http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eu9pmHIMdOM
article citation:
Crane, Cody. "Energy Shot Or Not?." Scholastic Choices 27.4 (2012): 21. Academic Search Complete. Web. 26 Mar. 2014.
Student from 11AM class
Caffeine is a stimulant that is present in many energy drinks, coffees, teas, and soda. Those that are on the run and are feeling groggy tend to lean towards a caffeinated drink rather than natural energy from food and sleep. 5-hour Energy shots are becoming a more popular way for Americans to get their extra afternoon burst and keep them functioning at work and throughout the rest of their day. But what happens when the five hours are up? Does the consumer then feel groggy and irritated again? After watching the 5-hour Energy commercial and reading part of the attached article, what would be your preferred method of getting an energy boost? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eu9pmHIMdOM article citation: Crane, Cody. "Energy Shot Or Not?." Scholastic Choices 27.4 (2012): 21. Academic Search Complete. Web. 26 Mar. 2014. Student from 11AM class
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Have you ever known someone who has suffered from heroine addiction? If so, did they get treatment and what kind? Have you ever known anybody that was on Methadone treatment and if so what kind of symptom did you notice them having? Last, do you think current heroine treatment methods are working or do we need to try to find some other way of getting people off this extremely addictive drug?
- Michael Barclay Most likely during your college career you will come into contact with stimulants such as Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta, etc. These drugs are intended generally for treating people with ADD/ADHD, but have become very popular to those not diagnosed and have gained an increasing presence on college campuses. One reason these stimulants have become so popular among those not diagnosed is the academic benefits such as increased focus, lack of hunger, increased alertness/ energy and other things that could make a very long study session more effective. College can be a time of great stress where a lot of us are on our own for the first time. With an increased work load and pressure to maintain good grades, it’s no wonder that students result to taking a drug that can increase focus and work more efficiently.
So if you don’t already know much about these stimulants, let me tell you a little more about them so you can be aware about what else goes on if you ever come into contact with them. I’ll start by introducing two of the more well-known of these stimulants, Adderall and Ritalin and discuss a bit about what’s in them and what they can do to your body. Adderall is made from a special blend of amphetamine salts. These salts are what gives one the stimulating effect of the brain. Although amphetamines could be looked at similarly to methamphetamines, they are quite different but derived from similar origins. Ritalin is the chemical name Methylphenidate and also is similarly a psychoactive stimulant that increases levels of neurotransmission in the brain. Some health concerns that can be affect people who take these type of stimulants can sometimes be quite serious. Although everyone is different it’s good to be aware of the possible dangers that do exist. Some short term effects include increased blood pressure, head ache, upset stomach, mood swings, no appetite and sadness as the drug wears off. Long term affects are not fully known since the drugs are newer, but insomnia, depression, possible heart problems, dependency and addiction are common. These drugs can be easily abused and are considered a schedule 2 controlled substance along with other drugs such as morphine and cocaine. This means that taking them without being prescribed is also a felony. Although these drugs are not seen or thought to be very dangerous, heavy care is needed when associating with these simulants to prevent harmful long-term consequences. Whether you have or haven’t taken pills to assist you in a dire study situation, the important thing here is to be aware of the effects they can have on you since they are so common with students our age. Student from Noon class When I was a child, I can remember a time in kindergarten when I over heard my Mom talking to my dad about one of our family friend's battle with depression. When I heard this new word "depression" I asked my parents what it meant. My mom simply answered that our friend was simply just "sad," and that she would be fine after taking some medicine. My response was to ask why she was taking medicine if she was just sad.
