Oxygen Deficit Makes Nerve Cells Grow

Summary: Mentally and physically demanding tasks trigger functional hypoxia across the brain. This oxygen shortage activates Epo, which stimulates the growth of new neurons and synapses.

Source: Max Planck Institute

Oxygen deficit, also called hypoxia, in the brain is actually an absolute state of emergency and can permanently damage nerve cells. Nevertheless, there is growing evidence that to a certain extent, hypoxia can also be an important signal for growth.

Together with scientists from the University Hospitals of Copenhagen and Hamburg-Eppendorf, researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine in Göttingen have shown in mice that mentally and physically demanding activity triggers not only a local but also a brain-wide ‘functional hypoxia’. Although in an attenuated form, the effects are similar to oxygen deprivation.

The shortage of oxygen activates, among other things, the growth factor erythropoietin (Epo), which stimulates the formation of new synapses and nerve cells. This mechanism could explain why physical and mental training have a positive effect on mental performance into old age.

Last year, researchers at the Max Planck Institute in Göttingen found out in experiments in animal studies with mice that mentally and physically demanding activities trigger a slight oxygen deficit in certain brain regions. This ultimately leads to the formation of new nerve cells. They observed that hypoxia activates the growth factor erythropoietin (Epo) in the brain. Although it is known primarily for its stimulating effect on red blood cells, Epo also promotes the formation of nerve cells and their networking in the brain.

In a new study, the research group examined in detail which brain regions and cell types are affected by the shortage of oxygen. To do this, they used genetically modified mice that produce a molecule throughout the brain that leads to the formation of a fluorescent dye when there is an oxygen deficit. In order to challenge the mice both mentally and physically, the researchers let them run on specially prepared running wheels for several days.

The mice had to concentrate while running on these wheels to avoid stumbling in addition to being physically exerted. Mice that had no access to a running wheel and mice exposed to oxygen-depleted air served as comparator groups. The researchers also examined the activation of genes in different brain regions and cell populations in order to find out how the brain reacts to activity-induced hypoxia.

Change in gene activity

In fact, running wheel training had effects similar to reducing the oxygen content in the air we breathe. In both cases, the change in the activity of many genes was similar, and a mild oxygen deficit occurred throughout the brain.

However, there were major differences between different cell types: nerve cells were particularly affected, whereas the glial cells (auxiliary cells of the neurons) were only slightly affected. In addition, the Epo gene in the brain, together with a number of other genes, is particularly stimulated during both mental and physical activity.

“We still don’t know whether mild hypoxia as a result of activity also leads to stronger networking of nerve cells – and even to their formation – in humans. We therefore want to carry out similar studies on humans – for example on test subjects who are active on exercise bikes”, says Hannelore Ehrenreich, head of the study. The findings could ultimately benefit patients with neurodegenerative diseases in which nerve cells die or lose synapses.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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Screen time making preschool children physically inactive

Preschool children (aged two to three) who spend more than 3 hours a day viewing screens such as mobile/ tablets/ television grow up to be less physically active at age 5.5 years, according to a study published in the internationally acclaimed, The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health journal.

The study revealed that children of the same age group whose screen time was less than 1 hour per day were more likely to have healthier behaviours in later life.

One way that screen viewing may influence health is by replacing time that would otherwise be spent doing something else, such as physical activity and sleep. The latest study is the first to look at the effects of early-life screen use on daily activity in pre-school children.

A Prof. said, " we sought to determine whether screen viewing habits at age 2-3 affected how children spent their time at age 5. In particular we were interested in whether screen viewing affected sleep patterns and activity levels later in childhood.

 A former school principal said, parents must show restraint when handing over their mobiles. Parents who give mobiles to kids or feed them while they watch TV is a bad practice and also habit forming.

