קטגוריה: Medicine

  • Photic Sneeze

    The photic sneeze reflex, a condition that causes uncontrollable sneezing upon sudden exposure to bright light, affects a significant portion of the population. Also known as the Autosomal Dominant Compelling Helio-Ophthalmic Outburst (ACHOO) syndrome, this reflex has been observed in 18-35% of individuals, although the exact prevalence can vary among different populations.
    Current research suggests that the photic sneeze reflex may be caused by a neural crossover between the optic and trigeminal nerves. When the optic nerve is stimulated by bright light, such as when an individual moves from a dark environment into sunlight, it can inadvertently activate the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for the sneezing reflex. This crossover is believed to be the result of a genetic variation that affects the development of neural pathways in the brain.
    Despite the scientific community’s efforts to understand the underlying mechanisms of the photic sneeze reflex, the exact cause remains elusive. Further research is needed to fully comprehend the complex interplay between the optic and trigeminal nerves and to identify the specific genetic factors that contribute to this condition. As scientists continue to investigate the photic sneeze reflex, new insights may emerge that shed light on this intriguing phenomenon and its potential implications for our understanding of human physiology and neurology.

    , , ,

  • Floaters & Flashes

    Many individuals experience the intriguing phenomena of floaters and flashes within their vision. These occurrences, while potentially alarming at first, are frequently attributable to benign changes within the eye. Understanding their etiology can alleviate anxieties and provide valuable insight into ocular physiology.
    The vitreous humor, a transparent, gel-like substance residing between the lens and retina, plays a pivotal role in this internal light show. As we age, the vitreous undergoes a natural liquefaction and shrinkage process. This can lead to the formation of microscopic condensations or strands within the gel. These structures cast faint shadows on the retina, perceived as floaters – dots, cobwebs, or wispy lines drifting across the visual field.
    Flashes, on the other hand, arise from the vitreous tugging on the retina during its shrinkage. This gentle traction stimulates the retina’s light-sensitive cells, triggering them to fire electrical signals interpreted by the brain as flashes of light, often appearing as streaks or flickers in the peripheral vision.

  • Rumbling low frequency noise

    ** This theory explores an alternative perspective on the underlying causes of motion sickness. For a more mainstream scientific explanation, you can refer to the prevailing consensus outlined here.**

    * Does exposure to low-frequency noise contribute to the development of motion
    ?sickness, particularly in the cases of carsickness and airsickness
    ** Has the medical community’s understanding of the causes of motion sickness, specifically in relation to acoustics, led to misconceptions and inadequate explanations for the phenomenon?

    Scientific theories can also be testable and make falsifiable predictions.If any evidence can be cited to prove that deaf people who can’t hear low-frequency sound also get carsickness yet can avoid it by not riding any vehicles, this opinion can be invalidated. In reality, however, pseudoscience cannot be falsifiable predictions. For instance, a pseudoscience opinion that carsickness is caused by visual motion stimulation cannot be overturned by the fact that the blind still gets carsickness.
    The symptoms caused respectively by the rotational and carsickness are quite different. The dizziness due to spinning, while carsickness usually causes nausea or sleepiness.All experiments of motion sickness can only simulate the symptoms of carsick or seasick, but can not replicate the symptoms of carsick or seasick. This is why authors of many scholar articles only state that the rotational are associated to carsickness, but the reasons behind carsickness are still unknown. Only unreliable knowledge popularizing articles say that the reason of carsickness is the rotational. This is not true. Actually, the rotational are not related to carsickness, which is actually caused by a special low-frequency noise. Only this kind of noise can cause exactly the same symptoms of carsickness. Even if the pilot without staying on the airplane, the noise of airplane engine can also cause symptoms of carsickness or airsickness. For example, Fifty years ago, more or less, Republic Aviation built a turboprop jet fighter based on the F84. It was designed to be transonic and the design propellor tip speed was supersonic. During ground tests of full power and prop RPM it was discovered that every member of the ground crew was rendered violently nauseous by the resulting high frequency ( beyond normal hearing range ) noise.Experts of carsickness around the world all know that only noise can cause exactly the same symptoms of carsickness, but they fraud people by saying that this phenomenon is only a psychological reaction!
    The reason for this scientific hoax is medical experts’ lack of knowledge about acoustics. They have only noticed that the tractor doesn’t cause motion sickness although it is rather noisy, so they have wrongly concluded that motion sickness doesn’t result from noise. In fact, they haven’t discerned that the noise of a tractor differs from the low-frequency noise which brings about motion sickness. Although they couldn’t figure out the cause of motion sickness, they were too hasty to reach a conclusion. As a consequence, they have scientifically tricked people that motion sickness is associated with many factors such as axis rotation, movement and visual motion.

