mtariqniaz – Hybrid Learning https://hybridlearning.pk Online Learning Tue, 02 Jul 2024 07:05:37 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 Hidden sources of mysterious cosmic neutrinos seen on Earth https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/07/03/hidden-sources-of-mysterious-cosmic-neutrinos-seen-on-earth/ https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/07/03/hidden-sources-of-mysterious-cosmic-neutrinos-seen-on-earth/#respond Fri, 03 Jul 2020 07:55:01 +0000 https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/07/03/hidden-sources-of-mysterious-cosmic-neutrinos-seen-on-earth/ The origin of high-energy cosmic neutrinos observed by the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, whose detector is buried deep in the Antarctic ice, is an enigma that […]

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The origin of high-energy cosmic neutrinos observed by the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, whose detector is buried deep in the Antarctic ice, is an enigma that has perplexed physicists and astronomers. A new model could help explain the unexpectedly large flux of some of these neutrinos inferred by recent neutrino and gamma-ray data. A paper by Penn State researchers describing the model, which points to the supermassive black holes found at the cores of active galaxies as the sources of these mysterious neutrinos, appears [DATE] in the journal Physical Reviews Letters.

“Neutrinos are subatomic particles so tiny that their mass is nearly zero and they rarely interact with other matter,” said Kohta Murase, assistant professor of physics and of astronomy and astrophysics at Penn State and a member of Center for Multimessenger Astrophysics in the Institute for Gravitation and the Cosmos (IGC), who led the research. “High-energy cosmic neutrinos are created by energetic cosmic-ray accelerators in the universe, which may be extreme astrophysical objects such as black holes and neutron stars. They must be accompanied by gamma rays or electromagnetic waves at lower energies, and even sometimes gravitational waves. So, we expect the levels of these various `cosmic messengers’ that we observe to be related. Interestingly, the IceCube data have indicated an excess emission of neutrinos with energies below 100 teraelectron volt (TeV), compared to the level of corresponding high-energy gamma rays seen by the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope.”

Scientists combine information from all of these cosmic messengers to learn about events in the universe and to reconstruct its evolution in the burgeoning field of “multimessenger astrophysics.” For extreme cosmic events, like massive stellar explosions and jets from supermassive black holes, that create neutrinos, this approach has helped astronomers pinpoint the distant sources and each additional messenger provides additional clues about the details of the phenomena.

For cosmic neutrinos above 100 TeV, previous research by the Penn State group showed that it is possible to have concordance with high-energy gamma rays and ultra-high-energy cosmic rays which fits with a multimessenger picture. However, there is growing evidence for an excess of neutrinos below 100 TeV, which cannot simply be explained. Very recently, the IceCube Neutrino Observatory reported another excess of high-energy neutrinos in the direction of one of the brightest active galaxies, known as NGC 1068, in the northern sky.

“We know that the sources of high-energy neutrinos must also create gamma rays, so the question is: Where are these missing gamma rays?” said Murase. “The sources are somehow hidden from our view in high-energy gamma rays, and the energy budget of neutrinos released into the universe is surprisingly large. The best candidates for this type of source have dense environments, where gamma rays would be blocked by their interactions with radiation and matter but neutrinos can readily escape. Our new model shows that supermassive black hole systems are promising sites and the model can explain the neutrinos below 100 TeV with modest energetics requirements.”

The new model suggests that the corona — the aura of superhot plasma that surrounds stars and other celestial bodies — around supermassive black holes found at the core of galaxies, could be such a source. Analogous to the corona seen in a picture of the Sun during a solar eclipse, astrophysicists believe that black holes have a corona above the rotating disk of material, known as an accretion disk, that forms around the black hole through its gravitational influence. This corona is extremely hot (with a temperature of about one billion degrees kelvin), magnetized, and turbulent. In this environment, particles can be accelerated, which leads to particle collisions that would create neutrinos and gamma rays, but the environment is dense enough to prevent the escape of high-energy gamma rays.

“The model also predicts electromagnetic counterparts of the neutrino sources in `soft’ gamma-rays instead of high-energy gamma rays,” said Murase. “High-energy gamma rays would be blocked but this is not the end of the story. They would eventually be cascaded down to lower energies and released as `soft’ gamma rays in the megaelectron volt range, but most of the existing gamma-ray detectors, like the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, are not tuned to detect them.”

