Tag Archives: People

Common Cold

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Common Cold

Achoo! It’s the common cold.

  • The ‘common cold’ is also called ‘nasopharyngitis’, ‘rhinopharyngitis’, ‘cold’, ‘ upper respiratory tract infection’ and ‘acute coryza’ and was discovered in 1950s, in the United Kingdom.
  • Common colds are multiple viruses that infect the upper respiratory functions, from the throat and up to, and in particular, the nose.
  • The rhinovirus is the most frequent cause of common colds, however there are 200 viruses that can cause the same or similar symptoms.
  • Common colds have symptoms, that are generally a reaction of the human body immune system, that includes coughs, sore throat, sneezing, runny nose and fevers, which is similar to influenza, the flu.
  • Common colds are generally gone 7 to 10 days later, but sometime it can take up to three weeks to be rid of the symptoms.

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Cold
Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici/Free Digital Photos
  • Although there is not any specific prevention against common colds, they can be avoided by thoroughly washing hands and staying away from others with the symptoms, and it is said that the common belief of consuming extra vitamins to prevent a cold is ineffective.
  • Common colds can not be treated, not even by antibiotics, although pain or symptom severity can be relieved by various means.
  • Common colds are the most common disease, as every year an adult has on average 2 to 5 colds and a child has 6 to 12 colds.
  • ‘Common colds’ are named ‘colds’ due to old folk theories that believed ‘colds are transferred in cold weather’, which is not true, although colds are most common in winter.
  • In the United States alone, it is estimated that more than $10.6 billion is spent on the treatment and health services for the common cold every year.
Bibliography:
Cold, 2011, Better Health Channel, <http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/colds_explained?open>
Common Cold, 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_cold>

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Abraham Lincoln

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Abraham Lincoln

“Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” – Abraham Lincoln.

  • Abraham Lincoln was a lawyer and politician born on 12 February, 1809 and was assassinated by an actor, John Wilkes Booth, on 15 April 1865.
  • Abraham Lincoln was the 16th United States President, during 1861 to 1865, being responsible for taking major action in the American Civil war, ending US slavery and improving the US economy.
  • Abraham Lincoln was self-educated and came from an uneducated family, and is commonly ranked the greatest United States president of all time.
  • In 1840, Abraham Lincoln was engaged to his future wife, Mary Todd, however they broke up and did not marry as planned in 1841, but later came back together eventually marrying in late 1842.
  • Abraham Lincoln and his wife Mary had four children, although only one survived till adulthood, and the last descendant of Abraham died in 1985.

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Lincoln
Image courtesy of Gualberto107/Free Digital Photos
  • A portrait of Abraham Lincoln can be seen on the American penny and $5 note, and he received a patent in 1849, for a boat floating device.
  • Abraham Lincoln has his face sculpted on Mount Rushmore, and has a memorial and a museum dedicated to him.
  • Abraham Lincoln was a well known wrestler in his younger age, and is said to have defeated nearly all of the 300 wrestlers he wrestled against, and he also served in war as a captain and a private during a three month period.
  • Abraham Lincoln was originally a member of the Illinois House of Representatives and later became the Illinois member for the US House of Representatives.
  • Lincoln’s assassins’ brother, Edwin Thomas Booth, saved Abraham Lincoln’s son, Robert Todd Lincoln, from a train accident, a few months before Lincoln was assassinated.
Bibliography:
Abraham Lincoln, 2013, Bio, <http://www.biography.com/people/abraham-lincoln-9382540>
Abraham Lincoln, 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln>

 

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Facial Tissue

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Facial Tissue

Achoo! At least I have a facial tissue.

  • ‘Facial tissues’ are also known as ‘paper handkerchiefs’, ‘tissues’, ‘paper tissues’ and ‘Kleenex’, after a popular brand name.
  • Facial tissues are soft, lightweight disposable paper used for the face, typically to blow one’s nose.
  • Facial tissues act as a replacement of a handkerchief and have the advantage of being disposable, rather than needing washing, and are said to be more hygienic as the used cloths are not left in pockets.
  • Facial tissues are usually made totally of pulp from wood chips and chemicals that break the chips down.
  • People of Japan have used facial tissues for centuries, although Europeans first discovered the practice on a 17th century voyage.

Facial Tissues, Small, Box, Closed, Soft, Panda, Blue, orange, Ten Random Facts, Australia

  • Kimberly-Clark Corporation invented modern facial tissues in 1924, calling them ‘Kleenex’, made for the purpose of removing makeup or cold cream.
  • Facial tissues can be printed, scented, covered with special lotions, and can be single, double or triple ply.
  • In 1926, a survey was conducted on the use of Kleenex facial tissue, and it was discovered that 60% of people were using the tissue to blow their nose, so Kimberly-Clark changed the way they marketed the product.
  • Facial tissues can be a flushable substitute of toilet paper or as a disposable substitute of a wiping cloth and can have various other uses around the home.
  • Facial tissues vary in size, from small to large, generally depending on the box the tissues are stored in, although a single tissue is generally palm or pocket sized.

 

Bibliography: Elizabeth J, Facial Tissue Facts, 2013, EHow, <http://www.ehow.com/about_5194620_facial-tissue.html>
Facial Tissue, 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facial_tissue>

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Human Heart

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Human Heart

Boom-boom… boom-boom… goes the heart.

