Category: Health

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How Your Tattoos Might Be Messing With Your Sweat Glands

Tattoos are very common today. Back in the day, only fun ladies and military dudes (or I suppose convicts) really sported ink on a regular basis, but since the nineties, they’ve continued to trend as a common, if permanent, accessory.

Perhaps that’s why scientists are really just beginning to wonder whether or not there could be any long- or short-term effects of having ink deposited right beneath your skin – and this recent study seems to conclude that one of those effects could be a poor ability to sweat.

Image Credit: Pixabay

The paper was published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, and featured a pretty small sample size of 10 participants. The subjects wore tube-lined suits containing warm water, which induced them to sweat – though skin covered by a tattoo or tattoos produced 15% less sweat than skin left unmarked.

This research joins more like it, like another small 2017 study that used an electric current to produce sweat, and found that inked skin produced 50% less perspiration, but is belied by at least one study that found no difference in sweating ability between inked and non-inked skin.

Image Credit: Pexels

There doesn’t seem to be conclusive evidence, nor does the study make any comment on why or how a tattoo could affect one’s ability to sweat.

For now, it seems like you’re safe to continue amassing as much ink as you like, though if this does eventually prove to be an issue, the more tattoos you have, the more trouble you might have cooling off on a hot day.

Image Credit: Pexels

Then again, people with full body tattoos have been staying cool with no trouble since forever, so you’re probably fine either way.

You do you, my friend, and leave the scientists to their business.

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A Picture of a Child Crying Over Distance Learning Confirms Everyone’s Fears

For most families right now, distance learning or homeschooling is not their first option. There are kids who are going to thrive, parents who have the privilege to manage it, but for the most part, everyone is just making things work the best that they can.

When we realized that distance learning would likely be at least part of the story this autumn, parents and teachers and lawmakers all had concerned about what that could mean for the smallest of students. Would they get enough social interaction? Would they be able to figure out school and a classroom dynamic over a screen? Would they have the physical and mental capability of sitting in front of a computer for hours?

We’re figuring things out as we go, but as this image shows, it’s not been an easy adjustment for too many kids.

The picture was shared by Jana Coombs, a mother of four from Coweta County, Georgia. She snapped the image as her son became overwhelmed trying to keep, started to cry, and wiped his own tears with his t-shirt.

A moment later she encouraged him to take a break, come get a hug, and suck in a few deep breaths.

She spoke with a local news station, as well as CNN, about why she wanted to share the moment.

Image Credit: iStock

“I just took that picture because I wanted people to see reality. Education is essential for these children, and it’s more than one plus one equals two. Socialization and hands-on experience is how elementary kids learn best.”

She also admitted that it’s not just her son and other young kids who are struggling, either.

“Juggling a household, having an infant in the house, getting 5,000 emails a day from all their teachers, trying to keep up…different apps, different codes, different platforms, some links don’t work…”

Image Credit: iStock

It’s a lot, is what she’s saying.

And even though we all know that keeping ourselves and our families, friends, and neighbors healthy has to be the priority right now, it’s okay to step back and admit that this is hard.

It’s hard for all of us, but hopefully, it won’t be forever.

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A Veterinarian Weighs in on What Items to Avoid at Pet Stores

If you’ve ever had a pet, you know there are an overwhelming amount of choices when you walk through a pet store. Toys, supplies, supplements, training, leashes, food…the list goes on and on, and honestly, most of it can feel superfluous.

I mean, people had dogs and cats and birds centuries ago, and I doubt they had this many options.

So, if you’re wondering what exactly your pet needs – and not only that, what items could actually be harmful to your pet once they’re in your home, this veterinarian has a few thoughts.

Image Credit: TikTok

The main points of advice from Dr. Hunter Finn’s first video were mostly treats and chews to avoid.

First up, rawhides with double layered ends – apparently they are choking hazards.

Image Credit: TikTok

I definitely am guilty of buying these!

