Epilepsy Talk
Laughter as effective as cocaine?
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Yup. A comic cartoon fires up the same brain centre as a shot of cocaine, researchers report.
A team at Stanford University in California asked lab mates, spouses and friends to select the wittiest newspaper cartoons from a portfolio. They showed the winning array to 16 volunteers while peering inside their heads with an MRI.
The cartoons activated the same reward circuits in the brain that are tickled by cocaine, money or a pretty face, the neuroscientists found. (Wow!)
What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?
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All of us have dreams. Some become reality…and some stay in our imaginations.
For me, writing was my “dream”. And it became a reality when I discovered a way I could write without starving.
Not with photography…
Epilepsy and Energy Drinks – Think Before You Drink!
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It feels good and it tastes good, it’s easy to drink and it gives you that extra jolt of energy. But is it really worth it?
Think the death of 18-year-old Irish athlete, Ross Cooney, who died within hours after playing a basketball game and consuming four cans of “Red Bull”. (Subsequently it was banned in France.)
Tags: adolescents, caffeine, children, energy drink, health risk, seizures, sugar
Celebrities Supporting Epilepsy
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There are some people who don’t turn a deaf ear to what everyone else doesn’t want to hear. The phobic fear of epilepsy.
For example, Greg Grunberg is a true “Hero.” Not just as a TV star but also as the spokesperson for the Epilepsy Foundation of America. He is joined in his support by…
What Is your Favorite Joke — Part #2
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Well folks, it looks like you took me seriously. Which just goes to show: Who says people with epilepsy don’t have a great sense of humor?
So, bring it on, so we can start with a laugh each day.
Factoids for the trivia lover
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Here are some factoids you may or may not know…
I tried to keep my trivia to things associated with health and the human body, but there are millions of other health tidbits that exist. So, if you want to add to the list, Chime in! But don’t forget to cite the resource – even if it is your great aunt Tilly!
Ok. Here we go!
Did you know that…
It takes 17 muscles to smile — 43 to frown…
Laughing lowers levels of stress hormones and strengthens the immune system…
The human brain uses approximately as much energy as a 10 watt light bulb…
The longest living cells in the body are brain cells which can live an entire lifetime…
Naps improve memory…
Your brain is more active sleeping than it is watching TV…
Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair…
During thinking, we use on about 35% of our brains…
The human brain is 80% water…
There are about as many nerve cells in your brain as there are stars in our galaxy (give or take a billion)…
Poetry is music to the soul…
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We souls with epilepsy could use a little music. But, since we can’t hear you, we’ll have to settle for the written word.
So, whether it’s lyrics or poetry…write on!
What’s your favorite joke?
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They say that “laughter is the best medicine.”
Well, believe it or not, it could help your EEG results!
For example, scientists traced the brainwave activity of people responding to funny material. They were hooked up to an (EEG) and their brain activity was measured when they laughed…
Why 3D TVs are NOT for me…
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Here’s the good news and the bad news…
The GOOD: You can buy a 3D TV without using the 3D function.
The BAD: I threw up watching Avatar and I’m not even photosensitive!
I guess you get the message.
Watching 3D can cause other problems in addition to causing seizures. They include: altered vision, lightheadedness, dizziness, eye or muscle twitching, confusion, nausea, loss of awareness, convulsions, cramps and disorientation. (So I’m not such a wuss.)
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