There are projects under development that are designed specifically to explore such soft gamma-ray emission from space. Furthermore, upcoming and next-generation neutrino detectors, KM3Net in the Mediterranean Sea and IceCube-Gen2 in Antarctica will be more sensitive to the sources. The promising targets include NGC 1068 in the northern sky, for which the excess neutrino emission was reported, and several of the brightest active galaxies in the southern sky.

“These new gamma-ray and neutrino detectors will enable deeper searches for multimessenger emission from supermassive black hole coronae,” said Murase. “This will make it possible to critically examine if these sources are responsible for the large flux of mid-energy level neutrinos observed by IceCube as our model predicts.”


Story Source:

Materials provided by Penn State. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

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Quilting Cotton Face Masks Better Than Bandanas https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/07/03/quilting-cotton-face-masks-better-than-bandanas/ https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/07/03/quilting-cotton-face-masks-better-than-bandanas/#respond Fri, 03 Jul 2020 07:50:40 +0000 https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/07/03/quilting-cotton-face-masks-better-than-bandanas/ July 2, 2020 — DIY face coverings can prevent the spread of COVID-19, but some materials are more effective than others, according to a new […]

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July 2, 2020 — DIY face coverings can prevent the spread of COVID-19, but some materials are more effective than others, according to a new study published Tuesday in the journal Physics of Fluids.
Well-fitted homemade masks with multiple layers of quilting fabric and off-the-shelf, cone-style masks reduced respiratory droplets the best, the researchers wrote. SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is spread through respiratory droplets when people sneeze, cough, talk and sing.
“Promoting widespread awareness of effective preventive measures is crucial at this time as we are observing significant spikes in cases of COVID-19 infections in many states, especially Florida,” Siddhartha Verma, PhD, the lead author and a Florida Atlantic University professor, said in a statement.
In a lab, the research team used laser light and synthetic fog to visualize how far droplets travel from a mannequin’s mouth during simulated coughing and sneezing. They tested bandanas, homemade masks with two layers of cotton quilting fabric, loosely folded homemade masks made from a handkerchief or T-shirt, and cone-style masks available at most pharmacies.
They found that loosely folded face masks and bandanas stopped droplets to some degree, but well-fitted homemade masks with multiple layers and cone-style masks were much better. Masks with multiple layers and off-the-shelf masks still had some leakage through the material and along the sides of the mask, but they reduced the speed and range of droplets, the researchers wrote.
With a bandana, respiratory droplets traveled about 3 feet, 7 inches. With a folded cotton handkerchief, they traveled a little over a foot. With a cone-style mask, droplets traveled 8 inches, and with a stitched quilting cotton mask, droplets traveled 2.5 inches.
The research team also found that droplets from uncovered coughs traveled more than the recommended 6-foot physical distancing guidelines. Without a mask, droplets traveled more than 8 feet. In some cases, they traveled up to 12 feet within 50 seconds and could remain in the air for up to 3 minutes in the calm lab environment.
“The visuals used in our study can help convey to the general public the rationale behind social-distancing guidelines and recommendations for using face masks,” Verma said.
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California Shuts Down Indoor Dining in 19 Counties https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/07/03/california-shuts-down-indoor-dining-in-19-counties/ https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/07/03/california-shuts-down-indoor-dining-in-19-counties/#respond Fri, 03 Jul 2020 07:48:30 +0000 https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/07/03/california-shuts-down-indoor-dining-in-19-counties/ July 2, 2020 — With new coronavirus cases spiking and the Fourth of July weekend approaching, California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday ordered businesses in […]