A teacher agreed saying handing over mobiles has become an easy way out. I hardly see children on the ground as parents prefer to keep them at home or send them to activity class rather than undertake any physical activity. Parents do not have enough time for their children due to their busy schedule, giving mobile in their hand or putting on the TV is easy for parents, that keeps the children busy.

But the problem of excessive screen time is going beyond just lack of physical activity, feels a school principal. Spending too much time in virtual world is hampering social skills of the real world. Poor social skills are genuine concerns to be addressed. Lack of patience and limited attention span is a growing problem among our children due to overuse of smartphones.

Another principal said that the extra screen time soon spills over to misuse, which is a bigger concern. Kids soon start accessing that part of the internet which is dangerous for them. There are cases where children are posting obscene videos and getting exposed to things which are not age appropriate.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     
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https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
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A debilitating disease

In the Netflix documentary Gaga: Five Foot Two, music icon and actress Lady Gaga  admits that it has been difficult dealing with the widespread muscular pain of fibromyalgia for the past few years.

But what exactly is fibromyalgia? It is a condition in which people feel chronic pain in their muscles and tendons, often along with other symptoms like sleep problems, headaches or mood disorders.

This affects other systems like the brain, impacting a person’s ability to concentrate and remember things. “It is a disorder characterised by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain processes pain signals,” says a senior orthopedic & joint replacement surgeon.

“There are 18 tender points we use to help with a diagnosis of this condition. We will apply pressure on these points to see if it causes pain for the patients. People with this issue can feel like their muscles are sore a lot. Think about a time when one overdid it with exercise routine and felt stiff and painful muscles the next day. That’s what some sufferers say it feels like,” explains a Dr.

Fibromyalgia affects people physically, mentally and socially. “Symptoms sometimes begin after a physical trauma, surgery, infection or significant psychological stress. In other cases, symptoms gradually accumulate over time with no single triggering event. Women are more likely to develop fibromyalgia than men. Many people who have fibromyalgia also have tension headaches, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety and depression,” says a Dr.

“The lack of sleep is one reason for the overwhelming sense of flu-like fatigue many have with this condition. It can be hard to fall asleep or stay asleep,” adds a Dr.

While there is no cure for fibromyalgia, a variety of medications can help control symptoms — exercise, relaxation and stress-reduction measures may also help.

this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     
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https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
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Cut risk of diabetes by 30 per cent with just 30 minutes of physical activity

The number of people suffering from diabetes is on the rise. Whether we blame a sedentary lifestyle or the food we eat, there is no ignoring the number of people who fall a prey to the disease. According to experts this disease is not only a blood sugar disorder but is a vascular disease.  

With almost everyone spending so much of their time in a sedentary job, how can one stay healthy and safe from diabetes? Here are some things you can do:

Be physically active: You have probably heard this advice a million times, but it is true. The best way to keep healthy is to exercise. It not helps reduce weight, but also regulates blood sugar levels. Half an hour of exercise whether aerobic exercise, or activities like dancing, playing tennis, brisk walking etc. reduces the risk of Type 2 diabetes by 30%. If you do not have time in the day, you could try taking a fifteen minute walk after each meal within your office complex. This helps regulate one’s blood sugar levels thereby reducing the risk of developing diabetes. 

Healthy diet:  Eating foods that are rich in fibre helps to naturally balance sugar levels in the body. Avoid the habit of overeating and instead divide your meals into 5-6 meals including snacks  etc. There is one sneaky demon when it comes to eating – emotional eating. Yup, when you are stressed out or just feeling low, one does tend to turn to food to calm down. Avoid this habit, it leads to weight gain and eventually diabetes. Junk food is also a strict no-no as they are a major reason of obesity and diabetes. 

Get proper sleep: Sleeping for at least 7-8 hours in a day is a must since proper sleep will make you feel energetic, and most importantly keep a check on your cravings for high-calorie food.  

