5 stages of sleep

Lately I feel like I have not been getting enough sleep. I am constantly tired and I am always too busy to take a nap. I started reading things online about sleeping and tips to help with your sleeping habits. One thing they said is that if you are living a busy life and the recommended number of hours of sleep is difficult to fit in your schedule then at least fit seven hours in. One thing I found interesting is that you may not know this, but while you are sleeping, your brain is still active. As you sleep, your brain cycles through five stages of sleep. One complete cycle takes about 90-100 minutes. Therefore, during an average night of sleep, a person’s brain goes through four or five cycles. The first two stages of sleep are periods of light sleep in which a person can easily be awakened. During these stages eye movements slow down and eventually stop. Your heart and breathing rates slow down and your body temperature decreases as well. During stages three and four, a person is in their deep sleeping stages. If awakened during these stages, a person will often feel groggy and disorientated for a few minutes. These are the most refreshing stages of sleep that our bodies crave when we are tired. The final stage of sleep is known as REM sleep due to the rapid eye movements which occur during this stage. Other physical changes take place such as, breathing becoming more rapid and your heart beating faster. This stage is also when a person has the most vivid dreams, the ones that you remember when you wake up in the morning. I thought this was really interesting because I always wondered what went through our minds and bodies while we are sleeping.

aging in your skin

For one of my classes we were talking about dermatology. We talked about how people today are so worried about aging and it has become a major concern. People will spend so much money on antiwrinkle creams and many times will go as far as paying for plastic surgery to reduce their wrinkles. One thing dermatologists recommend is that you only use soap or body wash on selected areas of your body. Some of the areas include your face, under your arms, and your feet.
There are many things that cause skin aging. One is cigarette smoke. It doesn’t matter whether you smoke or not; cigarette smoke is extremely damaging when it comes to your skin. Research shows that exposure to cigarette smoke increases one’s skin wrinkles and dryness of skin. This is partly due to the fact that smoking depletes your body of vitamin c which is vital to your skin. Another common aging cause is sun exposure. Not only can sun exposure cause melanoma, but it can also cause freckles which turn into sun spots, which take on a dry leathery appearance and increase wrinkles and sagging of skin. Another factor is lack of exercise. Exercising helps tone muscles and gets your blood flowing helping you to have a bright smile and lots of energy which makes you look and feel younger. One cause that many of us face here is exposure to cold weather. Cold winds and low temperatures can cause your skin to be dry. This is where good moisturizers come into play. Another common factor is stress. Of course everyone deals with stress in their lives however; stressing and worrying cause frowning in your face and over time your muscles actually conform to that movement. To help with aging due to stress be aware of your stress levels and keep your frowning to a minimum. In other words, don’t stop smiling. :)

sinus infections

Ever since we have been back from break I have not been feeling well. Finally, today I went to student health services and I found out I have a sinus infection and a fever. I can’t remember the last time I was sick like this but it is definitely not fun. Sinus infections can be caused by many different things. Acute sinus infections are usually caused by a viral infection in the upper respiratory tract. Viral infections cause damage to the cells of the sinus lining which leads to inflammation. The lining of the sinuses thickens with fluid that obstructs the nasal passage which connects to the sinuses. This obstruction disrupts the process that removes usually would remove bacteria from the nasal passages. This causes the bacteria to begin to multiply and invade the lining of the sinuses. Many times sinus infections are referred to as sinusitis. The suffix “itis” means inflammation of; therefore, sinusitis is inflammation of one’s sinuses. Another cause of sinus infections is allergens or pollutants. There are also many signs and symptoms of sinus infections. One sign is nasal congestion or postnasal drip. Another symptom is the feeling of pain or pressure on the inner corners of your eyes or down the sides of your nose. Headaches in temples are also common, as well as pain or pressure when you cough. One way I can always tell if I have a sinus infection is when I lay my head down and it feels extremely congested and it feels like it is going to explode. The best way to treat sinus infections is to drink plenty of water and other hydrating beverages. Another common treatment is to inhale steam a few times a day either with a vaporizer or a bowl of boiling hot water for about ten minutes. Hopefully this goes away quickly! Being sick is no fun :(

Spring Break

Spring break is almost here! I can’t wait, but I feel like Cortland is the only school that has spring break next week. All my other friends have break the following week. As of now I am not doing much besides going home to see all my friends and my family. I think this break is going to be good for everyone because everyone seems to be getting sick and we all need to get away from each other so we don’t keep spreading the sickness around! Tomorrow, the 8th, my hometown basketball team plays for the regional championship title here at Cortland. My high school is really big on basketball and our district supports us 100%. Basically our whole town is going to come to watch the boys play on Saturday. I can’t wait to see them play; it is going to be an awesome game. As of now they are number one in the state and are undefeated. If they win on Saturday then they will play in Glens Falls next Friday for the semi-finals. On Saturday the 16th I am suppose to be taking a trip to Saratoga with my family for my aunt’s 50’th birthday. All of the ladies in our family are going to stay at the Medbery Spa and Inn and are going to go to the spa for a day. It sounds like it is going to be a lot of fun; I could really use a massage right now! One thing I have always wanted to do however is take a mineral bath. I think it sounds so refreshing! Mineral baths are bath tubs filled with water and aromas with relaxing music and candles around you. The water is carbonated mineral water and is heated to about 100 degrees. Supposedly they are supposed to relax your muscles and nerve centers and revitalize your senses. A mineral bath sounds like a possibility but I might just stick with a massage like usual.
Have a good spring break!! <33

breast cancer drug helps with bipolar disorder

Recently I was reading an article for one of my classes on breast cancer. Apparantly studies have been done to show that there is a breast cancer drug that may be able to treat bipoloar disorder. Tests were done and they showed that people who took the drug for at least three weeks experienced a significan decrease in their bipolar symptoms. Although this is a good thing for people who are currently experiencing bipolar disorder, there are a few concerns that doctors have. One concern is that it is going to take a long period of time and much testing to determine the long term side effects. The reason for this concern is that the drug used to treat breast cancer works for a short term issue or within five years. Bipolar disorder is not a short term disorder however. Scientists are conducting a new study which involves 66 men and women with bipolar disorder. They were each assigned to take 40 to 80 milligrams of the drug per day for up to three weeks. Out of 66, 50 patients completed the study. At the end of the test, 48% of people taking the drug stated there was a drastic decrease in their mania scores. Mania is a state that individuals with bipolar disorder undergo.
I thought this was pretty interesting because I actually have a friend from home who has bipolar disorder and if there is hope for him to change that would be amazing!! I love him and all, but when he goes into his state of mania, he is crazy and I can't take it!! I think that if there is a cure for bipolar disorder that would make life a lot easier for many people. Not only for people who are victims of the disorder, but also for the people who love and support them.