7 Fun Ways to Relieve Stress

1. Blow bubbles. Make lots of bubble solution and blow bubbles. You can do this alone or with someone. You will feel like a kid again. Watch the bubbles, note their shape and color. How many can you blow?
2. Turn on the music and dance in your living room. Pick up your favorite CD and dance like no one is watching. Dancing is a good physical exercise, and it releases endorphins - the feel good chemicals - in your brain.
   
3. Pick up a book of jokes at the library and read them out loud. Read them alone or share them with your partner or friends - laughter is contagious.
4. Finger paint. Get some non-toxic paints and a lot of paper. Connect with that playful kid in you and finger paint. Enjoy the colors, the sensations, and the freedom of playing.
   
5. Watch your favorite comedy.
6. Stand in front of a mirror and make faces at yourself. Funny faces. Laugh. It is a scientific fact that the body cannot differentiate between real and fake laughter. The benefits are the same.
7. Create a fun treasure box. Find a shoe box. Decorate it and collect fun pictures and treasures that you have in the house. Items that make you feel good, that put a smile on your face. Put the items in the box and take the box out whenever you feel in need of stress relief.

From: http://www.stress-relief-tools.com/fun-ways-to-relieve-stress.html

Stem Cell Debate



stem cells from a mouse

In Mrs. Mickle's biology class we've been talking about the ethics of stem cell research. She hinted that maybe, just maybe it would be our essay question for the exam...

So what do you think?
Is stem cell research okay? Defend your answer!

Humanitarian Opportunity

Book 'em Drive 2011

If you're interested in helping out with the book drive this year, go to the meeting this Wednesday. December 7, 2011. It's going to be in Ms. Green's room during one-lunch. It starts at 10:15!
Great opportunity for CAS....wink-wink

 Learn more about Book 'em at http://www.bookem-kids.org/index.htm.

ACT prep

Here are some helpful websites from a list provided by Ms. April Stevens, the VU guidance intern at HLHS this fall...check 'em out:

1. www.number2.com
2. www.sparknotes.com/testprep/books/act/
3. www.collegefortn.org
4. www.learnatest.com/LEL/index.cfm/general
5. www.kaptest.com/College/ACT/index.html
6. www.actstudent.org/testprep/index.html
7. www.studyguidezone.com/acttest.htm
8. www.petersons.com/college-search/free-act-practice-test.aspx

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Human Papillomavirus(HPV) can cause genital warts and at times can lead to cancer of the cervix, vagina, vulva, anus, penis, and throat. 3 out of 4 people have HPV at some point in their lives, but most infections go away on their own. There are no symptoms for high-risk types of HPV and most people feel fine while they are infected.

Chlamydia is the most common type of STD in the U.S. Some of the symptoms that result from this disease are as follows:
MEN: burning sensation during urination, discharge from the penis or rectum, testicular tenderness or pain, or rectal discharge or pain.
WOMEN: Only about 30% of women with chlamydia have symptoms. Symptoms that may occur in women include: Burning sensation during urination, painful sexual intercourse, rectal pain or discharge, or vaginal discharge.
Chlamydia is spread by vaginal and anal intercourse. Rarely, it is spread during oral sex or by touching your eye with your hand. It can also spread from a woman to her fetus during birth.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. Syphilis is a highly contagious disease spread primarily by sexual activity, including oral and anal sex. Occasionally, the disease can be passed to another person through prolonged kissing or close bodily contact. Signs and symptoms of syphilis include a firm, round, small, and painless sore on the genitals, anus, or mouth, or a rash on the body, especially on the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet.

Gonorrhea is caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Anyone who has any type of sex can catch gonorrhea. The infection can be spread by contact with the mouth, vagina, penis, or anus.
Symptoms in men include: Burning and pain while urinating, increased urinary frequency or urgency, discharge from the penis (white, yellow, or green in color), red or swollen opening of penis (urethra), tender or swollen testicles, sore throat (gonococcal pharyngitis.)
Symptoms in women can be very mild or nonspecific, and may be mistaken for another type of infection. They include: Vaginal discharge, burning and pain while urinating, increased urination, sore throat, painful sexual intercourse, severe pain in lower abdomen (if the infection spreads to the fallopian tubes and stomach area), fever (if the infection spreads to the fallopian tubes and stomach area.)