  • The heart is a muscle that pumps approximately 5 litres (1.3 gallons) of blood around the human body every minute..
  • The Greek word for ‘heart’ is kardia, which is where the word ‘cardiac’, and other heart related medical words like ‘cardiology’ come from.
  • The human heart beats an average of 72 beats per minute, and will beat approximately 38 million beats in a year, although animal beatings can range from 20 to 600 beats per minute.
  • The human heart is typically 250 to 350 grams (9 to 12 pounds) in mass, depending on gender, and is approximately the size of a fist.
  • The heart has four chambers and valves that control the flow of blood and that the blood travels through before it enters veins or arteries.

Human Heart, Graphic, 3D, Computer generated, aorta, Ten Random Facts, Free Digital Photos

 

Heart
Image courtesy of Dream Designs/ Free Digital Photos

 

  • The job of the heart is to send deoxygenated blood to the lungs, where it becomes oxygenated and then pumped around the body.
  • The valves of the heart are said to have been first discovered in the 300s BC.
  • It was originally thought that emotions were formed in the heart, but later it was discovered emotions were formed in the brain.
  • Smoking and eating unhealthy foods can damage the heart but eating healthy foods and exercising makes it stronger.
  • An average of 7.2 million people in the world die annually due to heart disease, such as cardiac arrest.
Bibliography:
Heart, 2013, National Geographic, <http://science.nationalgeographic.com.au/science/health-and-human-body/human-body/heart-article/>
Heart, 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart>

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Albert Einstein

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Albert Einstein

“Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.” – Albert Einstein.

  • Albert Einstein was a German Jew who worked in the area of theoretical physics, teaching at many universities as a professor, and amongst other things, discovered the theory of relativity, the law of the photoelectric effect, and the equation: E = mc², meaning ‘energy equals mass multiplied by the speed of light squared’.
  • Albert Einstein was born in Ulm, Württemberg, Germany on the 14 March, 1879 and died in Princeton, New Jersey, United States, due to internal bleeding which he refused surgery for, on the 18 April, 1955.
  • Albert Einstein received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921, as well as a few other awards while he was alive, and has been honoured in numerous ways since his death.
  • When Adolf Hitler rose to power in Germany in 1933, Albert Einstein was touring the United States, and being a Jew he did not return to Germany and took America’s side, as well as eventually learning that he was a German assassination target.
  • Albert Einstein published over 450 documents, with the majority based on the topics of science and physics.

Albert Einstein. Person, Sitting, Thinking, Scientist, Black and White, Ten Random Facts, Flickr

Einstein
Image courtesy of Sharon Doaner/Flickr
  • The term ‘Einstein’ has become a dictionary word meaning ‘genius’, due to Albert’s achievements and intellect, and he has been said to be ‘the greatest physicist of all time’.
  • Many believe Albert Einstein was left handed and had trouble speaking which are both incorrect beliefs, and due to his appearance, he has often been a symbol of an absent-minded or crazy scientist.
  • Albert Einstein married Mileva Marić in 1905, with whom he had at least two children by the names of Hans and Eduard, and a mentioned daughter ‘Lieserl’, and later married, Elsa Löwenthal, who was his first and second cousin, in June 1919.
  • Besides Germany and the United States, where he eventually settled, Albert Einstein lectured in and toured various countries around the world, most notably Singapore, Palestine and Japan, with Einstein liking the Japanese people the most.
  • Albert Einstein enjoyed music and learnt to play the violin from 5 years of age, but only gained interest in learning the instrument at 13 years when he heard Mozart’s music.
Bibliography:
Albert Einstein, 2013, Biography, <http://www.biography.com/people/albert-einstein-9285408>
Albert Einstein, 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein>

Acne

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Acne

Acne is a nuisance and can be embarrassing.

  • ‘Acne’ is medically known as ‘acne vulgaris’, which is believed to be caused by hormones, and it occurs in approximately 80-90% of teenagers.
  • Acne is a skin disease that often occurs in the period when children become adults, known as puberty, and can last until the age of 25, but can continue on for many years beyond this for some people.
  • Acne occurs when skin pores are blocked due to excess skin and hair oil called ‘sebum’, as well as bacteria, and dead skin cells.
  • Acne causes black, white or red bumpy spots known as ‘blackheads’, ‘whiteheads’, and ‘pimples’, which are also known as ‘zits’.
  • Acne often appears on people’s faces, chests and backs.

Acne, Pimple, Disease, Teenager, Skin, Face, Ten Random Facts

  • Acne can cause scars, particularly when one scratches or picks at it, and can possibly cause inflammation and cysts.
  • Contrary to popular belief, chocolate does not cause acne, but regularly drinking milk, having a diet high in glucose, and significant stress can all increase the chance of acne.
  • Special medication, lotions and creams can be used to treat acne, and in severe cases, antibiotics.
  • To help prevent acne, you should wash your face gently, at least one daily, but do not scrub it.
  • Acne can often cause mental side effects, typically due to embarrassment, including decreased self-esteem, and in some cases, depression and the urge to commit suicide.
Bibliography:
Acne, 2011, Kids Health, <http://kidshealth.org/kid/grow/body_stuff/acne.html>
Acne Vulgaris, 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acne_vulgaris>

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