Cristina134's blog

Lies, manipulation and fights that the neighbors have probably heard. This is what has filled my house for the past four months. It’s been four months since I’ve had a stress-free day and four months since I’ve had any kind of sanity. The trouble doesn’t lie within my marriage, but with a house guest. This guest is supposed to be my big sister, but I don’t recognize her anymore. She’s a stranger in my home that has stolen all of my sanity. Alcohol is her lover and I am the enemy trying to keep them apart.

Jimson weed is the common name for a plant known botanically as Datura stramonium. It is an annual herb that grows up to five feet tall. The main ingredients in the plant are belladonna alkaloids, atropine and scopolamine. Atropine is among the active ingredients in prescription drugs of Donnatal, Lomotil and Unrised.

Here are 5 common myths about drinking alcohol.

Myth 1: Alcohol kills brain cells.
Fact: Alcohol does not kill brain cells. It does damage dendrites however. Dendrites are the branched ends of nerve cells that bring messages into the cell. This damage is completely reversible. Moderate consumption is actually associated with better thinking and reasoning skills and memory. Years of alcohol abuse can cause serious neurological damage, but there is no evidence that alcohol kills brain cells.

Myth 2: A “beer belly” is caused by drinking beer.

Giving birth and aging can weaken the pelvic floor. This causes uterine prolapse to occur. Uterine prolapse is the falling or sliding of the uterus from the normal position in the pelvic cavity into the vaginal canal. Other names for uterine prolapse are pelvic relaxation and pelvic floor hernia. If the uterus slips or drops into the vagina, creating a lump or bulge, it is referred to as an incomplete prolapse. A complete prolapse occurs in more severe cases when the uterus slips so far that the tissue drops outside of the vagina.

Premature ovarian failure occurs when a woman’s ovaries stop working before the age of 40. It was formerly called premature menopause, but premature ovarian failure is not the same as menopause. During menopause, a woman’s period stops completely and they can no longer become pregnant. A woman with premature ovarian failure can still have periods even though they may be irregular and there is still a slight chance that she can become pregnant. Other names for premature ovarian failure are primary ovarian insufficiency, hypergonadotropic hypogonadism and ovarian hypofunction.

Cinnamon has a long history as not only a spice, but also as a medicine. Studies have shown that just ½ teaspoon of cinnamon a day can lower LDL cholesterol. This teaspoon of cinnamon contains 28 mg. of calcium, almost 1 mg. of iron, more than a gram of fiber and vitamins C, K and manganese.

There are two varieties of cinnamon-Chinese and Ceylon. They have a similar flavor, but the Ceylon is slightly sweeter, more refined and more difficult to find. In traditional medicine cinnamon has been used for digestive ailments such as indigestion, gas, bloating, stomach upset and diarrhea.

Valerian Root has been used for over 1,000 years as a sleep aid. My brother first told me about it. Until then I had no idea it even existed. He told me to take three capsules before bed to help with insomnia. You can also take one capsule three times a day. I tried it for a while. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn’t and the smell is absolutely horrible.

Narcolepsy is the second leading cause of excessive daytime sleepiness. Obstructive sleep apnea is the first. Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that occurs in the area of the brain that regulates when to sleep and when to be awake. Narcolepsy is believed to be caused by a deficiency of the brain chemical orexin A and B. The symptoms usually appear between the ages of 10 and 25 years of age. However the disorder can start before the age of 10 or well into the 20’s and 30’s. It is rare for the disorder to begin after the age of 40.

The brain works through electrochemical processes. These processes may become impaired by mental illnesses. Electroconvulsive Therapy is believed to work by altering some of these processes. This medical treatment is performed by highly skilled doctors and nurses under the supervision of a psychiatrist.

Apnea is a Greek word that means ‘without breath’. Those who suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea stop breathing repeatedly during sleep for a minute or longer. This can happen hundreds of times during the night.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea can be caused by a complete obstruction of the airway, which is called obstructive apnea, or a partial obstruction, which is called obstructive hypoapnea. Both of these types of apnea can cause the person to wake-up.