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July 2, 2020 — With new coronavirus cases spiking and the Fourth of July weekend approaching, California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday ordered businesses in 19 hard-hit counties to move their operations outdoors or close down entirely.
Restaurant dining rooms, bars, wineries, movie theaters, card rooms, and museums are among the businesses affected by the order, which will be in effect at least three weeks.
“This doesn’t mean restaurants are shut down,” Newsom said, according to the Los Angeles Times. “It means that we’re trying to take the activities, as many activities as we can —  these mixed activities, these concentrated activities — and move them outdoors, which is a way of mitigating the spread of this virus.”
Newsom urged those 19 counties to consider canceling fireworks displays and ordered all parking facilities at state beaches in Southern California and the Bay Area to be closed for the upcoming weekend.
The California Department of Health reported 9,740 new cases on Tuesday, a one-day record, CNBC reported. The state has reported more than 216,000 coronavirus cases with almost 6,000 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins University coronavirus tally.
Health experts say the current surge of cases in California, Florida and Texas occurred partly because people gathered to socialize over the Memorial Day weekend and didn’t practice social distancing. If that happens again over the Fourth, coronavirus cases could increase even more.
The 19 counties are on the state “watch list” because they haven’t been able to reign in new COVID-19 cases. The order covers Contra Costa, Fresno, Glenn, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Merced, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Solano, Stanislaus, Tulare, and Ventura counties.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday that indoor dining won’t be allowed in the immediate future.
As part of the city’s reopening schedule, indoor dancing was supposed to be allowed starting July 6. But indoor activities have been shown to contribute to the spread of the virus, de Blasio said at a news briefing.
“We see a lot of problems and we particularly see problems revolving around people going back to bars and restaurants, indoors,” he said. “And indoors is the problem more and more, the sciences showing it more and more.”
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Eye scanner can detect molecular aging https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/07/03/eye-scanner-can-detect-molecular-aging/ https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/07/03/eye-scanner-can-detect-molecular-aging/#respond Fri, 03 Jul 2020 07:47:08 +0000 https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/07/03/eye-scanner-can-detect-molecular-aging/ An eye scanner that Boston University Medical School developed can detect molecular aging in people. The new technique provides an accurate measure of age-related damage […]

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An eye scanner that Boston University Medical School developed can detect molecular aging in people. The new technique provides an accurate measure of age-related damage and could, one day, play a role in routine clinical practice.

New research suggests that a novel device could detect signs of biological aging by examining the eye.

Everyone ages, but not in the same way. Two people of exactly the same age may be in very different states of health.

In other words, chronological age and biological age are different. But while chronological age is very easy to measure, biological age is more difficult to assess.

Although scientists know that there is wide variation in the processes of aging — for example, in the deterioration of cells and tissues — among individuals, there is currently no universally accepted measure of biological aging.

In a new study that appears in The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, researchers led by Boston University Medical School describe a tool that could fill this gap.

The researchers have developed a new eye scanner that detects molecular signatures of aging in the lens and is entirely noninvasive. Doctors could use it clinically to assess an individual’s aging process and then suggest personalized interventions.

The eyes have it

The dearth of tools to assess aging accurately puts a limit on scientific understanding, senior author of the paper Dr. Lee E. Goldstein explains.

“The absence of clinical tools and metrics to quantitatively evaluate how each person is aging at the molecular level represents a major impediment to understanding aging and maximizing health throughout life.”

To address this, Dr. Goldstein and a team of investigators from institutions including Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School looked to the eye.

The eyes are a good measure of aging because they contain cells that are generated in the fetus and not replaced. This means that the cells that a person is born with remain with them for life.

These cells are called primary fiber cells, and they occur in the lens, which focuses light onto the back of the eye. Incidentally, these cells also contain the highest concentration of protein in the human body.

Importantly, these proteins do not regenerate, so they accumulate damage throughout life. This damage could provide a molecular readout of the aging process. As Dr. Goldstein puts it, the lens proteins provide a “permanent record” of a person’s life history

Decoding the molecular record

To decode this molecular information, the researchers used a technique called quasi-elastic light scattering, or QLS, which uses lasers to measure the size of particles.

The technique works because the molecular damage that occurs to lens proteins over time causes the proteins to change shape and stick together. This aggregation of altered proteins changes the scattering of light in a way that QLS can detect.

The team first tested the technique in isolated lens proteins that they had incubated in a test tube for different lengths of time — up to almost a year — to mimic the way these proteins would age in people aged 12, 30, and 53. They found that, over time, the molecular signature of the proteins changed as they expected and that this was detectable using the QLS scanner.

They then tested the scanner, which the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have deemed a “nonsignificant risk device,” in a trial of 34 people aged between 5 and 61. Impressively, the scanner was able to detect the same age-related changes that the researchers saw in the lab.

Precision medicine

Although further testing is necessary, the authors say that these results support the use of the scanner to track molecular aging in people.

They state that the tool could work in a similar fashion to other clinical biomarkers, such as brain imaging for Alzheimer’s disease and blood tests for diabetes.

“[E]ye scanning technology that probes lens protein affords a rapid, noninvasive, objective technique for direct measurement of molecular aging that can be easily, quickly, and safely implemented at the point of care. Such a metric affords potential for precision medical care across the lifespan.”