This was my method of thinking about the mental illness of depression as a young child, and as I've gotten older and learned more about how the body works and how the brain works, my understanding of depression has changed over the years. After watching this blogs video, did any of your preconceptions about mental illnesses or depression change? What are your thoughts on cognitive therapy versus antidepressants? Would you recommend cognitive therapy to a close friend undergoing depression? Student from Noon Class A concussion is an injury to the brain resulting from a blow or trauma. Although young people have been suffering from concussions for years, doctors and neurologists have recently found that concussions can cause long-term effects on the brain. Concussions are a common occurrence in young people participating in high school sports and such. While concussions do not always involve a person losing consciousness, they still affect a person’s overall mental health. According to Medical News Today, Dr. Lassonde found that “older athletes who suffered from concussions have symptoms similar to Parkinson’s.” After a young person suffers a concussion, the immediate symptoms vanish several weeks later. However, the study by Dr. Lassonde showed that there is abnormal brain wave activity for years following a concussion. In addition, the brain begins losing motor pathways as a result of the brain trauma. How does a young person’s developing brain react to the impact of a concussion? Does a young person’s quality of life diminish as a result of a minor concussion? http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/256518.php
Student from Noon Class No Child Left Behind is an act that focuses on children's test scores and academic performances on statewide exams. As a result, schools have increased the time spent on subject covered by these tests. For example, Math and English/Language Arts have been emphasized while other subjects have been pushed aside. Physical Education is one subject that has seen budget cuts and less time allocated to it each year.
Some argue that this is necessary. Some school boards and districts across the United States believe that P.E. is one subject that can be made optional. Their argument is that is deters from the academic advancement and prestige in schools. However, statistics show that not a significant amount of schools have improved since cuts and changes to scheduling and funding have been made. As a result of No Child Left Behind, children have had less mandatory physical education. Is P.E. the responsibility of the school to provide? Studies show that the more physical activity a student participates in, the higher their academic performance. Teachers report that their students are more focused, relaxed, and cooperative after P.E. So after hearing a little of both sides, how do you feel about Physical Education in schools? Should it be mandatory? How much time should be allocated from the day and devoted just to P.E.? Is it a good use of funds to pay instructors and equipment, or should schools buy more books or computers? Personally, do you believe P.E. helped you develop fitness for life? Good habits? Social skills? Leadership? Author: Student from 9AM class Adderall has become a drug that most people and all college students have come to know and take. There is a common misconception that Adderall is a drug that anyone can take and should take. Many students take Adderall before a big test because Adderall helps people focus and concentrate more then they normally can. But Adderall is a prescription drug but it has been treated as a common over the counter drug by college students. And then the media has stepped in to further complicate the issue of Adderall because drug companies what people to think they need the drug and they will use any trick they can to make people think they need the drug. But what does Adderall really do? Who really needs to take Adderall? Does it really have serious side-effects if so many people take it without a prescription? And is the media playing off the fact that we think we need this drug, or is Adderall a drug that should be used by everyone when ever they want?
http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2013/12/16/selling_adhd_new_york_times_reports_on_the_big_business_of_attention_deficit.html 9AM Class Teen depression is a serious medical problem that causes feelings of sadness and loss of interest in every day activities. Too many teens today are falling victim to this evil problem. There are multiple reasons why a teenager might become depressed; whether it is academic problems, family issues, or social status among peers. All of these can have a major effect on how a teenager feels about himself or herself.