Next, he says to avoid fatty treats like pig’s ears, because they can upset doggie tums, and in rare but serious cases, can cause pancreatitis.

Image Credit: TikTok

Dr. Finn also says that both raw and cooked bones can break teeth and cause intestinal issues, as well, so it’s best to avoid them.

Image Credit: TikTok

His advice is that if you can’t easily make an indent with a fingernail, it’s too hard.

Image Credit: TikTok

Jerky treats, especially those that originate outside of the US, can also contribute to renal disease in pets.

When it comes to cats, Dr. Finn says to avoid giving them stringy toys when you’re not able to supervise, since they can get lodged and tangled in cats’ digestive tracts easily.

Image Credit: TikTok

If you’re wondering what dental treats would have the best shot at actually combatting your dog’s (or cat’s) terrible breath, Dr. Finn says to check the packaging for the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council) stamp, and buy accordingly.

@dr.hunterfinn

#petsoftiktok #veterinarian #vettech #veterinarylife I’m on vacation, but promise to make more videos if y’all like these. Cats next.

♬ Send Me on My Way – Guy Meets Girl

Our pets are family, after all, so you can’t be too careful.

Make sure you’re following Dr. Hunter Finn on TikTok for more tips and tricks for the future!

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This is Why the Flu Shot Makes Your Arm Hurt

It’s almost time to get your flu shot!

Shots aren’t a fun thing for anyone, and convincing your kids to go with you and sit willingly to be stabbed is even less fun than undergoing the stick yourself.

To add insult to injury, it’s not over and done with in a few seconds, as promised, either – for many of us, the injection site can be tender and achy for a few days afterward.

Image Credit: iStock

According to experts, though, the pain is a good thing – a sign that the vaccination is working – but what makes it hurt?

The vaccine works by injecting an antigen – in this case a dead, deactivated virus that’s similar to the flu – into your body. It “primes” your immune system cells so that they will activate if and when they encounter that foreign substance again.

You can’t get sick from the dead virus; it’s only goal is to sensitize your immune system to potential threats in the future.

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Whenever a foreign “threat” shows up, your immune system also releases mediators like histamine, which can cause inflammation around an area of concern. The inflammation helps your body fight invaders and repairs damaged tissue, but as anyone who has ever gotten a bad bug bite or had an allergic reaction like hives knows, histamine responses can also cause soreness.

If your body responds to the shot with histamine, the site of the shot – usually your upper arm – could be sore for a couple of days.

Immunologist Richard Zimmerman told Popular Science that about 1 in 5 people have a painful reaction, and if it happens to you, some ibuprofen before the shot, and an ice pack afterward, should alleviate the discomfort.

It could also help to move your arm around after you get the shot, to diffuse the vaccine, and also to ask for the shot to be given in your non-dominant arm.

Image Credit: iStock

Definitely don’t let the pain stop you, though, because if you’ve ever gotten the flu, you know for sure you don’t want to do that again.

You’ll help contribute to herd immunity, too, which helps protect higher-risk population, so that makes you a low-key superhero, really.

Worth a few days of soreness, if you ask me!

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Research Shows That Microplastics Exist in All of Our Organs

You’ve probably heard about microplastics being present in the atmosphere, in the ocean, in our food, and even in the rain that splatters us on a cooler autumn day. It’s disturbing, and proof of how much of an effect our lifestyle has on our world, even if scientists don’t really know bad it could be for humans in the long run.

Recently, though, a study of cadavers has revealed that the tiny, microscopic plastics can also be found embedded in every last one of our organs.

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The question of how dangerous these things could be, then, becomes even more relevant.

The study was conducted by two University of Arizona PhD students. In it, they examined 47 organ samples, including ones from lungs, livers, spleens, and kidneys that were obtained from a tissue bank that studies neurodegenerative disease.

The samples were put through a mass spectrometer, and every last one of them contained microplastics.

Dozens of different types of plastic were detected, with the most worrying types being polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), and Bisphenol A (BPA).

