Counts
Body of knowledge
Saliva production has a circadian rhythm, with the most spit produced in late afternoon and the least at night. Salivation consists of five phases, reports Mental Floss. Most are triggered by the age of food through the body, and not all are good.
The first phase is cephalic, which occurs when you see or smell something delicious. The buccal phase is the body’s reflexive response to the actual presence of food in the mouth (which aids in swallowing). The esophageal phase involves the stimulation of the salivary glands as food moves through the esophagus. The gastric phase occurs if something irritates your stomach, such as just before vomiting. The intestinal phase is triggered by a food that doesn’t agree with you ing through the upper intestine.
Sleepless and alone
A new study of 9,430 adults age 50 and older found a significant link between loneliness and insomnia symptoms, such as difficulty falling and staying asleep or waking up too early in the morning.
Loneliness can spark insomnia symptoms through different pathways, such as increased stress, anxiety and “heightened vigilance,” an elevated state of constantly assessing potential worries or threats.
Stories for the waiting room
In 2018, a 28-year-old New Zealand man was charged with stealing two human toes from an exhibition displaying human corpses and organs. The recovered digits were valued at $5,500. The man was also charged with improperly interfering with the dead body of an unknown person. In New Zealand, apparently, the law is lack toes intolerant.
Doc talk
Phobia of the week
Food for thought
Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas that can be deadly, but the same stuff that comes out of your car’s tailpipe can also be used in packaging beef and some types of fish, such as tilapia and tuna, because it helps preserve their pinkish blush.
The gas is injected into plastic-wrapped foods after all of the air has been sucked out. It’s considered safe for humans but isn’t widely used anymore because food safety organizations objected to its potential for masking meat spoilage.
Med school
Q: Why does squinting seem to improve vision — at least in the moment?
A: Two reasons. First, squinting can temporarily help reshape the lens to focus light where it needs to go. Second, it can reduce the amount of light going into the eye. In both cases, it’s providing an assist to the retina, helping just the right amount of light to hit the right part of the retina.
Contrary to some notions, squinting a lot does not damage eyesight, but it’s a good indication that you might need to see an optometrist.
Best medicine
Becoming a vegetarian is a huge missed steak.
Observation
“Jogging is very beneficial. It’s good for your legs and feet. It’s also very good for the ground. It makes it feel needed.”
Medical history
This week in 1895, Daniel David Palmer gave the first chiropractic adjustment to Harvey Lillard in Davenport, Iowa, now home of Palmer Chiropractic College.
Perishable publications
Many, if not most, published research papers have titles that defy comprehension. They use specialized jargon, complex words and opaque phrases like “nonlinear dynamics.” Sometimes they don’t, and yet they’re still hard to figure out. Here’s an actual title of actual published research study: “On human odor, malaria mosquitoes and Limberger cheese,” in which researchers found that mosquitoes were equally attracted to stinky feet and dairy products.
Self-exam
Q: Which of your senses deteriorates first with age?
A: Taste. The number of taste buds you have decreases with age, and each remaining taste bud also shrinks, reducing sensitivity. In addition, your mouth produces less saliva as you age, further impairing sense of taste.
Smell also diminishes with age, especially after age 70. In some ways the impairment is similar to loss of taste as the nose produces less mucus, which helps keep odors in the nose long enough to be detected by nerve endings.
Of course, vision and hearing also decline with age, and may be exacerbated by disease or environmental factors, such as smoking or excessive noise. Touch changes too, though less obviously. Decreased blood flow to nerve endings in the skin can reduce sensitivity, but thinner skin may increase it.
Epitaphs
“She loved bamboo.”
LaFee is vice president of communications for the Sanford Burnham Prebys research institute.