– Dr. Lee E. Goldstein

Doctors could eventually use the tool in routine clinical practice to provide an individual measure of molecular aging and perhaps even help identify interventions to extend the healthy period of a person’s lifespan.

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Android 11 Bubbles now works with Google Messages https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/07/03/android-11-bubbles-now-works-with-google-messages/ https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/07/03/android-11-bubbles-now-works-with-google-messages/#respond Fri, 03 Jul 2020 07:42:37 +0000 https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/07/03/android-11-bubbles-now-works-with-google-messages/ According to 9to5Google, starting yesterday, those using the beta version of the Google Messages app have the Bubbles feature if they are running a version […]

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According to 9to5Google, starting yesterday, those using the beta version of the Google Messages app have the Bubbles feature if they are running a version of the Android 11 beta. Bubbles is similar to the Chat Heads found in the Android version of Facebook Messenger and it will save Android users from having to jump back and forth between apps while in the middle of a text session.
For example, let’s say that you’re daytrading International Poindexter (not a real company) and are watching the fluctuations in the stock price on a financial app like CNBC. At the same time, you need to chat with your buddy Hal who has a line on toilet paper and hand sanitizer and needs to speak to you about your interest in both ASAP. Well, you could switch back and forth between Messages and CNBC although you could risk missing that exit signal you’ve been waiting for. With bubbles, the avatar will float right on top of the CNBC app allowing you to stock up on coronavirus supplies and sell International Pointdexter right at the day’s peak.

Android 11 bubbles will help users chat and view other content without bouncing between apps

Here’s how it works. A floating avatar will appear on the upper left corner of the display by default. It contains the Messages icon in the bottom right corner to show you which app it is coming from. The name of the person, and a preview of the message appear and morph (via an animation) into a blue dot. Tapping the bubble brings the avatar to the top center of the phone along with a “Plus” button that will show recent and dismissed bubbles when pressed on.
When a bubble is tapped, it will expand to provide the user with the full functionality of the Messages app including the ability to access video, photos, emoji, Assistant suggestions, and more. And if you need to get in touch with the person you’re texting by alternative means there are links that will fire up Google Duo or make a phone call. An unopened bubble can be removed from the screen by dragging it to the bottom of the display. That will keep the message in the notification shade.
If you want to play with bubbles right now, you will need to be a beta tester for the Google Messages app. Or, you can install the beta version of Messages from the Google Play Store. Since the last server-side update has been completed, the feature should be available now as long as you’re running the Android 11 Developer Preview. Keep in mind that you won’t see bubbles if you’re not using the Google Messages app. Some carriers include their own text/SMS app with the rest of their bloatware. Bubbles will not float to the surface on these apps so you need to make sure that you are using the correct one. To do this go to Settings > Apps & notifications > Advanced > Default apps and tap on SMS app. Make sure that you have the Google Messages beta installed before starting this process and then select it as your default app.
If you haven’t yet updated your Pixel to the Android 11 beta preview, you might want to hold off at this time. While it is up to you to determine how important the bubbles feature is, installing the first Android 11 beta could leave your handset full of bugs. Some features that you count on might not operate correctly. If your Pixel is not your daily driver and you’re okay with the risk, you can join the Android 11 beta program by going to this website. Tap on Get the beta > View your eligible devices and opt-in. You will receive a software update containing the most recent Android 11 beta. There is a caveat; once you join the program you can not return to Android 10 unless you completely wipe the data from your phone. So you have to make the hard decision: can you wait for the final version of Android 11 to drop (most likely in September) to get your bubbles?
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A Guide to Figuring Out Who You Are https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/06/30/a-guide-to-figuring-out-who-you-are/ https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/06/30/a-guide-to-figuring-out-who-you-are/#respond Tue, 30 Jun 2020 13:39:22 +0000 https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/06/30/a-guide-to-figuring-out-who-you-are/ Every moment of every day, whether you realize it or not, you are making a decision on how to spend your time, on what to […]

