How Itching Works and Why Scratching an Itch Feels Good

How Itching Works and Why Scratching an Itch Feels Good Humans and other animals itch for a variety of reasons. Scientists believe the underlying purpose of the annoying sensation (called pruritus) is so we can remove parasites and irritants and protect our skin. However, other things can lead to itching, including drugs, diseases, and even a psychosomatic response. How Itching Works While drugs and disease typically stimulate itching because of a chemical response, most of the time the sensation is a result of skin irritation. Whether the irritation starts from dry skin, a parasite, an insect bite, or chemical exposure, the itch-sensing nerve fibers (called pruriceptors) become activated. Chemicals that activate the fibers may be histamine from inflammation, opioids, endorphins, or the neurotransmitters acetylcholine and serotonin. These nerve cells are a special type of C-fiber, structurally like the C-fibers that transmit pain, except they send a different signal. Only about 5% of C-fibers are pruriceptors. When stimulated, pruriceptor neurons fire a signal to the spinal cord and the brain, which stimulates a rubbing or scratching reflex. In contrast, the response to the signal from pain receptors is an avoidance reflex. Scratching or rubbing an itch stops the signal by stimulating pain receptors and touch receptors in the same region. Drugs and Diseases That Make You Itch Since the nerve fibers for itching are in the skin, it makes sense most itching starts there. Psoriasis, shingles, ringworm, and chicken pox are conditions or infections that affect the skin. However, some drugs and illnesses can cause itching without underlying skin irritation. The antimalarial drug chloroquine is known to cause severe itching as a common side effect. Morphine is another drug known to cause itching. Chronic itching can result from multiple sclerosis, certain cancers, and liver disease. The ingredient that makes peppers hot, capsaicin, can cause itching as well as pain. Why Scratching an Itch Feels Good (But Isnt) The most satisfying relief for an itch is to scratch it. When you scratch, neurons fire pain signals to your brain, which temporarily overrides the itching sensation. The feel-good neurotransmitter serotonin is released to provide relief from the pain. Essentially, your brain rewards you for scratching. However, a study conducted at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis indicates scratching ultimately intensifies the itch because serotonin binds 5HT1A receptors in the spinal cord that activate GRPR neurons that stimulate more itchiness. Blocking serotonin isnt a good solution for people suffering chronic itching because the molecule is also responsible for growth, bone metabolism, and other key processes. How to Stop Itching So, scratching an itch, while pleasurable, is not a good way to stop itching. Getting relief depends on the cause of the pruritis. If the issue is skin irritation, it may help to cleanse the area with a gentle soap and apply an unscented lotion. If inflammation is present, an antihistamine (e.g., Benadryl), calamine, or hydrocortisone may help. Most pain relievers dont diminish itchiness, but opioid antagonists  offer relief to some people. Another option is to expose skin to sunlight or ultraviolet light (UV) therapy, apply a cold pack, or apply a few electrical zaps. If itching persists, its a good idea to see a doctor to check for underlying medical conditions or itching in response to a drug. If you absolutely cant resist the urge to scratch, try rubbing the area rather than scratching it. If all else fails, a German study indicates you can lessen itching by looking into a mirror and scratching the corresponding non-itching body part. Itching Is Contagious Are you getting itchy reading this article? If so, its a completely normal reaction. Itching, like yawning, is contagious. Doctors who treat itchy patients often find themselves scratching as well. Writing about itching leads to itchiness (trust me on this). Researchers have found people attending lectures on itching scratch themselves a lot more often than if they were learning about a different topic. There may be an evolutionary advantage to scratching when you see another person or animal do it. Its likely a good indicator you might want to check for biting insects, parasites, or irritating plants.