Random Health Fact of the Day

Pain occurs when sounds are above 130 db.

Random Health Fact of the Day

Your skeleton keeps growing until you are about 35, then you start to shrink.

HeLa Discussion

So, you may have noticed the beautiful new background change.
Those little purple dots may be pretty, but what you may not realize is that they played a big role in advancing the science of cells. Those of you who have read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks should recognize those pretty purple dots as HeLa cells.
If you aren't familiar with the story read this quick synopsis...
http://www.bookbrowse.com/reviews/index.cfm/book_number/2383/the-immortal-life-of-henrietta-lacks

Here are some discussion questions pertaining to the book:

1. In "Who Told You You Could Sell My Spleen," it says that in the 1990s the Supreme Court of California made the following rule: "When tissues are removed from your body, with or without your consent, any claim you might have had to owning them vanishes. When you leave tissues in a doctor's office or a lab, you abandon them as waste and anyone can take your garbage and sell it."
How do you feel about this ruling? Do you agree with it? If not, why?

2. Did you get the impression that Henrietta was treated any differently than a rich, white woman would have been?

3. Deborah says, "But I always have thought it was strange if our mother cells done so much for medicine, how come her family can't afford to see no doctors? Don't make no sense." (pg. 9)
Should the family be financially compensated for the HeLa cells? If so, who do you believe that the money should come from? Do you feel the Lackses deserve health insurance even though they can't afford it? How would you respond if you were in their situation?

Random Health Fact of the Day

A person can live without food for about a month, but only about a week without water. 

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss is a condition where too much exposure to loud noises can affect your hearing. Studies have shown that 12.5% (approximately 5.2 million) of children and adolescents between the ages of 6-19 have suffered permanent damage to their hearing. MP3 players/iPods, concerts, video games, movie theaters, television sets, radio, etc can make a person's environment too noisy, but this does not mean that you need to cut these things out of your life. Instead be alert and be able to notice when something is too loud.

For More Information Visit: http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/pages/noise.aspx

What Are You Really Eating?

If  you eat fast-food alot, you may be shocked to discover what you're really eating....
Watch this:
http://health.msn.com/health-topics/video.aspx?vid=0874d298-d7d5-4286-8c9f-c21ac1a0d268%26tab=Hot%20Topics&from=gallerywidget_en-us_health_hp_gallery&src=FLPl:videoContainer:play:smartPools_OPRD

Random Health Fact of the Day

Human hair is virtually indestructible.

Humanitarian Opportunity

The Salvation Army and DECA need your help to fill stockings this year. 
They need items suitable for children ages 1-12
Suggestions are: books, markers, sketch pads, crayons, puzzles, mittens, stuffed animals, etc. 
They are accepting toys until December 2, 2011
Also be aware of choking hazards and NO FOOD OF ANY KIND please.
For More Information go see Mrs. Lurry Boddie in Room 233

Random Health Fact of the Day

Your heart rate can rise as much as 30% during a yawn.

Quote

A person who has sympathy for mankind in the lump, faith in its future progress, and desire to serve the great cause of this progress, should be called not a humanist, but a humanitarian, and his creed may be designated as humanitarianism.

-Irving Babbitt

Random Health Fact of the Day

Children are more allergic to cockroaches than they are to cats!

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is when an individual torments, threatens, harasses, humiliates, embarrasses, or uses any other way to target another individual by using the internet or cells phones. Cyberbullying can lead to depression and even suicidal thoughts/suicide. Words can hurt people and we need to learn how to stop using technology to hurt others. People need to take a stand when someone is being tormented in social networks, emails, text messages, etc. If you know someone who is being cyberbullied you can always contact an adult such as teachers, principals, parents, or any adult who is trustworthy. Remember that being silent about cyberbullying is never the answer, instead voice your opinions when you think something is wrong.

