Are you TANOREXIC?

Name: Aldana Vercellone

Article: Are you tanorexic?

Source: Times Online

Link: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/newspapers/sunday_times/style/article1076671.ece

Have you ever seen the new tv show "Sunset Tan" or the "orange" actors and actresses walking along the famous "red carpet"

Well, even though they look radiant and beautiful wearing the newest "accesorie" - Sunbed tan - their skin might not be as healthy as we, ordinary people, think.

The wish of being tanned in the middle of winter, for a special event or just because we do not have time to sunbathe, can lead us to take the example from many famous people, like Paris Hilton, to get a sunbed tan.

If you have ever experienced this way of tanning, you probably want to repeat the session one more than and so on until you get hooked on the bright-and-brownie look of your skin.

But this desire to get tanned permanently could be the result of a new syndrome, nicknamed TANOREXIA.

Tanorexia applies to people who have a compulsion to get tanned in sunbeds several times a week. In fact, in a study published by the British Journal of Dermatology, 17% of sunbed users admitted to having more than 100 sessions a year, which increases their risk of suffering from skin cancer: The prercentage sums up to 20% of risk per decade of using sunbeds.

Getting tanned in sunbeds, appart from producing the wanted "brownie" look, make the users feel happier and with a better mood. But this state of mind is addictive due to the fact that they are part of the effects of the exposition of the body to UV rays.

Unlike sunlight, which contains a mix of UVA and UVB, sunbeds produce mainly UVA radiation, the rays that penetrate more deeply into the skin. Since radiation levels in sunbeds can be up to 12 times more powerful than sunlight, when you go on a sunbed you get a much more intense shot of UV light. These UV rays cause endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals, to be released into the bloodstream, creating a similar effect to a post-exercise high.

Uv light also activates SOLITROL, a skin hormone that works together with MELATONIN to produce changes in mood and regulate the body clock.

But, although these effect may seem to be good for people, the addicitve potential of intense UV exposure may affect people with SAD (seasonal affective disorder) produced by the suppression of serotonin from sunlight, specially during winter.

Besides, sunbed tanning causes an accelerated skin-ageing. The skin goes sallow, blotchy and wrinkles appear making people believe that the solution to this state is getting tanned again.

Links to the pictures: http://images.google.com.ar/imgres?imgurl=http://images-cdn01.associatedcontent.com/150_0000037089_0000087740.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/237304/addicted_to_tanning_tanorexia_may_be.html&h=199&w=150&sz=7&hl=es&start=5&um=1&tbnid=P49V6iCDo0HopM:&tbnh=104&tbnw=78&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtanorexia%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Des

http://images.google.com.ar/imgres?imgurl=http://www.beautyandthedirt.co.uk/files/articles/652/652_mainimage4.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.beautyandthedirt.co.uk/show.asp%3FID%3D652&h=277&w=252&sz=28&hl=es&start=30&um=1&tbnid=ETwNKNezt4p9LM:&tbnh=114&tbnw=104&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtanorexic%2B%26start%3D20%26ndsp%3D20%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Des%26sa%3DN

http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/gri/lowres/grin254l.jpg

Energy Drinks + Alcohol = Danger!

Name: Aldana Vercellone

Article: Drinkers who mix Red Bull with alcohol ‘twice as likely to suffer harm’

Source: Times Online

Date: November 5, 2007

Link: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article2806253.ece

A recent study shows that drinking Energy Drinks with alcohol doubles the risks of getting injured or harming someone else than those who only drink alcohol.

The study suggests that products such as Red Bull, which contain Caffeine and Taurine, allow drinkers to consume more alcohol without noticing they are getting drunk. As there is no acknowledgment of the drunkenness a person is undergoing, the danger of suffering a car crash or being sexually abused increases.

Appart from that, the effects in the drinker's body can be as harmful as deadly. In fact, this year a young woman died in a nightclub in Dublin after drinking several cocktails of Red Bull with Vodka. That is why, the beverage has been banned in France and Denmark while the The National Swedish Food Administration has warned people to avoid drinking the energy drink.

What does the energy drink mixed with alcohol cause in a person's body?
Caffeine is a stimulant and alcohol is a deppresant. The stimulant effects can mask how intoxicated you are and prevent you from realizing how much alcohol you have consumed. Also, the caffeine in energy drinks is dehydrating which slows down the metabolism of alcohol in the body.

As a result, the symptoms of drunkenness are reduced, but not the drunkennes putting drinkers' lives in danger.

In my opinion, Energy Drinks makers should take actions in what regards harmful effects of the beverage they are producing. And I think that drinkers should take responsability of their own acts as well: If you read carefully in the cans you would be able to see a warning sign saying "Do not drink more than 4 cans" that is why I can not understand why a person consumes more than the advised amount. It may be because they are drunk, but I consider that nobody obliges them to drink what they drink to enters into a state of drunkennes.

I would advise them "Be responsible of your acts, and do not blame others for the harm you are causing to yourself."

Spiked! Kids and Energy Drinks.

Name: Aldana Vercellone

Article: Spiked!

Source: Reader's Digest Online

Date: July, 2007

Link: http://www.rd.com/content/spiked-/

As the fashion of taking Energy Drinks is setting in kids and adolescents, worried parents and doctors are asking themselves: How bad can they be?

Energy drinks are loaded with high amounts of CAFFEINE plus high doses of SUGAR and CALORIES. Besides, they also contain ingredients that accelerate caffeine's effect, such as TAURINE and GUARANA. This mixing can have serious consequences on children's bodies, which are in the process of growing up.