Media Campaign Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Media Campaign - Essay Example With the continuous technology advancements and subsequently altering as well as widening reach of mass media campaigns today, non-profit organisations have also taken a footstep ahead to use the communication tool for channelising their messages to the targeted audiences. In many instances, mass media campaigns have proved as beneficial in persuading the audiences to believe the message communicated and thereby alter their behaviours accordingly (Johnston, â€Å"Can Mass Media Change Behavior†). Contextually, there are various factors associated with a media campaign designed to promote a public service goal, which tend to impose significant influences in determining the success of the organisation in effectively conveying the intended message. Based on this particular learning, the discussion henceforth will focus on identifying, discussing and evaluating the influencing factors associated with a planned campaign intended towards the attainment of a public service goal of Co rporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to â€Å"promote an educated and informed civil society through high-quality content and services delivered across multiple platforms† (CPB, â€Å"CPB's Goals and Objectives†). Thesis Statement The discussion will begin with a brief overview of the planned campaign moving forth towards the identification of the most important elements or factors associated with its overall designing, construction and execution. With this objective, the discussion will address the most pertinent factors associated with the planned campaign with adequate rationalisation on the basis of the role played by mass media. The potential disadvantages of using media campaigns, both from a generalised perspective and specific viewpoint in relation to the planned campaign will also be studied in the essay. Before concluding on the key specifications of the essay, moral and ethical considerations attached to the media campaign will also be elaborated in the d iscussion. Overview of the Media Campaign CPB is renowned internationally as a non-profit private organisation which was established in the year 1967 by Congress. Since then, it has been serving the worldwide communities with various services, rendering praiseworthy support to mitigate various issues. Stating precisely, the broadcasting organisation intends to ensure high-quality journalism and reporting transparency with the aim to aid contribution from the society in facilitating the overall growth of the economy and prosperity of the mankind. In its course of strategic executions, the organisation has been focusing on various objectives amongst which, one particular public service goal can be considered as quite crucial which focuses on the promotion of an educated, liberalised and adequately informed society based on multiple platforms for the applications of high-quality contents as well as services. The objectives determined by the organisation for the attainment of this parti cular goal further emphasises on satisfying the public needs for education and information, especially among the diversified cultural groups in particular, which can be attained

Environmental Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Environmental Economics - Essay Example The principle of efficiency states that it is almost impossible to make someone happy without causing another person to be unhappy. This means that it is hard to achieve a situation where there is no drilling and at the same time there is no effect on the economy of the country. If the drilling process is continued then pollution will increase a lot but at the same time there will be an improvement in the economy of the state. This means that a way should be sought so as to balance the benefits and the cost so that one side does not exceed the other. This is done by having the efficiency standards. The efficiency standards for the drilling process are that a certain amount of drilling should not be exceeded. This controls the way that the drilling companies drill and the extent at which they can go. The safety standards that are in place is that no one is expected to go into the drilling sites without proper clothing that prevent them from being hurt. The drilling companies are not a llowed to dig past some depth, in order to avoid a situation where the walls of the drilling sites collapse and kill people. The number of people that work in the drilling site must also be known and they have to be checked every month for any abnormalities. Hospitals and doctors are also expected to be near this site so that incase there is any medical emergency one can be rushed to the hospital (Goodstein 54) Measuring the cost of environmental protection This is the measure of how costly it is to the government and all other stakeholders when the negative impact of drilling is seen. There are lots of negative effects that cost the government when it comes to hydrofracking. This includes the engineering costs as well as the cost such as treating the people who are affected negatively by the drilling process. The engineering cost are the total cost of coming up with the plant which include building and equipping the plant over a lifetime. This is the main cost of the drilling proce ss as it entails a lot of equipment, a lot of skilled and unskilled labour so that the plant can run. These costs also include the pollution control costs; these are the costs that are to be met in order to prevent any pollution from occurring. The table below shows how the cost of engineering has been estimated since the 1990 to date and how it is related. Type of pollutant 1972 1980 1990 200 Air $12.9 $28.8 $45.1 $71.5 Water $15 $30 $55 $93 Land $10 $18 $43 $61 Chemicals $0.1 $1 $1.5 $2 other $1 $1 $1.7 $2.7 total $78 $150 $260 $360 According to this report the government spends a lot of cash in trying to avoid pollution that is caused by drilling than the amount that it gets from some of its investments. The negative effects that are associated with drilling include the costs of treating those that are affected by the radiations and other effects of the drilling process. The issues are cancer related, and also include diseases and those deaths that come as a result of drilling. I t is estimated that the government spent a total of $467 B in the treatment of those that were affected by the drilling process. This means that it is costing the government a lot of money to treat and to try and cover for the effect that comes with the influence of the drilling process. Measuring benefits that come with the drilling process include the income that it brings to the government. The drilling proces

