Why do we yawn?

Yawns are fascinating. The fact that it is triggered by a lot of specific emotions varying from tiredness, boredom, to being sleepy is just interesting. What is more fascinating is that yawns are somewhat contagious as you can yawn just after you see someone else do it. So what are these exactly and why do we do it? In this article, we will explore the truth about yawns.

Yawning is an involuntary behavior in which your mouth opens up wide and you inhale deeply followed by exhaling. When you say involuntary, this means that you have no control over this action so much like other reflexes such as blinking or sneezing so you cannot do anything to suppress it nor consciously control it. Yawns are not only exclusive to human beings as all other animals do this. When we yawn, there are various neurochemical changes that happen in our brain.

Although there is no concrete proof as to why we yawn, there are several explanations as to why we yawn. Some researchers have a theory that yawning is a processed used to cool our brains off.

Your brain is like a CPU of a computer. It functions as a machine where all the actions and movements of all your other body parts originate from this part. That is why it is called as the central part of your body or central nervous system because just like a CPU to a computer, you cannot function well if your brain is not functioning well. Because your brain works 24/7, it might 'overheat' just like a CPU will if it does not get the rest it needs or even just some cooling off. So, what the brain does is to inhale cool air, through yawning to cool off the brain.

When you yawn, air comes in and it cools down the brain. When your brain is cool, it tends to function better than when your brain is tired or is nearing 'overheating.' This theory is called the brain-cooling hypothesis or the radiator hypothesis.

Another explanation as to why you yawn is because it is the brain's way of telling you to get more air into your lungs. At a normal rate, you do not get to use majority of your lungs' capacity, hence, the low oxygen levels when you are breathing normally. Therefore, for the lungs to not get stiff due to low levels of oxygen, your brain urges you to sigh or yawn.

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Which sleep position is healthiest?

Typically people sleep in the position that feels most comfortable in that moment. You probably have one or two frequented positions you rely on to get to sleep fast. It might surprise you to learn that your sleep position matters at all. What difference could it possibly make what position my body lies in while it's asleep, as long as I'm asleep, right? Wrong.

We spend about 1/3 of our lives sleeping. comparable to frequently repeated movements triggering injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, constantly staying in one posture too much time has been known to lead to injuries, as well, especially if said position is not in accordance with natural posture. Sleeping while in an improper pose may inflict injury to the body in just one night. Ever wake up with a stiff neck or back? Keep that up for days and weeks and you can incur persistent neck and back injuries.

Sleep Positions

Although there is some variety, there are primarily three main sleeping positions. Any sleeping pose must be rated based upon the support and good alignment of the lower back, hips and neck.

Back Position

A person lies on their back, head pointing straight up. The back position is a great sleep posture. It is natural to keep the spine and neck in proper alignment. The only problem is where to position the feet. If there is enough room beneath your covers the toes should aim towards the ceiling, but sometimes your feet need to point at an angle outwards a bit. As long as you keep it minimized there shouldn't be an issue.

Side Position

Lying on either side with both legs straight, your head on its side resting on your pillow, arms in front of your body. The side pose is another healthy posture for sleep. Again, the spine and head are kept in alignment easily. The legs can be slightly bent at your knees and hips, if you wish. Be careful to not bend so far as to go into a fetal pose where your back ends up arched. This can put way too much stress on the back and neck.

Front Position

Lying on their stomach|, or mostly on their stomach, with the head turned to one side setting on the pillow. Arms may be pointed downwards along the sides or place up around and hugging the pillow. Although one of the most favored positions for its coziness. Unfortunately, this is an awful pose for the lower back as well as the neck. In order to to breathe you have to angle your head sideways at a right angle from front which places a great deal of tension on the neck. You may also find it extra pressure on the abdominal muscles.

Adjusting your Sleeping Position

If you are usually a front-sleeper you're going to have to work towards changing the habit. Another posture may be a little unpleasant in the beginning but it normally on takes a few nights to acquire the new habit. Besides, the profits of changing to a healthier sleeping posture can make a huge positive difference for the rest of your life!

You may need to establish a new position slowly. Make sure to get yourself drowsy and on the verge of falling asleep before you shut out your light. Start with one of the good positions, either side or back, whichever you decide is more comfortable. If you've prepared yourself properly you'll go right to sleep. On the other hand, if you have trouble getting to sleep, try only switching back and forth between these two for a while. If you are unable to get comfortable you may go back to the front pose again, briefly. You may need a few days to adjust to the side and back, but in due course you will accomplish it.