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Every moment of every day, whether you realize it or not, you are making a decision on how to spend your time, on what to pay attention to, on where to direct your energy.
Right now, you are choosing to read this article. There are an infinite number of things you could be doing, but right now, you are choosing to be here. Maybe in a minute, you decide you need to pee. Or maybe someone texts you and you stop reading. When those things happen, you are making a simple, value-laden decision: your phone (or your toilet) is more valuable to you than this article. And your behavior follows that valuation accordingly.
Our values are constantly reflected in the way we choose to behave.
This is critically important—because we all have a few things that we think we value, but we never back them up with our actions. I can tell people (and myself) until I’m blue in the face that I care about climate change or the dangers of social media, but if I spend my days driving around in a gas-guzzling SUV, constantly refreshing my newsfeeds, then my behaviors tell a different story.
Actions reflect our values because actions don’t lie. We believe we want to get that job, but when push comes to shove, we’re always kind of relieved that no one called us back so we can retreat to our video games again. We tell our girlfriend we really want to see her, but the minute our guy friends call, our schedule magically seems to open up like fucking Moses parting the Red Sea.
Many of us state values we wish we had as a way to cover up the values we actually have. In this way, aspiration can often become another form of avoidance. Instead of facing who we really are, we lose ourselves in who we wish to become.
Put another way: we lie to ourselves because we don’t like some of our own values, and we therefore don’t like a part of ourselves. We don’t want to admit we have certain values and that we wish we had other values, and it’s this discrepancy between self-perception and reality that usually gets us into all sorts of trouble.
That’s because our values are extensions of ourselves. They are what define us. When something good happens to something or someone you value, you feel good. When your mom gets a new car or your husband gets a raise or your favorite sports team wins a championship, you feel good—as though these things happened to yourself. The opposite is true as well. If you don’t value something, you will feel good when something bad happens to it. People took to the streets cheering when Osama Bin Laden was killed. People threw a party outside the prison where the serial killer Ted Bundy was executed. The destruction of someone perceived as evil felt like some great moral victory in the hearts of millions.
So, when we are disconnected from our own values—we value playing video games all day yet believe we value ambition and hard work—our beliefs and ideas get disconnected from our actions and emotions. And to bridge that disconnect, we must become delusional, about both ourselves and about the world.

Need Help Figuring out What to Give a Fuck About?

Enter your email address below and I’ll send you a 50-page ebook on developing your own personal values.
I also send out occasional updates with new articles and what I’m working on. Your information is safe and I never, ever spam.

YOU ARE WHAT YOU VALUE

We all know that story of the middle-class, educated person with a decent job who has a mini “freak out” and decides to take a week or ten days (or ten months) and cut all contact with the outside world, run to some remote and obscure part of the globe, and proceed to “find themselves.”
Hell, maybe this has been you at some point. I know it’s been me in the past.
Here’s what people mean when they say they need to “find themselves”: they’re finding new values. Our identity—that is, the thing that we perceive and understand as the “self”—is the aggregation of everything we value. So when you run away to be alone somewhere, what you’re really doing is running away somewhere to re-evaluate your values.
Here’s how it usually plays out:
You are experiencing a lot of pressure and/or stress in your day-to-day life. Due to said pressure and/or stress, you feel as though you are losing control of the direction of your own life. You don’t know what you’re doing or why you’re doing it. You begin to feel as though your own desires or decisions no longer matter. Maybe you want to drink mojitos and play banjo—but the overwhelming demands of your school/job/family/partner make it so that you feel as though you’re not able to live out those desires.
This is the “self” you feel you have “lost”—a sense that you are no longer the one navigating the ship of your own existence. Rather, you are blown back and forth across the sea of life by the winds of your responsibilities—or some other deep-sounding metaphor.
By removing yourself from these pressures and/or stressors, you are able to recover a sense of control over yourself. You are, once again, in charge of your own day-to-day existence without the interference of a million external pressures.
Not only that, but by gaining separation from the turbulent forces of your day-to-day life, you are able to look at those forces from afar and have perspective on whether you actually want the life that you have. Is this who you are? Is this what you care about? You question your decisions and priorities.
You decide that there are a few things you want to change. There are things you believe you care about too much and you want to stop. There are other things that you feel you should care about more and promise to prioritize them. You are now constructing the “new you.”
You then vow to return to the “real world” and live out your new priorities, to be your “new self”—especially because you now have a bitching tan.
This whole process—whether done on a secluded island, a cruise ship, out in the woods somewhere, or at a raucous self-help seminar—is essentially just an escapade in adjusting one’s values.
You leave, get perspective on what in your life matters to you, what should matter more, what should matter less, and then (ideally) return and get on with it. By returning and changing your priorities, you change your values, and you come back “a new person.”
Values are the fundamental component of our psychological make-up and our identity. We are defined by what we choose to find important in our lives. We are defined by our prioritizations. If money matters more than anything, then that will come to define who we are. If getting laid and smoking J’s is the most important thing in our life, that will come to define who we are. And if we feel like shit about ourselves and believe we don’t deserve love, success, or intimacy, then that will also come to define who we are—through our actions, our words, and our decisions.
Any change in self is a change in the configuration of our values. When something tragic happens, it devastates us because not only do we feel sadness, but because we lose something we value. And when we lose enough of what we value, we begin to question the value of life itself. We valued our partner and now they’re gone. And that crushes us. It calls into question who we are, our value as a human, and what we know about the world. It throws us into an existential crisis, an identity crisis, because we don’t know what to believe, feel, or do anymore. So, instead, we sit at home with our new girlfriend, a.k.a., a bag of Oreos.
This change in identity composition is true for positive events as well though. When something incredible happens, we don’t just experience the joy of winning or achieving some goal, we also go through a change in valuation for ourselves—we come to see ourselves as more valuable, as more deserving. Meaning is added to the world. Our life vibrates with increased intensity. And that is what is so powerful.