Speech - The Meaning of Life Essay Example for Free

Speech The Meaning of Life Essay Is human life just a dream, from which we never really awake, as some great thinkers claim? Are we submerged by our feelings, by our loves and hates, by our ideas of good, bad, beautiful, and awful? Are we incapable of knowing beyond those ideas and feelings? Is the reality we know a reality imposed to us by nature? Are the reality and the meaning of life a creation of men, such as music, or love or colors? When I consider the short duration of my life, swallowed up in the eternity that lies before and after it, when I consider the little space I fill and I see, engulfed in the infinite immensity of spaces of which I am unaware, I rest frightened, and astonished, for there is no reason why I should be here rather than there. Who has put me here? By whose order and direction have this place and time have been ascribed to me? Love gives meaning to our lives as do friendship, or art or faith in God. These are factors of true happiness, of inner peace, of feelings of harmony, allowing meaning to our existence. But there is the other side. There is the cruelty of life, the pain, the evil, not to talk of death. When the Tsimtsum sank, not only was Pi shoved face to face with the unknown, but he also lost his family, the core of his human context. Instead, he had to try to survive. Life of Pi is a story about struggling to survive through seemingly insurmountable odds. Throughout the novel, characters are seeking the meaning of life. Pi abandons his lifelong vegetarianism and eats fish to sustain himself. Orange Juice, the peaceful orangutan, fights ferociously against the hyena. Even the severely wounded zebra battles to stay alive; his slow, painful struggle vividly illustrates the sheer strength of his life force. As Martel makes clear in his novel, living creatures will often do extraordinary, unexpected, and sometimes heroic things to survive. However, they will also do shameful and barbaric things if pressed. Exactly like humans. It is between these pendulums the positive, the one that gives happiness and meaning, and the negative that our lives are lived. And when we meditate about all that, we arrive at a diverse and disagreeing set of thoughts about the meaning and purpose of life. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your time and attention. I hope I have clarified the thoughts of some, to be aware of the vast world we live in and the astounding beings we truly are. Speak to others of your thoughts and knowledge; I am sure they will be willing to listen.

William F. Mays Rising to the Occasion of Our Death Essay examples --

There are three key audiences of the text for William F. May's â€Å"Rising to the Occasion of Our Death.† The first audience, in this case, would be legislative organizations or lawmakers who have researched and studied similar cases regarding euthanasia. Since May was as an ethics professor at Southern Methodist University, his tone is decidedly intellectual. An uneducated individual would find it more difficult to read his essay; for example, in declarations such as â€Å"Advocates of active euthanasia appeal to the principle of patient autonomy,† May's syntax and tone is formal, informative, and utilizes heavy technical jargon (May 662). In other words, it is authoritative, and enables the audience to view him as a credible source due to his syntactical confidence. Other organizations, lobbyists, or lawmakers who are researching evidence on euthanasia would certainly benefit from reading his expert opinion on the matter. Moreover, his desire to develop a â€Å"ju dicious, regulated policy† is a certain acknowledgement that he is attempting to legally call for regulations on euthanasia (May 662). The second audience that May is appealing to are conservative Christians, who are distinctively pro-life. As his article was originally published in well-circulated The Christian Century magazine, addressing this audience exposes members of May's audience who are unfamiliar with euthanasia to its technicalities by debating morality. His tone is similar to that of a sermon; instead of utilizing scientific facts or statistics, May chooses to exclude a logos appeal in favor of an ethos objective. He preaches on moral values about life and death, mentioning that â€Å"the best death is not always the sudden death† (May 662). According to May, preparation... ...ploying strong technical terms and establishing an extrinsic ethos, and exercising sub-arguments that would only benefit numerous groups of people, May strongly achieves his strategy of argument through ethos in terms of rhetorical persuasion. Works Cited Agatucci, Cara. "Cora Agatucci's Toulmin-Style Analysis of May's Argument." WR 122 Course Home Page. N.p., 06 Jan. 2010. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. May, William F. "Rising to the Occasion of our Death." The Christian Century Jul 11 1990: 662. ProQuest. Web. 31 Mar. 2014 "Opinion 2.21 – Euthanasia." Opinion 2.21 – Euthanasia. American Medical Association, June 1996. Web. 16 Mar. 2014. Perelman, Chaà ¯m, and Lucie Olbrechts-Tyteca. Facts, Values, and Hierarchies, The New Rhetoric. N.p.: n.p., n.d. PDF. The Stases and Other Rhetorical Concepts from Introduction to Academic Writing. N.p.: n.p., n.d. PDF.

