Leptin

Cynthia Essex was a wife and mother of eight children when she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Her story starts out on a regular Sunday morning when she set off to church with her family. She was feeling fine despite the slight amount of fatigue that continued to press on her. This seemed normal to Cynthia though, and she even claimed that, “Something would be wrong with me if I wasn’t tired.” Exhaustion soon overwhelmed her, and during the middle of church service she abruptly…

A BADGE OF HONOR? “Our society seems to place a moral value on sleeping as little as possible… . Saying ‘I’m tired and I’m going to sleep’ is viewed as being lazy.” Sleep research Dr. Eve Van Cauter (Brody) provided this adequate description of how our high demand, 24 hours a day, seven days a week world, is robbing substantial numbers of people of sleep. For many Americans “inadequate sleep is a workaholic’s badge of honor” (Brink). We proudly pin on our badge of sleep deprivation and polish…

In the words of John Steinbeck, ‘It is a common experience that a problem difficult at night is resolved in the morning after the committee of sleep has worked on it.” In other words, we are able to make better decisions when we are well rested. In this manner, just as eating and breathing, the act of sleep represents one of the physiological needs according to Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. As a matter of fact, the stage pyramid proposed by Maslow comprises a motivational theory based on…

Many college students at the emerging adult stage experience difficulty managing their sleep cycle, and tend to lose more sleep than they should. First years especially experience this because of the transition from high school to college. They are expected to manage their own time, but many underestimate how demanding classes are and end up losing sleep to irregular sleep schedules, sleep disturbances and day napping (Ye, L., Hutton Johnson et al., 2015). Entering a new school environment…

Technology has a vital role in the daily workings of our society; from the cars we drive, to the devices we use to communicate, and even in the coffee machines many rely on to keep them buzzing. Advancements in technology are made on an almost daily basis, however, are all of them necessary? Are self-driving cars beneficial or do people really need a cell phone that can communicate with them through voice activation? In the third chapter (“Technology”) of his book, Building a Bridge to the…

Have you ever felt like 24 hours in a day just wasn’t enough? Are you constantly tired? One word. 5 letters. Could mean all the difference to your day. Sleep is vital to the human body as it helps to restore energy, improve immune functions, help us think more efficiently and creatively, strengthen memory and improve mood. Sleep is so much more than just a passive activity as it helps protect your mental and physical health, quality of life, and safety. The quality of the sleep you receive has a…

An issue in America is obesity. This problem occurs in children and adults. Obesity is a growing problem throughout our country. A cure for this national problem is to begin a weight loss journey. Being overweight or obese does not come from only eating too much without moderate exercise, it can be hereditary. Overeating is not the only cause of weight gain. There are many factors that go into weight gain and being unhealthy. With small changes, that pesky number on the scale can decrease.…

Exercise is very important for many reasons, especially for older adults. As people age, physical and mental health deteriorates. Incorporating exercise into everyday life can delay the weaknesses that accompany an aging body. Many people however, are not able to reap the full benefits of an active lifestyle due to several factors including laziness, lack of education, and a busy lifestyle.. Studies have shown that failing to exercise leads to a rapid decline in health. According to the Centers…

Psychological effects such as low self-esteem, anxiety and depression can follow an obese child into their adult years increasing their risk of other mental health complications (CDC, 2015). Obese children are more uncomfortable with their about their body image which may cause one to become more stressed. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2015), obese children develop more maturely in body parts than non-obese children. The Journal of American Medical Association…

The purpose of this term paper is to discuss nutrition and how it can alter and affect the aging process. Specifically, I will discuss what we eat, how we eat and when we eat that can alter with aging. With that said, the question is, “How does nutrition affect aging?” I chose this topic as a result of nutrition having always intrigued me. I find it fascinating how nutrition plays such a massive role in our health and how we age. What We Eat Even though our body’s cravings for certain foods…