Scientific Advances

This just in on Yahoo News. Scientists have discovered that hydrogen sulfide helps to control blood pressure in mice. This wouldn't be so weird, were it not that Hydrogen sulfide is the fancy term for - there's just no pleasant way to say it - gas. Apparently the gas is created by cells in the blood vessels, and this causes the vessels to relax, and maintain blood pressure. The gas is then released from the colon.

Quoting the co-author of the study, Johns Hopkins neuroscientist Solomon H. Snyder, M.D., "Now that we know hydrogen sulfide's role in regulating blood pressure, it may be possible to design drug therapies that enhance its formation as an alternative to the current methods of treatment for hypertension".

Seriously, I am not making this up. A scientist is saying that we might want to give ourselves more gas. I'm guessing that he doesn't socialize much. And scientists wonder why they have the reputation for not being good with people.

Comments

Anonymous said…

Hmmm, based on that information, I'm guessing my husband's blood pressure is just fine :)

October 29, 2008 at 6:30 AM

Goals

One of my goals this year is to go on a backpacking trip. It's something I've always wanted to do, but been too intimidated to try. Well, a few weeks ago, one of the girls in the Ward invited me on a backpacking trip to the Uinta's this summer. This time I immediately said yes. All was well until a few days later when reality set in and the thought of carrying 30-35 pounds of pack on my back while hiking in rough terrain just about made me cave. I did not have all the gear I would need, nor was I in good enough shape. The gear is something easily worked out. Most of it I can either purchase myself, or borrow from highly motivated friends. The physical conditioning was another matter altogether, so I decided it was time to get in better shape. I've been pretty good at exercising regularly, and I'm in ok shape for someone approaching a milestone birthday (if I say so myself). But I knew I needed to put in some extra miles, as well as add strength to my legs ...

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Company 5K

Friday evening was the company 5K, and most of my team and their families made the effort to participate. The weather was perfect, and the route took us through the neighborhoods around the main building. We ended up finishing in about 45 minutes. Here we all are at the Finish line (l to r: Dave, his daughter and son, Robin, me, Tiffany, her boyfriend Scott, Sudhir, Bindu, and their daughter Naomi) After the 5K, I decided I needed a post-race recovery meal, and got myself down to the local DQ for a pumpkin pie blizzard.

Tracie's World

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