Roger Federer

Roger Federer's fundamental needs, values, and orientation towards life are symbolized by the four astrological elements. Each person has their own unique balance of these four basic energies: fire (warmth, inspiration, enthusiasm), earth (practicality, realism, material interests), air (social and intellectual qualities), and water (emotional needs and feelings). Federer's â€Å"elemental make-up† is described below.Remember that most people are â€Å"unbalanced† or lopsided, and if Roger is lacking or deficient in a certain element (or elements), it simply means that he needs to consciously develop that particular aspect in order to appreciate and/or work harder in that dimension of life. Sometimes we overestimate the element that we are least endowed with, sensing it as a lack within ourselves, but more often we neglect or ignore it. The qualities described below will be reiterated and explained in more detail in the following pages.His life is likely to be full of e motional extremes, turbulence, joy and sorrow stemming from his own passionate nature and unpredictability. Roger Federer is impulsive and temperamental. For Roger, everything is intensely personal and colored by emotion. He may have difficulty viewing a situation from a detached, impartial or rational perspective, and he has little inclination to structure and order his life. However, fostering self-discipline, organization and focus is essential.Otherwise Roger Federer will be prone to extreme moodiness, alternating between lofty inspiration and despondency. At times, Roger Federer feels a great deal of internal pressure due to two of his dominant impulses which tend to conflict with one another. The desire for independence and freedom, the need for self-expression and ego recognition, and the urge to leave the past behind in order to propel himself into new experiences may clash with other, equally powerful needs – namely attachments to people and to the familiar, a compel ling urge for emotional closeness, and a desire for security.Balancing these two drives is a significant challenge for Federer. Even though his life may be less balanced and perhaps less stable than that of others, it is unlikely that Roger Federer would change it because he is very vibrant, sensitive and responsive to the ever-changing, dynamic quality of life. However, as you will read in the next chapter, Roger Federer has a sense of practical orientation and a certain down-to-earth approach, which helps to ground him somewhat.

The Differences Between Different Latin American Countries...