Have you ever thought about how the use of technology can have an impact on the way teenagers feel about themselves? Technology is one of the main ways that teenagers communicate with each other whether it be through texting, tweeting, Facebook, etc. All of these social media sites profile every user in a way that will be most appealing to their “friends” on the site. Many of you might agree with me that what is posted on Facebook is just a snipet or more glamorized version of who someone is, either our actual friends or “friends” on Facebook. Many people compare themselves to these unrealistic, edited versions of their friends. A common trend on social media sites is the amount of good things that are posted such as photos of over the top vacations, or accomplishments. But let’s not forget the other side of the spectrum that has caused lots of problems among social media “friends”- the constant complaining and negative words that appears on sites today. It seems like more people are posting personal, negative information about their lives that can be frustrating for followers to read all the time. Could it be safe to say that social media sites are used to get attention? If someone does not care about what people are going to think then they are not going to post it. These glamorized versions of someone or constant complaining can have an effect on how teens portray themselves. They might feel as if they are not cool enough because they do not have the kind of life as some of their followers or do not have as many friends as everyone else. This could lead to some self issues for teens that can have a major toll on their every day lives. What other ways can social media affect teens in a negative way? Is social media a problem for teens? Is there a way to reduce the amount of issues with teens pertaining to social media sites? -Student from 11am Author: Student from 9am class
With the exponential increase in social media over the past decade, a whole new dimension to communication has been added to life. Though social media is extremely beneficial for continuing relationships and connecting with old friends, it can also be harmful for a person's mental health. According to this study by Anxiety UK more than fifty percent of respondents said that their behavior changed negatively after using social network sites. Upon further investigation, it was found that one of the negative factors was that people felt that they were comparing themselves to others too often. So what do you think? Do "likes" constitute a person's worth? Has social media created a new type of social currency by which we compare ourselves? What is this social currency based on? Are there more serious effects such as depression that can arise from the constant comparison of social media? Feel free to leave a response below. In a typical American household, there is generally a morning routine that each member follows. For my household back home, the first step after brushing your teeth is to go downstairs and pour yourself a large cup of coffee. While in my household, we only consume around 100 mg of caffeine each morning, the average American is consuming nearly 2.5 times as much. This is much higher than the world wide average, with is a mere 76 mg per day (Bowman). While everyone is familiar with, (or has at least heard of), the alert effects caffeine has on the human body, many who are not regular caffeine consumers aren’t aware of the other short term effects caffeine can have. Even at Gonzaga, I drink coffee fairly often. Getting up at 6:30 am and not going to bed until 12:30 am or sometimes 1:00 am causes a lot of fatigue, making it difficult to get through my 4 hour block of morning classes. On the days I get coffee, I have noticed a pattern I cycle through every time. As I get my coffee at 7:45 am, I am still fairly fatigued and my level of alertness is fairly low. As I begin drinking my coffee a few minutes later, I start to show increased alertness and ability to follow along with the new concepts my physics professor is throwing at us. As I go to my 9:00 class, these good effects continue and my short term memory skills are above average. When I get called on in class, (trust me, it’s inevitable), my response times are faster than those not onboard the “Caffeine Express”. As I begin my 10:00 class, I can feel the effects wearing off. My ability to function as efficiently as I have been the past two hours is deteriorating quickly. I begin to feel sluggish and my brain is not able to process new information as quickly as it was able to just two hours before. As the class is about half way over, I begin to feel symptoms of anxiety, including, (but not limited to), feeling nervous, sweaty palms, and an inability to calm down. As I begin my walk to my 11:00, (my favorite class of course!), these feelings of anxiety start to wear off and I begin to feel calmer, and more like myself without caffeine. While this cycle I go through seemed like a roller coaster which only happens if one drinks too much caffeine, in reality it isn’t. This cycle is consistent with caffeine consumption across the board in anyone who consumes caffeine. To recap, here is the general overview of the short term effects of caffeine on the human body and mind: Less than thirty minutes after consuming caffeine: Increased alertness Thirty minutes – two hours after consumption: Increased short term memory creation/retention Increased response time and vigilance Two hours – Three hours after consumption: Decreased alertness Increased symptoms of anxiety (especially in those who already have it) Three or more hours after consumption: Decreased symptoms of anxiety Decreased effects of caffeine overall (Entire timeline, (Souissi).) As you consume caffeine, I want you to remember these effects and what they do to your body. Have any of you ever felt these effects? While I know not everyone consumes as much caffeine as I do, I also want you to remember these effects can materialize after only 125 mg of coffee! Overall, remember to think before you drink. Works Cited: Bowman, Lee. "Caffeine Can Improve Short-term Memory." Seattlepi.com. Scripps Howard News Service, 30 Nov. 2005. Web. 2 Mar. 2014. Souissi, Makram, Ph. D., Salma Abedelmalek, Ph. D., Hamdi Chtourou, Ph. D., Rim Atheymen, MD, Ahmed Hakim, MD, and Zouhair Salhoun, MD. "Effects of Morning Caffeine' Ingestion on Mood States, Simple Reaction Time, and Short-Term Performance." Proquest Research Library Kassie Zohn, 11:00 am |
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