A 2011 study published by NCBI found that all plastic materials contain harmful chemicals, though, and can lead to poor health outcomes like cancer, birth defects, reproductive issues, and the like across the board.

Image Credit: iStock

47 organs is a small sample size, but given that every single organ contained the microplastics, and it’s the first study to provide evidence that they can build up in our bodies, it’s still important.

A 2019 WWF study found that the average human potentially eats arou

nd 2,000 microplastics every single week, and another recent study found about 1,000 tons of them rain down on national parks annually, so it’s not a surprise that they’re floating around inside our bodies.

That said, proof that they’re building up in our organs remains concerning.

Charles Rolsky, a co-author on the new study, made this statement.

“You can find plastics contaminating the environment at virtually every location on the globe, and in a few short decades, we’ve gone from seeing plastic as a wonderful benefit to considering it a threat.

There’s evidence that plastic is making its way into our bodies, but very few studies have looked for it there.

And at this point, we don’t know whether this plastic is just a nuisance or whether it represents a human health hazard.”

The truth is, we have much to learn about these plastics, and how they might affect our bodies going forward.

Image Credit: iStock

The team behind this current study has plans to continue researching potential long term health effects.

Varun Kelkar, another co-author, continued his statement:

“We never want to be alarmist, but it is concerning that these non-biodegradable materials that are present everywhere can enter and accumulate in human tissues, and we don’t know the possible health effects.

Once we get a better idea of what’s in the tissues, we can conduct epidemiological studies to assess human health outcomes. That way, we can start to understand the potential health risks, if any.”

Which is all to say, don’t panic yet, because we don’t have all of the facts.

But also, there’s nothing you can do about it anyway.

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This is What Happens When You Drink Saltwater (Pssst: Don’t!)

We’re taught not to drink the water in the ocean. It’s not the same as other water, though our parents rarely explain why beyond telling us “it will make you sick.”

We read horrifying stories about disasters at sea, where men and women are stuck without food or water, and eventually succumb to the lure of seawater, only to make things worse.

Why is drinking it so bad for us, though, and what happens to our bodies when we do?

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You might think it’s counterintuitive, this avoiding of saltwater, since our bodies contain – and depend on – both salt and water to function.

Water is a universal solvent and is essential in helping us metabolize food, use our muscles, pump blood, and even for brain function. Salt is necessary for those same chemical reactions to take place.

That said, you likely already know that consuming too much salt is not so great for our bodies. It can lead to issues like high cholesterol levels, and our bodies need to stay under a salinity of 9 in order to function properly – that means for every 1000 grams of fluid we consume, we need 9 grams of salt.

Saltwater is a hypertonic fluid, which means it contains more salt than our blood, with a salinity of 35 – and it throws our body’s coping mechanisms completely out of whack.

Image Credit: iStock

Our cells have membranes that prevent salt from wandering into them unwanted, and although our bodies can use built-in mechanisms like these to an extent, they struggle with extremely high concentrations of salt.

When those concentrations are higher on the outsides of our cells than on the inside, water movies outside, too, trying to correct the imbalance. That leaves your cells devoid of water on the inside, and that’s never a good thing.

This process, called osmosis, can be disastrous in the case of consuming seawater. Our cells will shrink, and to correct that problem, our kidneys start to excrete the excess sodium in our urine.

The kidneys can only produce urine slightly less salty than saltwater, though, so they start making us pee more and more in order to keep up, dehydrating us in the process.

Image Credit: iStock

Basically, you’re peeing out more water than you’re taking in, which means you’ll only get more thirsty, not less, if you give into the temptation of drinking saltwater.

Not only that, but the body compensates for fluid loss in other ways, too – increasing your heart rate, constricting blood vessels in an attempt to maintain pressure and flow, nausea, weakness, and delirium that can lead to more bad decisions.

If you’re not able to consume fresh water in a short amount of time, the result will be organ failure and ultimately, death.

So, if you find yourself marooned or adrift at sea, resist the temptation and wait for rain.

Please.

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