    Different causes will generate different results. Motion sickness is caused by axis rotation, visually induced and low-frequency noise three main causes, with completely different symptoms. The corresponding axis rotation may cause symptoms of the most awful dizziness, visually induced may cause mild dizziness, and low-frequency noise may cause nausea, vomiting, and drowsiness. That is to say rumbling low frequency noise may cause carsickness, seasickness, and airsickness.
    Carsickness and seasickness are caused by a special kind of rumbling low-frequency noise. Therefore, people with good low-frequency hearing are easy to get carsick and seasick, and deaf people who can’t hear low-frequency sound will not get carsick and seasick at all.Women can hear better than men, so women tend to suffer from carsickness more than men. Drivers or aviators long-term exposure to car Low frequency noise or after repeated exposures to the flying environment.will cause a temporary neurosensory low frequency hearing loss. Therefore, the driver or aviators will not get carsickness or airsickness.Airsickness or carsickness may also occur when a previously adapted individual returns to duty after a period of non-flying.This is because low-frequency hearing has been restored.People who gets carsickness in a car usually can travel in trains, metro, trucks, tractors, motorcycles that can’t hear low-frequency noise without any discomfort at all.Also, even when people are standing near an airplane rather than riding on the airplane, the stimuli from the low-frequency rumbling of the airplane’s motor still triggers intense airsickness or carsickness.
    There are many patterns of hearing loss. Generally clinicians group them along several axes; sensory vs conductive; the severity axis — mild vs moderate vs. profound; the time axis — sudden vs progressive vs chronic, and the frequency spectrum that is affected. Roughly speaking, the frequency patterns of hearing loss are divided up into: Low-frequency, mid-frequency, high-frequency, notches, and flat. Among them, only the deaf people with low-frequency hearing loss will not get carsick and seasick. Deaf people with other types of hearing loss will still get carsick and seasick.
    In addition, because medical experts define dizziness （dizziness due to spinning）and carsickness as motion sickness, all the deaf people without long-term spinning training will experience motion sickness(dizziness due to spinning) in a spinning chair .
    Symptoms of carsickness get stronger when vehicles bump or shake more frequently, which is just a coincidence. It is just because low-frequency noise gets louder when bumping and shaking gets more serious. Without such low-frequency noise, people will not feel carsick no matter how hard the car bumps or shakes. For example, people get carsick on trains or subways running at the same speed when hearing low-frequency noise. Without such noise on trains or subways, carsickness can be avoided. It fully proves that low-frequency noise is the only reason that causes carsickness.

    ,

  • Calamity Jane

    * Also called vitreous body or vitreous fluid – the Vitreous Humor is a clear, jelly-like substance that fills about four-fifths of the space in the back of your eye, between the lens and the retina

    * It is mostly made up of water (about 99%), with a small amount of collagen, proteins, and sugars.

