes have experience exercise induced symptoms. Look at Dennis Rodman. He has exercise induced asthma but he can play basketball.

The key is prevention. In order to live normal lives and participate in sports activities, people with exercise induced asthma are given drugs to prevent the symptoms.

Asthma inhalers or bronchodilators are great in the said symptoms. These asthma inhalers are prescribed to be taken before exercising. If taken 15 to 20 minutes prior to exercise, asthma inhalers prevent and control exercise induced asthma symptoms for 4 to 6 hours.

Long-acting beta-2 agonists are also prescribed. When taken in the morning, these medications can prevent and control the symptoms for 12 hours. Also, warming up before exercising and cooling down after exercising are effective in preventing the said symptoms.

Certain types of exercises or sports are considered well tolerated by people with this kind of asthma symptoms. Examples of these are baseball, gymnastics, volleyball, walking, wrestling, and swimming.

The number of people suffering from high blood pressure is reaching epidemic proportions with almost 74 million people suffering from the disorder in the US alone. The added stress of our fast paced lifestyle is finally taking its toll on our health. However, high blood pressure is certainly not a disorder that should be ignored since it is often the prelude to numerous chronic and acute ailments including card in vascular disorders.

What is high blood pressure? is the force exerted on the arterial walls by the blood flowing through the arteries. The normal blood pressure of an adult should be below 120/80; however generally a value that lies in the range of 120/80 to 140/90 is considered normal. The two figures stand for systolic and diastolic pressure respectively. The systolic pressure is the force exerted by the flowing blood while the heart beats and the diastolic pressure is the force exerted between beats or when the heart is at rest.

The Dangers of High Blood Pressure (HBP): can have long standing effects on the body and can prove detrimental to several vital organs in the body such as:

The Heart: This is the one organ that bears the maximum brunt of high pressure; the muscles of the heart weaken when subjected to continuously elevated blood pressure and if not checked in time, the condition may worsen and lead to a heart attack or even a cardiac failure.

Some people may also suffer from a condition called left ventricular hypertrophy which is the enlargement of the left ventricle. Because the heart muscles have to work overtime to pump blood to the organs in patients who suffer from High Blood Pressure the ventricle may grow in size. The condition greatly augments the risk of heart failure and heart attack.

The arteries: The arterial walls are damaged because of High Pressure leading to a condition known as arteriosclerosis where the walls harden and become stiff. This ailment may eventually help in the accumulation of plaque in the arterial walls leading to arterial blockages.

Aneurysm: In this condition a part of an artery develops a bulge due to the constant exposure to high pressure. This bulge may rupture and cause life threatening internal bleeding. It can also cause damage to the vital organs because any artery can develop aneurysm.

The Brain: Since arterial blockage can occur in any blood vessel, there are chances of people with high pressure suffering from a stroke. This is momentary stoppage of blood supply to the neural cells which may result in the death of certain part of the brain

High pressure may also lead to dementia which causes impairment in the ability to think, make decisions, understand, reason and see. This condition is primarily caused due to a lack of oxygen to the brain. It may also occur as an aftermath of a stroke. The kidneys and the Liver: Like the brain, the kidneys and the liver may also be starved of oxygen and vital nutrients in case of a stroke or due to arterial blockages which may result in a renal failure.