WHY SOME PERSONAL VALUES ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS

Before we get into exactly how to change our personal values, let’s talk about which values are healthy and which values are harmful. In my book, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, I defined good and bad values in the following way:
Good values are:

  • Evidence-based
  • Constructive
  • Controllable

Bad values are:

  • Emotion-based
  • Destructive
  • Uncontrollable

EVIDENCE-BASED VS EMOTION-BASED VALUES

Psychological research shows that most of us, most of the time, make decisions and are inspired to action via our feelings, rather than based on knowledge or information. Psychological research also shows us that our feelings are generally self-centered, willing to give up long-term benefits for short-term gains, and are often warped and/or delusional.
People who lead their lives based on how they feel will find themselves perpetually on a treadmill, constantly needing more, more, more. And the only way to step off that treadmill is to decide that something matters more than your own feelings—that some cause, some goal, some person, is worth occasionally getting hurt for.
That “cause” is often what we refer to as our “purpose” and finding it is one of the most important endeavors we can take to enhance our health and well-being. But our purpose should be sought not merely through what feels good. It must be considered and reasoned. We must accumulate evidence supporting it. Otherwise, we’ll spend our lives chasing a mirage.

CONSTRUCTIVE VS DESTRUCTIVE VALUES

This one sounds simple, but will start to scramble your brain if you think about it enough.
We don’t want to value things that harm ourselves or others. We do want to value things that enhance ourselves and others.
Duh.
Now, determining what is actually spurring growth and what is actually harming us can get complicated. Busting your ass at the gym technically damages your body—but it also causes you to grow. Taking MDMA can actually enhance your emotional growth in some circumstances, but if you take it every weekend to numb yourself, then you’re probably causing more emotional harm than good. Having casual sex can be a means to enhance personal confidence but also a means to avoid intimacy or emotional maturity.
There’s a blurry line between growth and harm. And they often appear as two sides of the same coin. This is why what you value is often not as important as why you value it. If you value martial arts because you enjoy hurting people, then that’s a bad value. But if you value it because you are in the military and want to learn to protect yourself and others—that’s a good value. Ultimately, it’s the intention that matters most.

CONTROLLABLE VS UNCONTROLLABLE VALUES

When you value things that are outside your control, you essentially give up your life to that thing.
The most classic example of this is money. Yes, you have some control over how much money you make, but not total control. Economies collapse, companies go under, entire professions get automated away by technology. If everything you do is for the sake of money, and then tragedy strikes and all of that money is eaten up by hospital bills, you will lose much more than a loved one—you will lose your perceived purpose for living as well.
Money is a bad value because you can’t always control it. Creativity or industriousness or a strong work ethic are good values because you CAN control them–and doing them well will ultimately generate money as a side effect.
We need values we can control, otherwise our values control us. And that’s no bueno.
Some examples of good, healthy values: honesty, building something new, vulnerability, standing up for oneself, standing up for others, self-respect, curiosity, charity, humility, creativity.
Some examples of bad, unhealthy values: dominating others through manipulation or violence, fucking more men/women, feeling good all the time, always being the center of attention, not being alone, being liked by everybody, being rich for the sake of being rich, sacrificing small animals to the pagan gods.

