Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with health and body

Caffiene snooze

divabat — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:58:53 -0800

Why does one cup of coffee make me sleepy? I've seen this thread, but it was more about confirming the effect rather than explaining it.

I've had an interesting history with coffee. I like the taste, and when I was a teenager I regularly had a cup of 3-in-1 coffee a day with no particular effects. In my late teens I was diagnosed with panic disorder, and I could no longer take any coffee without feeling jittery and anxious. Within the past five years I've slowly reintroduced coffee into my life, and now I can comfortably have a cup a day.

However, instead of either getting a buzz or being jittery, coffee makes me really really sleepy. As soon as I have a cup I have a deep need to take a nap, and I can be knocked out for a couple of hours. It's not particularly restful or refreshing sleep, but it's hard to fight back the urge to snooze. This is a recent development (and slightly annoying because there are times where I could use the buzz!!).

I'm usually described as "hyper" by my friends and peers, though that usually depends on the situation - in fun energetic environments I can be very vibrant and exuberant, though when I'm at home I'm usually sloth-like and lazy. I sleep about 7-8 hours a night; the sun awakes me, so I'm usually up just before 5, and for the first few hours (if I'm not having to be awake early for any particular reason) I vacillate between mucking around on my laptop and snoozing. I don't deal well with late nights - if I'm not distracted by something I usually clamour for my bed by midnight at the latest.

Guarana, ginseng, and other energy drinks & supplements of that ilk give me a headache. There is one particular Aussie brand of energy drink (can't recall the name offhand) that hasn't effected me either way; however I've only had a small tin so I don't know if it's a fluke. I have been suspected of having ADD but have never been on treatment for it or tested professionally.

What's happening with my hormones and my brain that makes me have the opposite reaction to caffiene? Is it something I need to worry about? If caffiene makes me tired, what can I do to get a buzz (assuming that I haven't already scared people off by being highly energetic!)?

I need sleep.

reenum — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 07:38:17 -0800

How can I make my office more comfortable so that I can take naps over lunch? From time to time, I battle insomnia. This necessitates me having to take a nap over lunch. I know this isn't the best way to deal with it, but please humor me.

Here is my setup: I have my own office with a closing door. I have an L-shaped desk and a reclining office chair. There is ample floor space.

I need to figure out a way to make my power naps work for me. I also can't have anything too obvious, so cots and the like are out. I've heard of people suggesting yoga mats and the like, but I want to hear from others who are able to sleep at the office.

What sorts of things should I have that allow me to sleep well for that one hour in the middle of the day?

The physical downside to polyphasic sleep.

Chamunks — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:29:37 -0800

I have been tossing around the concept of polyphasic sleeping for years now and the only thing that is stopping me from converting is this question. How would this affect my body? There seems to be no real mention on articles covering polyphasics of how this affects your body. Plenty say that you get enough sleep for your mind, although as I would like to form my own opinion on the mind part, my issue is that they are quick to say that the other "Five something" hours of non REM sleep are essentially wasted. My hypothesis is that you need these hours of downtime for your body itself to regenerate. If my hypothesis is correct is there any ways to ensure a rest like state for my body while in a waking cycle during full on uberman style polyphasics? Related Link As I'm not really interested in the affect this has on the mind, as there's plenty of reading material on such, I would hope to keep the answers mainly body centric, so that I get lots of good answers and strategies for my attempt.

This one falls under science and nature category as well but I can only choose one.

Why doesn't the rug match the drapes?

reenum — Thu, 14 May 2009 10:36:34 -0800

Why do some people's hair on their head and pubic hair not match in color? First off, I'm excluding people who have their hair colored. I know why their hair doesn't match.

I've known women who had dirty blond hair and had black pubic hair. Others I've spoken to have shared the same thing. Given that hair should be the same all over, why is pubic hair sometimes a different color than the rest of your hair?

