Running: START NOW!!

Understanding Pharmacogenomics: The world of pharmacology is continually evolving, and one of the most exciting frontiers is Pharmacogenomics. Usually, we treat patients based on their clinical characteristics. But with pharmacogenomics, we take into consideration the genetic variability of drug metabolism and response within each person. This allows us to exactly treat what the patient is suffering from, and at the same time reduce some of the unwanted side effects in some cases.

In the fast-paced world of corporate jobs, it is crucial for individuals to recognize the significance of embracing creative hobbies. This article highlights the multifaceted benefits of engaging in activities that foster creativity, such as stress reduction, enhanced well-being, cognitive skill development, improved productivity, and innovation.

Discover effective methods to prevent and treat shin splints, a common condition among runners. Enhance your running experience by understanding the causes, symptoms, and practical strategies for relief and prevention.

Microsoft Excel is that one friend that will always have your back in terms of productivity and efficiency :D

Changing your life starts with reading more...

What if we got life wrong? We are not meant to enjoy life… How about, we are meant to enjoy suffering through life?

As Paracelsus said: “All things are poison, and nothing is without poison; the dosage alone makes it, so a thing is not a poison." What he meant briefly is that: "The dose makes the poison". This is true because any substance can be toxic only if it reaches a susceptible biological system within the body in a high enough concentration. This concentration can be in milligrams or in grams. (here comes the concept of potency) So back to our question, can drinking water lead to a Coma? The brief answer is “ YES, it can…it rarely happens, but it DOES happen” But HOW? Why does anybody want to drink that much water? What is the mechanism? Let’s talk science now. This condition is called “Water intoxication”. ·Causes This excessive hydration happens because of 1 - Endurance exercises (i.e. Marathons, Ultramarathons, Military training, big sporting events…) - Drug Abuse. - Iatrogenic (no known cause) - Cerebral salt-wasting - Psychiatric conditions (i.e., Compulsive water drinking, aka psychogenic polydipsia) So excessive hydration for a “normal” person is extremely rare. ·Symptoms First symptoms of water intoxication: - Headaches. - Nausea. - Vomiting. Severe symptoms of water intoxication: - Confusion - Drowsiness - Increased blood pressure - Muscle weakness or cramping - Difficulty breathing In severe cases, it can cause seizures, brain damage, Coma, and even death. ·Mechanism Water is readily absorbed in our digestive system with no obstacles. Thus, when we drink excessively, water goes directly to our blood vessels, and our blood volume increases. As we know from basic chemistry, when we add more water (solvent) into a container without adding more solute (minerals or ions), we call this dilution. In this case, the blood volume increased but the Sodium amount stayed the same, so the sodium in our blood is now diluted. In normal cases, the range of sodium levels in the blood should be between 135 mEq/L and 145 mEq/L. When the Sodium level decreases below 135 mEq/L, we call this Hyponatremia. Sodium usually helps to maintain the balance of the fluid inside and outside of the cells. When hyponatremia occurs, the water will travel from outside to the inside of the cells. And since water has access to all of our body parts with no obstruction, the next target is the brain. Applying Osmosis Phenomenon, water will move from outside to inside the neurons in our brains, leading to: - Brain swelling - Disturbance of electrolyte distribution (Sodium, calcium, potassium,…) inside the neurons. Thus, normal brain functions will be disturbed which will lead to the symptoms mentioned above. ·How can we know the limit? The volume of the water is not the problem. The timing is. The kidney normally excretes 0.8 to 1 Liter of water PER HOU R. 3 Drinking water in a short time more than the kidney can excrete will lead to hyponatremia and thus water intoxication. Some study reports were as below: - Soldiers developed symptoms after consuming ~2 Liters of water in 1 hour. 4 - Several military cases and three deaths from overhydration and resultant hyponatremia and cerebral edema. All these cases were associated with more than 5 liters (usually 10-20 Liters) of water intake in a period of a few hours. 5 So, make sure that when you are over-sweating or overheating and feeling like you need to drink a lot of water, just limit it to 1-1.5 L per hour. 5 The correct amount of water needed per day differs from person to person and the factors are: - Body weight - Level of Physical Activity - Climate - Breastfeeding The National Academy of Medicine recommended in 2004 that: 6 - Women aged 19-30 years are to consume ~ 2.7 liters per day. - Men aged 19-30 years to consume ~ 3.7 liters per day. You can read more about the daily water intake recommendations here: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/306638

On 10 Oct 2022, I deleted all my social media accounts (except for YouTube and LinkedIn). I realized how much social media can take from our time without us even noticing it. It’s not just the time that it’s taking from us. It’s also our attention, willpower, happiness, contentment, and a lot of other things.

OneNote is one of the most useful productivity apps that you can use to enhance your study/work quality and efficiency...not to forget about FUN! :D