HOW TO REINVENT YOURSELF

Below is perhaps one of the most inspiring TED Talks I’ve ever come across. It’s not filled with mind-blowing ideas. You’re not going to get huge takeaways that you can immediately run off and implement in your own life. The guy isn’t even that great of a speaker.
But what he describes is absolutely profound:
Daryl Davis is a black musician who has traveled and played blues shows all over the US south. In his career, he’s inevitably run into a number of white supremacists. And rather than fight them or argue with them, he chose to do something unexpected: he befriended them.
This might sound insane. And maybe it is. But here’s what’s more insane: he’s convinced over 200 KKK members to give up their robes.
Here’s what most people don’t get about value change: you can’t argue someone out of their values. You can’t shame them into valuing something different (shaming them actually often has the opposite effect—they double down).
Nope, value change is far more subtle than that. And perhaps without even realizing it, Daryl Davis appears to be a master at it.

STEP 1: THE VALUE MUST FAIL.

Davis intuitively understood something that almost all of us do not: values are based on experience. You cannot argue someone out of their values. You cannot threaten them to let go of their most deeply-held beliefs. That just makes them defensive and even more resistant to changing themselves. Instead, you must approach them with empathy.
The only way to change someone’s values is by presenting them with a contrary experience to their value. The KKK members held deeply racist values and instead of attacking them and approaching them as an adversary—in a way that would reflect their values back to them—Davis chose to approach them in the completely opposite way: as a friend. And that friendliness and respect caused the KKK members to call everything they knew into question.
To let go of a value, it must be contradicted through experience. Sometimes this contradiction happens by taking the value to its logical conclusion. Too much partying ultimately makes life feel empty and meaningless. Pursuing too much money ultimately brings greater stress and alienation. Too much sex gives you chafed thighs and rug burns on your knees.
Other times, a value is contradicted by the real world. Many KKK members that met Davis had never known a black person, much less one they respected. So, he simply met them and then earned their respect.

STEP 2: WE MUST HAVE THE SELF-AWARENESS TO RECOGNIZE THAT OUR VALUES HAVE FAILED.

When our values fail, it’s terrifying. There’s a grief process that takes place. Since our values constitute our identity and our understanding of who we are, losing a value feels as though we’re losing a part of ourselves.
Therefore, we resist that failure. We explain it away and deny it. We come up with rationalizations. Davis said that for months, his KKK friends would struggle to justify their friendship with him. They would say things like, “Well, you’re different Daryl,” or create elaborate justifications for why they respected him.
When our values fail, we have two knee-jerk justifications: 1) the world sucks, or 2) we suck.
Let’s say you spend your entire life chasing money. And then, in your 40s, you accumulate a good amount. But instead of diving and swimming in gold coins like Scrooge McDuck, this money doesn’t bring you happiness, it brings you more stress. You have to figure out how to invest it. You have to pay taxes on seemingly everything. Friends and family members continuously approach you looking for help or handouts.
But instead of considering that the value sucks, that maybe you should care about something more than money, most people instead blame the world around them. It’s the government’s fault because they punish wealth and success. The world is full of moochers and lazy people who just want a handout. The stock market is a racket and impossible to win.
Others blame themselves. They think, “I should be able to handle this, therefore I just need to make even more money and everything will be alright.” They get caught on a treadmill of constantly pursuing their value more and more until they become a sort of extremist.
Few people stop to consider that the value itself is at fault. That valuing money got you into this situation, therefore there’s no way it can get you out.

STEP 3: QUESTION THE VALUE AND BRAINSTORM WHAT VALUES COULD DO A BETTER JOB.

In a previous post, I described how the process of maturity is replacing low-level, material values, with higher-level, abstract values. So instead of chasing money all the time, you could chase freedom. Instead of trying to be liked by everyone, you could value developing intimacy with a few. Instead of trying to win everything, you could focus on merely giving your best effort.
These higher-level, abstract values are better because they produce better problems. If your primary value in life is how much money you have, then you will always need more money. But if your primary value is personal freedom, then you will need more money for a while, but there might be some situations where you need less money. Or, where money is completely irrelevant.
Ultimately, abstract values are values you can control. You can always control whether you’re being honest or not. You cannot control if people like you. You can always control whether you’re giving your best effort. You can’t always control if you win or not. You can always control if you’re doing something you find meaningful, you can’t always control how much you’ll get paid.

STEP 4: LIVE THE NEW VALUE.