I am wondering why my right arm randomly goes numb for no reason at all. I don't lift anything heavy or anything of that sort, so what could it possibly be?

cheero — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 18:21:38 -0800

I am wondering why my right arm randomly goes numb for no reason at all. I don't lift anything heavy or anything of that sort, so what could it possibly be? Some of my friends seem to think these are early signs of a possible stroke or a heart attack but I can't really buy that since I am 22 years old, fairly relaxed with a normal amount of a stress than any college student would have. I also take no medications, I live a fairly normal lifestyle.

My wife and I don't have sex. And it's my fault. I'm looking for answers.

Anonymous — Wed, 16 May 2007 14:06:50 -0800

What is the problem? Why can't I have sex? This post is probably a long time coming. Forgive me in advance for the long post, but this is difficult for me to talk about.

For the purposes of ID'ing me, you can call me A. I've posted this anonymously, but have setup an anonymous email account at mistera75@gmail.com if you need to reach me privately.

BACKGROUND
My wife and I met in early 2003 and were married in late 2005. I'm 32 and she's 28. We are very happily married and while we wouldn't go so far to call ourselves "the perfect couple", we have talked about how we just fit together in almost all aspects of our relationship.

The one aspect that we don't fit, however, is sex. Before we got married, we used to have sex almost every weekend (we only saw each other on weekends because we lived in different cities). Even after we moved in together, we had sex fairly often. But since we're married, we have sex once every few months.

Please don't think that "the thrill of the chase is gone." I really don't think that's the case at all. Also, it's not that I'm not attracted to my wife. Far from it. I think she is very sexy. Physically, we're both larger people (overweight), but that truly doesn't matter to me. I find her physically and mentally attractive in all respects.

But I'm not blind. I know intuitively that the lack of sex bothers my wife. But we don't talk about it. I have a difficult time talking about sex, and the few times we've tried to do so, it's been frustrating because of my sheer mental block about it. I think she's given up on talking about it, and honestly, it's relieving to me to not talk about it. I know that's not helpful, but I can't help but feeling that way.

OTHER ISSUES
Other issues that factor in here include:

* I just don't get as tired as she does. My wife goes to bed by 9.30 because she tired earlier in the evening, and since I'm not all that tired, I usually don't go to bed until 1 or 2.

* I'm overweight and diabetic, which I know don't help. I'm pretty sure that one of the side effects of my daily meds for diabetes is that it reduces sex drive.

* There are performance issues here, too. I don't stay hard all for any length of time. When I do manage to stay hard, it takes me a long time to climax. Even though she is very sweet about it and tells me that it doesn't take as long as I think it does, I can't help but feel that it shouldn't take as long as it does. I feel guilty about it, which of course doesn't help me relax and just let it happen.

* Before we got married, she once told me, "I'm a very sexual person." I feel guilty over the fact that I've probably deadened her sex drive.

* I work for a marketing start-up where the hours are killer and the stress is up. I know that doesn't help, either, but that situation is not going to change overnight. That's part of why I'm not so tired in the evenings. I come home at 7.30/8.00, we have dinner, and then relax together for a short while. Then before you know it, she's ready for bed and I'm still winding down from the stresses and emotions of the day.

*sigh* *deep breath*

WHAT DO I DO NOW?
I really don't blame my wife for this at all. The responsibility really is mine here. Even if we talked about it, the issues here really are mine to deal with. But I don't know why or what to do about it.

* Is it all in my head? Do I go see a psychiatrist? A sex therapist? I wouldn't even know where to begin. Plus, let's be honest. "Talking" anonymously to AskMeFi is a helluva lot easier than talking about it with a shrink or my wife.

* Am I masturbating too much? Even though we don't have sex, I *am* able to masturbate. I feel guilty about it, but I do masturbate to Internet porn usually twice a week.

* Is it sexual health-related? Should I get a prescription for Viagara or Cialis or something like that? I'm not opposed to it, but I'm afraid of any negative side effects, especially related to my diabetes.

* Is it health related? I know that I could always lose weight, but I need to do that in general, anyway. I'm *very* hesitant to blame this on my diabetes meds, because I need them to stay in balance with my sugars (I'm type 2, BTW).