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5 Yoga Poses for Depression and Anxiety

A person, suffering with depression, might feel hopeless, sad, anxious, and irritated on a regular basis. There are many forms of therapy for depression, and seeking professional counseling (psychotherapy) is a wise step forward. Support groups, social support, lifestyle changes, and many prescription medications are available to help people cope with depression. Sadly, there are cases when the side effects of prescriptions can be difficult to bear. Medication can be a viable solution or it can become a short-term answer for symptoms.

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What is Musicotherapia (Music Therapy)?

Music therapy is based on the interpersonal therapeutic relationship between a professional music therapist and the patient. The objectives and methods of treatment are personalized and tailored to the needs and characteristics of the patient. The idea that the effect of music can be therapeutic is definitely not new.

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How Yoga protects the Brain from Depression and Anxiety

It's well-known that yoga has numerous health benefits and is often recommended for physical ailments such as back pain, but it's interesting to delve into the use of the ancient technique to improve mental well-being and provide a healthy outlook on life.Recent research in the United States found that three sessions of gentle yoga a week can help combat depression as it boosts levels of a chemical in the brain which is essential for a relaxed mind. 

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Positive and Negative Effects of Music on Health

Have you ever noticed when singing a song that the words seem to just pop right out with very little effort to remember the lyrics? If so, you are not alone. Studies have been done trying to answer the question of how people remember songs; by lyrics, melody, or title. The answer has a similar result that learning styles do with determining the best way people learn.

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What is Head Rush and How to Prevent it?

Depending on your own physical situation, your medication maybe giving you problems with head rushes. Head rushes are caused by a sudden change in blood pressure, they can make you feel dizzy and disoriented. While the head rush may only last a few seconds the actual feeling seems to feel much longer.

Head rushes normally do not inflict any pain on individuals. The problem with becoming dizzy or faint is it can cause you to become disoriented if you experience one in a local that is not familiar to you. Having to grab for a chair, table or anything to hold yourself up is an embarrassing moment that will have people wondering about your over all health.

Falling down from a head rush can cause severe damage and pain to your body. The fall itself can cause you to hit an object such as a table, chair, or any other nearby piece of furniture as you collapse uncontrollably to the floor. Hitting furniture as you fall can cause severe bruising and may possibly tear the skin and cause bleeding. While bruising and bleeding sound terrible the floor can cause the biggest injury. Many people have fallen and broken a bone in their arm or leg, hitting the floor from a head rush greatly increases the chance of breaking a hip.

Here are a couple tips to help you avoid having a head rush.

Getting out of bed
In the morning should take some time. Start by waking up and simply lying in bed for at least one minute. After the minute sit up in bed and slowly move your legs to the floor. Sit on the edge of your bed for half a minute to allow the changes in blood flow. When you stand up do not walk, just stand up. If you experience dizziness or feel faint simply sit back down, if not after standing for 10 - 30 seconds you should be good for walking.

Getting up from a chair
Most people tend to push a chair away from the table by shifting their weight forward. The shift in weight tends to make the head move forward and lower towards the knees. This action increases the blood pressure from bending over followed by a sudden release or drop in blood pressure when you stand up. This can be solved by not bending over and keeping your back upright when moving you chair away from the table. If that is not possible pause after moving the chair away from the table while sitting upright. This will allow your blood pressure to return to normal. When you do stand up, stand straight up and do not lean forward.

Regardless of your body position, break up your movements with a slight rest before getting to your feet. These rest stops will help you from having a dizziness or fainting spells.

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Enabling - When Helping an Alcoholic or Addict Really Isn't Helping

An enabler in most definitions is a person who through his or her actions allows someone else to achieve something. Most often the term enabler is associated with people who allow loved ones to behave in ways that are destructive. For example, an enabler wife of an alcoholic might continue to provide the husband with alcohol. A person might be an enabler of a gambler or compulsive spender by lending them money to get out of debt.

In this fashion, though the enabler may be acting out of love and trying to help or protect a person, he or she is actually making a chronic problem like an addiction worse. By continuing to lend money to the gambler, for example, the gambler doesn’t have to face the consequences of his actions. Someone is there to bail him out of trouble and continue to enable his behavior.

The term enabler is also part of the larger definition of codependency. Codependency at first arose as a definition of adaptive behaviors a person might make if he or she lives with someone with substance abuse or severe emotional problems. A codependent tends to remain so, because he or she adapts to or ignores the behaviors of the ill person. In fact, the codependent often becomes an enabler because it allows one to be involved in fewer conflicts.

For example, one spouse is an alcoholic, while the other is not. Perhaps the spouse who doesn’t have a problem with drinking has stated that she/he will no longer allow alcohol to be consumed in the house. Then the fights ensue. The alcoholic spouse violates the rules again and again.