The after effect of consuming high amounts of energy drinks include heart palpitations, seizures, high blood pressure, nervousness, anxiety, insomnia, shaking, nausea, diarrhea and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders. It is claimed that, as opposed to adolescents' beliefs, the overdoing of caffeine restricts the ability to concentrate while studying.

Appart from that doctors refer to energy drinks as a way of drinking empty calories due to the fact that the fashionable drinks double and even triple the doses of sugar and calories raising the fear of obesity as a national epidemic in the US.

The most worrying aspect of this new fashion is that Energy Drinks are obtaining great marketing in kids. You will see posters encouraging the ingest of the beverage in concerts, fashion shows and sports events dedicated to teenagers.

But, there are good news for parents: Energy drinks are not addictive and adolescents can quit drinking them easily.

Source: http://images.google.com.ar/imgres?imgurl=http://desourcesure.com/upload/Red-Bull-Comp---Bull-Power.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.becomenatural.com/blog/2007/08/energy-drinks-dont-be-fooled-by-misleading-advetices/&h=370&w=400&sz=13&hl=es&start=1&tbnid=pUiD-vVnewKp1M:&tbnh=115&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Denergy%2Bdrinks%2Bchildren%26gbv%3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Des%26sa%3DG

Why men and women argue differently.

Name: Aldana Vercellone

Article: Why men and women argue differently.

Source: Times Online

Date: October 30, 2007

Link: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/men/article2764731.ecece

It is a fact that men and women argue differently: A recent study showed that in almost all the cases, while women tend to quarrel about an issue, men tend to bottle up their feelings, and then the argument finishes not being solved.



But, why do we behave differently? US research published in Psychosomatic Medicine, found that more men than women tend to "self-silence" themselves during confrontations when they feel they are loosing control, while women bring up and pursue issues to be talked and analysed because they are usually the ones in charge of the relationship.



Besides, it has been shown that, on average, men are afraid of confrontations and they would rather avoid talking about any topics that may cause an argument, as opposed to women, who would keep on looking for solving any problem.



But despite any kind of generalisation, women also are capable of withdrawing from an argument, and the most popular technique is crying. Men, on the other hand, can become aggresive as the confrontations pent up.



Even though arguments will be always be present in a relationship, there is a thesis in which it is claimed that the differences and disagreements between men and women are not as harmful as the way in which they are communicated.



If a point is winded up agressively, the other person will need to withdraw from the confrontation, and then pattern of pushing-withdrawing-pushing again-and-silencing will keep on occuring and the problems will never be solved.



In my opinion, the key for a healthy relationship relies on communication. If a person does not speak their minds, a feeling of resentment will arise damaging any kind of relationship among the peope involved.

Genetic Roots for Homosexuality?

Name: Aldana Vercellone




Article: Gay brothers may hold genetic clues.




Source: Msnbc.com




Link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21309724/
















In the search of an explanation for homosexuality, about one thousand pairs of gay brothes are taking part in the largest study in order to look for clues for their sexual orientation in genes.




The majority of families in which two or more members are homosexual are considered to build a gene which affects the sexuality of its members, and homosexuality may be viewed as a genetic trait like height or hair colour.




In a study published in 1993, it was found that gay brothers shared genetic markers in a region of the X-chromosome, which men inherit from their mothers. The location of such markers in that region imply the influence of genes on sexual orientation. That is why, the study being held nowadays rely on blood and saliva samples in the search for clues of the "gay gene".




On the one hand, there is a strong belief in homosexuality due to genetic roots, but on the other hand, some scientists suspect that there isn't a gene causing it, but they believe that there may be several genes, which, in interaction with non-genetic factors like social and psychological influence, determine a person's sexual orientation.




The results of this study are feared by the majority of gays due to the fact that the identification of such a gene, can lead to discrimation, prenatal testing and even abortions to eliminate homosexuals.

Teens and Pills.

Name: Aldana Vercellone.

Article: Teens seek "safer" high, get hooked on pain pills.

Source: msnbc.com

Link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12803776/

A recent survey showed that even though there's a drop in alcohol use and smoking in teenagers, the use and subsequent abuse of pain pills is putting boys and girls into a higher risk.

It is considered that about 1 in 5 teens have tried "getting high" with prescription drug painkillers, such as Vicodin, which, to make things worse, it is easily found in any ordinary person's medicine cabinet.

Regarding teens' opinions, they allegue that experimenting with prescription drugs is "much safer" than illegal ones. Besides, there are no "dealers" involved, making it easier for them to get drugs almost everywhere and with a cheaper cost.

As the source of drugs is now the family medicine cabinet, the emphasis is put on parents, who should be educated so as to note any kind of strange behaviour in their children, mainly because, when they were teens, prescription drug abuse did not exist.

Apart from that, teenagers should be educated as well due to the fact that there are too many myths regarding prescribed drugs, making them believe they are dealing with safer stuff, but the after effects could be damaging their bodies too.

In our society, the abuse of painkillers has not been "discovered" by teenagers yet , but there is an increase in the ingest of anti-depressants, which, together with teens lack of information, is causing several deaths at an early age.

The most popular case occured some months ago in Buenos Aires, when a fifteen-year-old girl took four Rivotril pills plus an Ecstasy pill. The determinant factor for her death was, in my opinion, her lack of information regarding drug use, because, instead of drinking water (which is a premise when taking ecstasy or anti-deppresants) the girl drank alcohol, which made her body collapse causing her death.

In my opinion, Education is the key to fight against addictions, and as a society, all of us have to take charge in changing deadly habits.