*Sigh* *deep breath*

I'm genuinely curious for advice and counsel here. But please don't advise the simple -- "Just take her to bed" or "Just go have sex" or "Lose some weight." It's not like I haven't thought of any of that before, and believe it or not, it's just not that simple.

I really don't know what to do. I want to be more sexual with my wife, but I just don't know how to start. I am so tired of feeling guilty, ugly, and sexually "broken."

Help. Please.

p.s. I've posted this anonymously, but have setup an anonymous email account at mistera75@gmail.com if you need to reach me privately.

Mean green

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 11:32:43 -0800

I think that marijuana may be giving me headaches, but I'm really not sure. My health history: I never get headaches. I never take any type of medication (Tylenol, Advil, etc.), and I am a vegetarian. I also smoke a lot of marijuana.

I've been using, daily, for maybe 4 or 5 months, and it has never interfered with my life negatively, and in fact has been more of a boon than anything, especially in the creative work that I do (we're talking maybe one joint or less per day).

However...

I started getting headaches about two weeks ago, and they have been prolonged, lasting two, three and four days at a time. Now, I feel like I have intermittent headaches throughout the day, with some lasting for the duration of the day. I tried to connect the headaches to something--change in diet, stress, environment--but was unable to detect anything in particular that had changed. Everything has been steady, for months. Sometimes they disappear for a day, only to return the next.

I have no reason to suspect that my marijuana use is causing these headaches--which are more dull, foggy aches rather than full-blown throbbing migranes--but I have to ask myself, is it a factor?

Everyone I know who uses marijuana at the same frequency as me has said that they have never experienced this kind of side-effect.

So, could it be the marijuana? Anecdotal answers are fine, and so are more scientific answers. Also, natural headache remedies would be welcome, too :)

I'll add one other bit here: about one week ago I found out that I have a small cavity, though my teeth are giving me hardly any pain or discomfort at all, and I hardly notice it. I'm having the cavity filled next week. I suppose it could be that, but something seems to indicate otherwise.

Unintentional erection during high G loads?

c0nsumer — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 10:27:44 -0800

Do (male) pilots ever experience unintended erections while experiencing high G loads on their body? Pilots who regularly undergo high G forces wear g-suits to prevent the brain from being starved for blood, leading to unconsciousness. I would imagine that due to the additional blood forced lower in the body that unintended (and possibly very uncomfortable) erections are possible, but I can't seem to find any information as to whether or not it occurs and/or is a problem.

Wikipedia, Google, and the other usual sources are failing me as I'm trying to find information about this. (They are finding spammy pages and fanfic / slash, but that's not what I'm wanting.)

Can anyone help?

water + body = ?????

unknowncommand — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 07:59:16 -0800

Beyond the idea that "Water is essential to carry out processes in the human body," I do not understand the more complicated health relationship between water and our bodies. If you DON'T drink it, you lose weight? If you DO drink it you lose weight? Why do people retain water? If you retain it, why is that bad? Why do people take diuretics? How do they decide how much water someone needs to drink? I can understand drinking it if it "makes you feel better overall," but what if it doesn't?

And I'm not even going to start with the whole bottle vs. tap issue. Or fluoridation.

I can see it helping prevent cancer (sort of), but I can't find any studies indicating this. When I search pubmed, I get articles about the "mucus slurper" in sheep, but that's neither here nor there. In fact, mostly I just find articles about how drinking contaminated water is bad, and how there is a benzene cloud (not to mention estrogen) potentially creeping into my water supply.

How do I go from skinny to kinda buff?

JPowers — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 19:29:38 -0800

How do I go from newly skinny to kinda buff? I've lost roughly 60 pounds in 2006. I'm 5'9 and weigh in at 145 lbs.

Now that I'm skinny, I want to look a little toned. Not ripped, not, "Wow, look at that dude," not bulging muscles, just some definition on (1) my abs (not a six-pack), (2) my chest, (3) my biceps. Those are the only three areas I care about.