Eventually, the non-drinking spouse may simply decide that the fights are worse than the person being drunk. He or she caves in on this issue, perhaps even purchasing alcohol for the spouse. In this way, the spouse is the enabler of the alcoholic, and is codependent, acting in unusual ways that continue to allow the spouse to behave in a destructive manner.

Enabler can be a more broad-based term for other forms of abusive and destructive behavior. The wife who refuses to fill out police reports after being abused by her husband enables his continuing to beat her. Thus the enabler often suffers almost as much as the mentally unbalanced or addicted person.

Not all forms of enabling are necessarily negative. A person can be a positive enabler in a child’s life by behaving in certain ways. For example, a father who spends time with his children, listens to them, and lets them know how wonderful and important he thinks they are is likely to enable the children to be confident and happy children. This is an enabler in the best sense of the word.

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Debunking Myths About the Effects of the Full Moon on Your Health

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How Music Promotes Learning

Music is powerful. It can play a significant part in our lives contributing to positive academic, social, and emotional achievements. Using music in and outside of the classroom has been shown to positively influence children's abilities to process literature and mathematical concepts when used appropriately. Use music as a supplement to instruction, but do not rely on it for the purpose of boosting intelligence. Integrating musical experiences can create excitement for learning with the added bonus of supporting the advancement of developmental milestones.

Math Skills
Children who take piano lessons have been found to display a strong grasp on concepts involving fractional numbers, ratios, proportions, and problem solving. Piano training has also been linked to the improved ability to identify patterns in mathematical equations and when using math manipulatives to express calculations.

The number of beats that each individual note receives requires using proportional thinking. This thought process is a significant milestone in a child's development and is a critical component for reaching proficiency in mathematics. Proportional thinking involves comparing numbers and manipulating variables to gain a specific outcome.

Incorporating rhythm activities in the regular classroom supports learning the essentials of math. Fractions and multiplication skills are important foundations for more complex calculations. Understanding and applying note values contributes to learning how to correctly compute fractional numbers.

Spatial Reasoning
Spatial intelligence involves the ability to transform mental images into a concrete idea. Children who continually work to improve their musical skills have proven that they possess advanced spatial reasoning. These kids are able to visualize information and put meaning behind concepts that are more abstract. Students with strong spatial abilities identify similarities and differences in physical and intangible objects.

Social Skills
Being a part of a musical group supports the development of age-appropriate social skills. Kids learn to work cooperatively and communicate effectively with each other and their instructor. Constructive feedback is essential when perfecting musical performances. The ability to process positive and negative feedback supports kids to gain confidence and determination. Children also thrive when a musical presentation is performed well with encouraging responses.

Music Lessons
Supporting kids to learn how to play a musical instrument or in taking voice lessons has a positive effect on their academic work. Children who take music lessons have been found to grasp mathematical and sciences concepts with more ease than students who are not involved in advancing their musical talents. Learning to play the piano supports improved physical coordination and mental focus. Problem solving skills are increased. Children with developing musical skills tend to have stronger abstract thinking skills. Abstract thinking is the most complex form of thought that is required for drawing conclusions and adapting to situations.

Children who take voice lessons develop excellent pitch discrimination. This, in turn, has been found to support children in cultivating phonemic awareness. There is a clear connection between identifying musical sounds and applying letter sounds correctly while reading.

Background Music
Reliable research-based information is not totally conclusive about using background music in the classroom to enhance learning. However, using music during instruction could be used more as a classroom management tool. Differentiating instruction keeps students engaged; thereby reducing the amount of time the instructor spends on discipline. People traditionally think that a classroom needs to be quiet for the most efficient learning to take place. In some cases, the quiet is actually distracting. Students may be drawn to other actions or sound in the classroom if everything is quiet. Some soothing background noise can help cover environmental noise that causes distractions.

Popular music tends to be more distracting while instruction is taking place. Research has confirmed that loud and harsh tones interfere with concentration and comprehension of material. Some students are affected more so by background sound than others. Slow instrumental music without percussion is generally the best background music for learning situations.

How to Start Introducing Music into Your Classroom
Instrumental music appears to have the most relaxing effects and motivates both the left and right brain to work simultaneously. Learning and retention increase when both sides of the brain work at the same time. Music can be attributed to recalling specific events from our past. Try teaching targeted concepts while playing a specific piece of music that could be easily recalled. Engaging and simple classroom decorations and furniture, coupled with calming Baroque-era music, can support students to focus attentively and retain information more efficiently.

Experiment with background music in the classroom by starting out with Baroque-era pieces. Composers such as Bach, Pachelbel, Mozart, and Vivaldi are perfect to start. Choose pieces with a tempo of about 60 beats per minute and a moderately complex melody. Keep in mind that songs with constant repetition and an overly simple melody tend to be more distracting during learning.