    Beyond simple light transmission, the vitreous humor plays a subtle role in fine-tuning the way light interacts with the eye. Its specific refractive index contributes to the overall focusing power of the eye, working in concert with the lens to ensure crisp and clear vision.
    Furthermore, the vitreous humor plays a role in maintaining intraocular pressure, the delicate balance of fluid within the eye. This pressure is crucial for maintaining the shape of the eyeball and ensuring optimal function of all its components.
    However, the vitreous humor is not static. As we age, it undergoes a natural process called liquefaction. While this is often a benign change, the vitreous pulling away from the surrounding structures can sometimes cause the formation of floaters – those annoying cobweb-like specks that drift across our vision. In rare cases, a more serious condition called posterior vitreous detachment can occur.

    The vitreous body, a transparent marvel of nature, acts as the eye’s internal jelly, occupying the posterior cavity between the crystalline lens and the light-sensitive retina. This gel-like substance, primarily composed of water, is far from inert. Within its seemingly simple structure lies a complex interplay of collagen fibers, hyaluronic acid, and other biomolecules that orchestrate its unique properties.
    The vitreous humor fulfills a multitude of critical tasks within the delicate ecosystem of the eye. One of its most crucial functions is providing structural support. It acts like a scaffold, maintaining the eyeball’s round shape. This spherical form is essential for optimal function of the cornea and lens, which rely on a specific curvature to properly refract light. The vitreous humor also serves as a buffer, cushioning the retina and lens from potential impact or trauma.
    Light, the very essence of vision, relies heavily on the vitreous humor’s transparency. It acts like a clear window, allowing light rays to pass through unimpeded on their journey to the retina. Here, the intricate dance of photoreception translates these light signals into electrical impulses relayed to the brain, enabling us to see the world around us.

    , , , ,

  • Calamity Jane

    Motion Sickness

    Motion sickness is a common condition that occurs when there is a disconnect between what your eyes see and what your inner ear senses. This sensory mismatch can happen when you’re traveling in a car, boat, airplane, or amusement park ride, and it can even occur when playing video games or watching a 3D movie.

    The inner ear (or vestibular system) helps control your sense of balance and spatial orientation. When you’re in motion, your inner ear detects the movement, but if your eyes are focused on a stationary object (like a book or a screen), your brain gets conflicting signals, leading to motion sickness.

    Symptoms of motion sickness can include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sweating, and a general feeling of unease. It can vary in intensity from person to person and can be influenced by factors such as the mode of transportation, the person’s susceptibility, and the duration of the journey.

    There are several ways to prevent or alleviate motion sickness, such as focusing on the horizon, avoiding reading or screen use, sitting in the front seat of a car or over the wing of a plane, and taking medications like antihistamines or anti-nausea drugs.

    **This presents the conventional scientific view of the phenomena. For an alternative perspective exploring the potential influence of low-frequency noise, click here**

    ,

  • Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy

    Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, or “broken heart syndrome,” is a captivating yet serious condition where the heart weakens, mimicking a heart attack. Its name, derived from a Japanese octopus trap (takotsubo), reflects the affected heart’s resemblance to this pot.
    The real intrigue lies in its trigger: intense emotional or physical stress. A heartbreak, a major accident, even a joyous surprise party – these can disrupt the heart’s rhythm, highlighting the mysterious mind-body link. Thankfully, most recover within months, but complications like heart failure can arise.
    First identified in Japan in 1990, takotsubo remains uncommon, affecting 1-2% of suspected heart attack cases. Women, especially those over 50, are more susceptible. Diagnosis can be tricky as symptoms mirror a heart attack, but unlike a blocked artery, takotsubo involves a temporary pump dysfunction, revealed by imaging tests.
    As science delves deeper, takotsubo emerges as a powerful reminder: emotional well-being significantly impacts heart health. Recognizing the potential for stress to literally break our hearts paves the way for a more holistic approach to cardiovascular health, one that embraces the mind-body connection and prioritizes both emotional and physical well-being.

    , , ,

Loading posts…

No more posts

An icon representing binoculars.

Date