For More Information Visit: http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/index2.html 

Random Health Fact of the Day

The skin on your lips is 200 times more sensitive than your fingerstips.  

Quote

"A healthy outside starts from the inside."
                                          -Robert Urich (American actor)

Humanitarian Opportunity

Extreme Non-Profit Makeover -November 12,2011
Revovation in East Nashville that includes: interior demolition, rough and finish carpentry, plumbing, electrical, fence building, exterior mural painting, construction of arbors and tables, and much more!


For More Information Visit: http://www.hon.org/projects/viewProject.php?_mode=occurrenceView&_action=load&sFrom=monthlyCalendar&ixActivity=3543&ixAffiliateRegion=&sZipcode=&bAvailable=&dtBegin=2011-11-13&dtEnd=2011-11-13&_setFlag=&_clearFlag=course,specialevent

*Must have Hands On Nashville Account to register!!*

Random Health Fact of The Day

*Scientists estimate that laughing 100 times is equivalent to a 10-minute workout on a rowing machine*

Signs of Anorexia and How to Help

Staying healthy and taking good care of you body is great, but some people can take it to the extreme. When a person starts to do things that can be emotionally or physically threatening to lose weight, it may mean that the person has an eating disorder. There are ways to notice if the person has anorexia, for example signs that may show are:

-dieting despite being thin

-obsession with food labels (calories,fat grams,nutrition)

-pretending or lying about eating

-dramatic weight loss

-critical of own appearance

-feeling fat despite being underweight

-throwing up after eating

-compulsive exercising

Steps to Overcoming Anorexia

1. Admit you have a problem

2. Talk to someone

3. Stay away from things that can trigger your obsession with being thin

4. Seek professional help   

How to Help Someone Who Doesn't Want Help

- Know that the individual makes the decision to get help

- Be a good role model of healthy eating and exercising

- Seek advise from a professional

- Give your compassion and support to that person

- Avoid threats, scary tactics, put-downs or angry outbursts. 

For More Information:

- Visit  http://www.helpguide.org/mental/anorexia_signs_symptoms_causes_treatment.htm

- Call the National Eating Disorders Association’s toll-free hotline at 1-800-931-2237 (Mon–Fri, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PST).

Driving Drowsy

Driving drunk is dangerous and against the law.
We know that.
We're told it all the time.
But how often do people mention the dangers of driving when you're tired?
According to a study done by the National Safety Administration, an estimated 100,000 police-reported car crashes are caused by drowsy driving each year. That same study showed that young drivers (ages 16 to 24) are twice as likely to be involved in a crash due to drowsy driving than older drivers (ages 40 to 59.)
It all comes down to sleep. Most teenagers these days don't get the proper amount of sleep. Sleepfoundation.com says that teens need about 9 1/4 hours of sleep per night, but only 15% of teens reported getting even 8 1/2 hours of sleep each night. With school, homework, extracurriculars, part-time jobs, and social lives, it's no suprise that teens just don't have the time to sleep.
Plus, as teenagers, our natural sleep-wake cycles-called circadian rhythms- shift and our bodies want us to go to sleep later and wake up later. But with school starting early in the morning, teens can't sleep in.
So how can we possibly get enough sleep? Sleepfoundation.com offers these suggestions for getting enough sleep:
1. Make sleep a priority. That might mean turning off your phone or TV close to bedtime.
2. Take naps. Naps are great to boost energy, but make sure you don't take a nap too close to bedtime or for too long, or it could mess up your regular sleep.
3. Don't eat, drink or exercise within a few hours of going to sleep.
4.  Make to-do lists so you don't lie awake worrying about things!
Above all, never drive when you're tired. Studies show that driving while tired is equal to a .05% blood alcohol content, which is near the legal limit.
To get more info, go to drowsydriving.org
November 6-12 is Drowsy Driving Prevention Week

Random Health Fact of The Day

Fidgeting can burn about 350 calories per day!