Music can support students to work more productively. Songs with a faster tempo can increase energy and alertness. Experiment with different types of music with similar tempos. One study has shown that the ability to visually recognize images is increased with classical music playing in the background. Use this to your benefit when teaching letters, numbers, or anything that requires visual learning.

Try teaching your students musical notation and fingerings using a recorder. This simple and inexpensive instrument can be included in school supply lists for each child. Kids will quickly be intrigued and eager to perform basic melodies individually and as a class. Use this opportunity to build confidence in your students and enhance their academic skills simultaneously.

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Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
ISBN-10: 1433805618
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The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association" is the style manual of choice for writers, editors, students, and educators in the social and behavioral sciences. It provides invaluable guidance on all aspects of the writing process, from the ethics of authorship to the word choice that best reduces bias in language. Well-known for its authoritative and easy-to-use reference and citation system, the Publication Manual also offers guidance on choosing the headings, tables, figures, and tone that will result in strong, simple, and elegant scientific communication. The sixth edition offers new and expanded instruction on publication ethics, statistics, journal article reporting standards, electronic reference formats, and the construction of tables and figures. The sixth edition has been revised and updated to include: new ethics guidance on such topics as determining authorship and terms of collaboration, duplicate publication, plagiarism and self-plagiarism, disguising of participants, validity of instrumentation, and making data available to others for verification; new journal article reporting standards to help readers report empirical research with clarity and precision; simplified APA heading style to make it more conducive to electronic publication; updated guidelines for reducing bias in language to reflect current practices and preferences, including a new section on presenting historical language that is inappropriate by present standards; new guidelines for reporting inferential statistics and a significantly revised table of statistical abbreviations; and, new instruction on using supplemental files containing lengthy data sets and other media.

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Live Long and Prosper---Doctor's lounge (3)

It was a late fall Monday, during my third year of medical school. I had just finished a horrifically boring month of Geriatric Psychiatry at the VA hospital, and now was doing a month of Adult Psychiatry at the local psychiatric hospital. It was a locked ward, and every day we had to be buzzed in to the unit, and be buzzed out at the end of the day.
There were three medical students working the ward. We each took turns taking new patients when they were admitted and working them up. It was my turn to work up a new patient that had been brought in Sunday night.
The senior resident handed me the patient’s folder. It was a thin folder, suggesting that this was her first stay at the hospital – generally a good sign. The resident quickly dashed that hope.
“Mrs. D was brought to the ER last night for severe depression. There was no suicide attempt; her family was worried because she was staying in bed and not willing to move for the past week. Since being brought to the ward last night, she hasn’t moved at all; she’s just lay in bed staring at the ceiling.” She smiled a crooked smile at me. “Good luck.”
I looked through her chart and ER notes. There was nothing particularly alarming or interesting. She had been on outpatient treatment for depression on and off for about five years. No suicide attempts. No significant medical or family history. She was divorced with two teen-aged children.
I walked to her room, the last door on the left, opened it up and looked in. The room was dark, and a large woman was lying unmoving on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Her breathing was slow and steady and she did not seem to be in any kind of distress. I knocked and entered the room.
“Hello, ma’am. I’m the medical student, Scott. How are you doing today?”
There was no response. Not even a twitch of muscle or a flicker of eyelids.
I pulled a chair next to the head of the bed and sat down. I tried again, “Are you in any discomfort? Is there anything I can do?”
There was no change. She continued lying in bed, staring at the ceiling.
I pulled out the history form, and asked the first question. “How long have you been feeling depressed?”
No answer. No movement. It was like trying to talk to a brick wall. It was time to try a different tack.
“Tell me about your children. How old are they?”
This time there was a brief twitch of the eyes, but no other movement.
“Are you and your children getting ready for Thanksgiving?”
There was another eye twitch, but nothing else. Clearly, she could hear and probably respond, but was choosing not to.
“You were brought to the ER last night,” I said, getting no response. “So you missed Star Trek, (Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment series and media franchise) then.” This was Star Trek the Next Generation’s last season, and it was shown on Sunday nights in St. Louis.
Her eyes opened, and she turned her head my way. “Why? Did I miss anything important?” she asked. I laughed, and we spent the next hour talking about Star Trek.
Once up and out of bed, she recovered quickly and was home by the end of the week. We established a good rapport, and had many long talks. I was glad to see her get to go home, but also sad, because she was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dreary rotation.
There was an important lesson to be learned: Where standard dialogue had failed, where even family concerns were not enough, Star Trek had triumphed.

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