Manage stress: Stress is one of the major reasons for diabetes.  Studies suggest that the more stressed out a person is the more he/she tends to resort to unhealthy food habits or start smoking and/or binge drinking. How stress works is that the stress hormones alter blood glucose levels directly increasing the risk of the diabetes. To lower your stress levels you could try yoga, meditation, exercising, listening music or anything that makes you happy and stress free.

Get Regular health check-ups: As the saying goes, better safe than sorry, getting regular health check-up especially after the age of 45 is always a good idea. But if you have known risk factors (like high blood pressure or obesity), discuss them with your doctor. 

ps- this is only for information, always consult you physician before having any particular food/ medication/exercise/other remedies.

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SOME EXERCISES TO OVERCOME STRESS

1. Yoga

A tried and tested way to deal with stress is the traditional form of exercise, yoga. Meditating and practising a few breathing exercises by concentrating on your breath can be very beneficial for your mental health. Removing a minuscule 10 minutes of your time on a daily basis to do yoga is a must.

2. Walking

The simplest yet effective way of killing stress is by walking. Taking a walk in a park or on the beach can unite you with nature and relieve you of the stress. You must go for a walk regularly in order to keep serious ailments like heart attacks and blood pressure problems at bay.

3. Dancing

Dancing is an amalgamation of a number of physical and mental exercises, which can help you, deal with stress in an enjoyable way. Learning something new each day with your friends can be a fun filled way to exercise.

4. Sports

Any kind of a sport activity you like can also be an exercise for your body that can help you deal with stress. Games like tennis, football and squash are great ways of staying connected with people and at the same time indulging you in a complete body workout.

5. Tai Chi

Tai Chi is an olden martial arts form that entails a combination of meditative movements that have the ability to connect your mind and body. Practising this form of exercise can reduce your stress and bring a sense of calmness in you.

6. Kick-boxing

With innovative exercising forms making its entry into the country, the popularity of forms like  kick-boxing is increasing by the day. You could enrol yourself for a variety of kick-boxing styles, which entail Jujitsu, Muay Thai, and Judo to name a few.

Stress of any kind is not only harmful for your mental health but affects the physical condition of the body in more than one ways. Exercising and keeping the mind and body at ease by trying some of these exercises can be the way towards happiness.

STRESS PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN HEART DISEASES

IF a family has a history of heart disease, it is best to tell 

children about the importance of a healthy lifestyle, eating 

right and staying physically active.

Among adults over 20 years of age, the estimated prevalence

 of coronary heart disease is around 3-4% in rural areas and 

8-10% in urban areas, representing a two-fold rise in rural 

areas and a six-fold rise in urban areas between the years 

1960 and 2000.

The reasons are not too difficult to find. Earlier it was thought 

that the Indian gene is the main cause for the epidemic of 

heart diseases, but new research suggests that stress play a 

very big role. Urban Indians have high levels of stress and low 

levels of physical activity. The Indian diet has drastically 

changed. All these are contributing to a higher incidence of 

heart disease among Indians.

The only silver lining is that with regular monitoring of 

cholesterol, blood sugar, hypertension and an annual stress 

test, people should be able to catch any discrepancy. This 

regular monitoring would ensure that in 80-90% of the cases, 

any heart problem is noticed at the earliest.

It is important to keep mentally, physically & nutritionally healthy

“Patients don’t die of cancer, they die of complications from the cancer because their bodies can’t mentally, physically or nutritionally handle the treatments.”


Mentally to be strong, learn to control your stress levels, either by meditating regularly, listening to music, doing what you love the most.


To be keep physically fit, join or do any form of exercise which is suitable for your body, never over do anything. If in doubt always consult your physician before yous tart any new form of exercise. Aerobics, swimming, playing badminton, tennis, jogging, walking are just few of it that one can do.


Nutritionally healthy is possible by having a proper diet with enough proteins & healthy carbs, which help to fight against the diseases.


You may find it at first difficult to follow these, but by making a small attempt, you may find it easier to have the change & see that it helps you to overcome your disease.