Cell Phones and Brain Cell Activity

Three hundred Million Americans have them, and we rely on them for everything. I'm talking about cell phones. The age of cell phones has reached all time heights with the birth of I-phones and smart phone technology. Cell phones have been linked to even more remarkable uses.

A new government funded study has found that the radiation given off just after 50 minutes of being on your phone increases the activity of brain cells. According to the study, phones that were turned off didn't create the same activity. This is the first time in any study where they looked specifically at how electromagnetic radiation from cell phones affects glucose metabolism, which is a normal function in the brain.

Basically more brain activity means that your cells are creating more energy. A number of health risks have long time been associated with the use of cell phones from the radiation. The Interphone project, coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer wants to put those rumors to rest after doing the largest study on cell phone use. It included subjects who used cell phones for ten years or longer. The project concluded that overall no increase risk was observed with the use of cell phones.

Although these studies conclude that cell phone use is in fact non hazardous to one's health, a person with brain damage who exposes his or her self to radiation could be triggering something dangerous says the lead study author, Nora Valkow.

Lonely Hearts

Valentines Day is a week away, and many will be celebrating it with their loved ones. But not everyone has that special someone to spend it with. A new study done my UCLA researchers have found that loneliness is in fact bad for your health. It isn't merely about surrounding yourself with people, but a state of mind in which you can't count on anyone in your waking life.

The study was comprised of 93 adults. They found that people who say they're chronically lonely have an overexpression of genes connected to cells that produce an inflammatory response to cells. Long term inflammation eventually leads to cardiovascular disease and cancer.

According to the research done by UCLA researchers, there have been many studies done on the health affects from loneliness, but it is important to learn more about the biological mechanisms of these affects.

You might be wondering how does one prevent loneliness from occurring? According to many studies, it says that one should be active, and surround themselves with positive influences, and people who care about them. Don't be afraid to meet new people, and build connections with others. Whether you are single or living alone, it is vital to socialize. Laughing and having a good time has always been helpful for people who are feeling down or who just didn't have a good day.

Loneliness is a serious problem that many people deal with on a daily basis. If you know someone who is dealing with this problem, take time out and listen to them. Let them know you care. A few words can go a long way to someone who is suffering from loneliness.

White Out

The blizzard of 2011 will definitely go down in history as one of the worst blizzards in Chicago history. People all around the city were rushing to get off work yesterday, but last night 600 to 900 people were stranded on Lake Shore drive after a series of car accidents. People began to leave their cars, and brace the blizzard, while the drivers who stayed in their cars were there for 12 hours. Chicago city officials made statements before and after the blizzard urging drivers to be cautious, to not leave their cars if they got stuck, and to avoid driving if possible.

The blizzard also brought with its wrath lighting, and thunder that knocked down power, leaving thousands of Chicagoans without electricity. According to CBS 2 in Chicago many roads were and still are closed due to the hazardous conditions. All public schools and city colleges were closed for the first time since 1999, when the city faced its last major blizzard. Chicago public schools will remain closed on Thursday as well.

Governor Pat Quinn issued more national guards to the state to help out with the snow clean up. There have been many reports of people helping eachother dig out their cars, and one lady provided food for the stranded motorists on Lake Shore drive last night.

Although there is no school in Chicago, that won't keep kids from going outside, where they were sledding and skiing on Lake Shore drive and at Grant Park. The side streets and alleys remain non drivable as city road crews focus on cleaning main roads.

Many people all over the country will remember where they were the day the horrendous blizzard hit. Time will tell how long it will take for streets and businesses to go back to normal.