Hispanic’s in America, much like many other groups of immigrants, are not always welcomed when they arrive in the United States. They are often seen as inferior or as illegal. Many Americans believe that Hispanics should be deported and that they come to America to take their jobs away from them. Additionally, many Americans consider all Hispanics to be Mexican and fail to recognize the differences between different Latin American countries. In spontaneous situations, people may be quick to negatively judge another based on their appearance and their perceived stereotypes of a certain group of people. My boyfriend and his family, who were all born in Peru, invited me to the USA vs Peru soccer game. Peru and the USA’s records were tied, both having two wins and two losses. The result of the game would break the tie and put one team on top. His family has a very strong sense of Peruvian pride and so they were very happy and excited to be going to the game. It was a normal hot day in September when we arrived at the stadium. We wanted to get into the stadium as soon as possible and find our seats so that we could settle in and watch the players warm up. My boyfriend and his family were all wearing Peruvian jerseys and I was wearing a t-shirt that said Peru. The game began and everything was going normally. There were supporters of Peru and of the USA sitting around us. About 10 minutes into the second half of the game, three lady’s supporting the Peruvian team arrived to theShow MoreRelatedDifference Between Latin American Spanish1622 Words   |  7 Pagesfamiliar. The difference between Latin American Spanish (LAS) and Castilian Spanish (CS) is something that is increasingly prominent in the global Hispanic society. These differences lie in the grammatical, lexical and phonological features of the two variations of both the variant and the original form of the language. Latin American Spanish, spoken in countries such as Mexico, Panama, Chile and Honduras all adopted the Spanish language in the late 15th century and have since made Latin American SpanishRead MoreThe United States And Latin America1362 Words   |  6 PagesWhen looking at the history between the United States and Latin America, you see many interactions between them, all that aided the relationship that they have today. Despite that the United States and Latin America are in the same part of the world, the beliefs in which they govern may differ. This difference has often been seen playing a major role in the disputes that have occurred in past. The United States and Latin Ame rica have faced many social, economical and governing barriers in formingRead MoreLatin American Culture Essay examples1050 Words   |  5 PagesLatin American Culture Latin America represents 1/10 of the worlds population, and geographically can be located from the land extensions of Mexico, until the Patagonia at Argentina. Some of the most relevant elements of todays culture in Latin America are; Religion, Values, Attitudes, Social structure, Social stratification, Language and Gift-giving hospitality. The predominant religion throughout history in Latin America has been Catholicism. From big cities to small villages, churches, basilicasRead MoreSimilarities And Differences Of The French Revolutions And The American Revolution709 Words   |  3 PagesThe Latin American Revolutions and the American Revolution both had similarities and differences. These revolutions were similar in a way, because they both were fighting against their suppressing powers and one difference was the way that unity shaped the way they gained independence. The Latin American revolutions occurred during the 18th- and 19th- centuries. These revolutions had multiple issues that shaped their independence and wars, such as the social structures of their colonies. At the topRead MoreChronicle Of A Death Foretold By Gabriel Garcia Marquez1492 Words   |  6 Pagesthe public or even those closest to the person in question. Living in a nation like Latin America, Latin American experience this more often than not they must claim a mistaken identity that does not include American. In saying this many people that are from Latin America are cast out and seen as other by traditional American citizens in the world. However often this may happen, Latin Americans are indeed American. Dealing with this identity crisis, many turned to writing as an outlet. Gabriel GarciaRead MoreThe Revolution And The Latin American Revolution1218 Words   |  5 Pages During the 18th and 19th century, from 1776 to 1804, two nations were fighting for their independence. Latin America and America wanted to free themselves from their mother colonies that were dominating them. They had independence movements in which they fought for their freedom. The American Revolution and the Latin American Revolution were similar because they had similar motivations for the causes of their movements. Both of the nations were inspired by ideas of the Enlightenment such as naturalRead MoreU.s. A Multicultural Country1045 Words   |  5 Pagesterms of diversity, the U.S. contains a lot of history, which makes them what they are now. Both the U.S. as well as Latin America were colonies, achieved independence movements and were directly influenced by countries like Spain and France. The difference relies that in the U.S., these European countries remained for a longer period of time, making the U.S. a multicultural country. According to the Guinness Book of World Reco rds, Queens, a major area of New York City is considered to be â€Å"the mostRead MoreThe Music Style Calle 13972 Words   |  4 Pagesinto their music is Reggaeton with a range of different Latin American genres. Reggaeton originated from Puerto Rico, it is a collaboration of Latin dancehall and rap. Unlike many rappers, this particular Latin American band uses their music to speak upon the current issues people are facing instead of the usual money sex and fame. From the name of the band â€Å"Calle 13† to their stage name is a form of expressing political and social issues in Latin Americans have to deal with. These stepbrothers madeRead More Latin America Essay949 Words   |  4 PagesLatin America Distinguishing cultures from one another has become increasingly difficult as various societies continue to intertwine and share their aspects of popular life. Constant exposure to US and other world cultures has changed the cultures of Latin American countries somewhat, but much of society remains unchanged. Moving to the United States from Latin America alters life a great deal, and keeping touch with one’s original culture may sometimes seem unimportant or simply impossibleRead MoreLatin Americ The United States945 Words   |  4 PagesLatin America took similar revolutionary movements in the Spanish speaking nations that the United States took against England, but the paths they took after that vary greatly. The way that the Spanish and Portuguese had controlled Latin America played a large role in the set up for how Latin America would cope after gaining independence. There are several factors that play into why Latin America did not follow the same path as the United States, such as, their population, economy, and political