I'm willing to work out every day of the week, but I refuse to go to a gym. Thus, the only equipment I have is dumbbells and an exercise ball.

What are my options for a weekly routine? And be as specific as possible, I know almost nothing about this stuff.

Follow-up Question: I have around a 19-20% body fat ratio. I have the most fat around my stomach. It's flat, but clearly made up of fat, not lean muscle. Can this area be toned? Can I turn this fat into muscle?

(I asked a similar question awhile back. I had different goals then than I do now.)

Why do I get the dry heaves when I get hungry?

livinginmonrovia — Sat, 12 Aug 2006 20:36:12 -0800

Why do I get the dry heaves when I get hungry? I used to never had a problem getting hungry...if I couldn't eat for a little while. In the last couple of years I have an almost instantaneous reaction when I get hungry. All of a sudden I go into the dry heaves. I have to desperately search for something to eat or eat a Tums. It's rather annoying, not to mention uncomfortable. Other than that I don't have any symptoms. Does anyone have experience with this. Ideas? I'm a 44-year-old slender female without any major health problems. I have a fairly healthy diet with no restrictions.

Neat-o!

Mach3avelli — Sat, 03 Jun 2006 11:49:47 -0800

What are some secrets of the human body? I came across an article in Men's Health a few months ago that detailed different tricks you could work with your body. These included some things such as...

a. tickling you ear to relieve a throat itch
b. rock your neck back and forth to wake up your arm falling alseep
c. exhale as your right foot hits the ground while running to prevent a side-ache (liver)
d. take quick, short breaths to extend your lung capacity before holding your breath underwater
e. cough to lessen pain (temporarily causes rise in pressure in the chest and spinal canal, inhibiting pain-conductors)

etc.

I'd like to hear more of these that you guys have to share.

What foods help fight disease and make for an overall healthier person?

orangeshoe — Sun, 26 Mar 2006 19:22:11 -0800

What types of food promote good health, and what are the supposed health benefits of consuming such foods/beverages? For example, tomato products are known to contain lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that helps protect against certain types of cancer. Red wine is known to have heart-friendly benefits as well as cancer-fighting properties.

What other foods/beverages are you aware of that promote greater health and vitality? What specific properties of these foods are responsible for the health benefits -- and in what quantities should such foods be consumed? Anything information related to these general questions is greatly appreciated.

The Common Involuntary Shudder

0bvious — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 20:11:12 -0800

Many years ago someone told me the recognised term for the kind of involuntary shudder that commonly affects people at rest. You know the kind that spontaneously rocks you, just for a moment, like you are shaking off the ghoulies, like the cliche says 'someone was walking on your grave'? I have since lost this word to time, and searching the internet has brought only partial results. Does anyone know it?

Itchy fingers.

biffa — Fri, 18 Mar 2005 03:15:13 -0800

Every so often a finger on my left hand twitches involuntarily. Why is this? Basically, one finger, not always the same one, judders a little, almost as if it was being tapped on a table, but faster/with smaller movements than I would be able to control if I attempt to replicate the movement. Any ideas what might cause this? (a) in simple terms (b) in medical terms.
I'm right handed and my right hand never does it.

A Better Vitamin?

jed — Mon, 10 Jan 2005 17:56:37 -0800

VitaminFilter: I am a reasonably healthy male in my twenties, and I take a regular old Centrum multivitamin every day. My current huge container is almost empty, and before I buy another one, I'm wondering if there's something better. Is there really any difference between the various brands of multivitamins? Is there a brand better suited for someone my age? I have access to Whole Foods, Wild Oats, Trader Joes, etc., if that helps.

How do I recover from an all-nighter?

namespan — Thu, 18 Nov 2004 03:33:44 -0800

You've nearly pulled an all-nighter. It's nearly 4am, and you can see yourself leaving the office about 4:30/5. What's the best way to get yourself into and through the next day? Do you go to bed right away, try to catch as much sleep as possible? Do you take a brisk walk, catnap for an our or two, followed by a cold shower and another walk and get back to work? Fresh fruit or caffeine? Carbs or protein?