So, here’s the catch: sitting around thinking about better values to have is nice. But nothing will solidify until you go out and embody that new value. Values are won and lost through life experience. Not through logic or feelings or even beliefs. They have to be lived and experienced to stick.
This often takes courage. To go out and live a value contrary to your old values is fucking scary. I imagine the KKK guys were terrified to spend time with a black man. It probably freaked them out when they realized they liked him and respected him. They probably avoided him and put up walls between themselves and him.
We do the same thing in our own lives all the time. It’s easy to want authentic relationships. But it’s hard to live them. It’s scary. We avoid it. We come up with excuses for why we have to wait, or we’ll do it next time. But the “next time” inevitably ends up being another failure and another pain.

STEP 5: REAP THE BENEFITS OF THE NEW VALUE.

But when you do summon the courage to live out your new values, something crazy happens: it feels good. You experience the benefits. And once you experience those benefits, not only does it become easier to continue living the new value, but it sounds insane that you didn’t do this sooner.
It’s like the high you get after a good run. Or the relief you feel after telling someone the truth. Or the liberation you feel when you stop being a racist fuck and hand over your Klan robe to a nice old black man.
Like jumping into a cold pool, the terror and shock passes and you’re left with a wonderful sense of relief, and a newer, deeper understanding of who you really are

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Here’s how you can get checked for coronavirus in Pakistan https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/06/04/heres-how-you-can-get-checked-for-coronavirus-in-pakistan/ https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/06/04/heres-how-you-can-get-checked-for-coronavirus-in-pakistan/#respond Thu, 04 Jun 2020 07:49:56 +0000 https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/06/04/heres-how-you-can-get-checked-for-coronavirus-in-pakistan/ Since December last year, the coronavirus has spread nearly all over the world, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths as countries ramp up testing capacities […]

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Since December last year, the coronavirus has spread nearly all over the world, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths as countries ramp up testing capacities to identify patients and bring the disease under control.

Members of the medical fraternity insist that that the war against Covid-19 can only be won by increasing testing capacity, isolating infected individuals and equipping the healthcare staff with proper protective gear.

“We have a simple message for all countries: test, test, test.”

These are the words of Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the World Health Organisation.

How to get checked

To help people who feel like they might have the symptomsDawn.com reached out to health officials to understand the process through which one can be tested for the virus for free.

Here’s what you need to know:

  • A patient suspecting they are manifesting symptoms of coronavirus should visit a government designated public or private hospital. According to National Institute of Health (NIH) official Dr Mumtaz Ali Khan, all district headquarter hospitals and tertiary care hospitals across the country are equipped to collect samples for coronavirus.
  • At the hospital, a doctor will check the patient for symptoms to determine if he or she may have coronavirus, according to NIH Executive Director Maj Gen Aamir Ikram.
  • The patient will be asked a set of questions regarding their travel history as well as of those they have been in close contact with.
  • If the doctor rules out suspicion of coronavirus, the patient will be sent back.
  • If the doctor comes to the conclusion that the patient is manifesting symptoms, a swab of their saliva is taken and sent to one of the designated facilities that have coronavirus testing equipment. This testing will be done free of cost, said Ikram.
  • Other government facilities around the country are also testing free of cost. However, some private labs are also independently testing individuals for the virus against a fee.

Facilities conducting tests for coronavirus

Sindh

  • Advanced Diagnostic Centre – Karachi
  • Aga Khan University Hospital – Karachi
  • Chughtai Lab, Karachi
  • Dow University of Health Sciences, Ojha – Karachi
  • Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital – Karachi
  • Ziauddin Hospital – Karachi
  • Indus Hospital – Karachi
  • PNS Shifa – Karachi
  • SIUT – Karachi
  • Drive-through testing facility – Karachi
  • Gambat Institute of Medical Sciences – Khairpur
  • Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences – Hyderabad
Medical staff members take information from a resident sitting in a car for a coronavirus test at a drive-through testing facility in Karachi. — AFP

Punjab

  • Provincial Public Health Reference Lab (PPHRL), PHSD
  • Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital – Lahore
  • Pakistan Kidney And Liver Institute – Lahore
  • Nishtar Hospital – Multan
  • Chughtai Testing Lab
  • National Institute of Health – Islamabad
  • Institute of Public Health – Lahore
  • Allied hospital – Faisalabad
  • Civil Hospital – Bahawalpur

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

  • Khyber Medical University – Peshawar
  • Hayatabad Medical Complex – Peshawar
  • Ayub Teaching Hospital – Abbottabad
  • Saidu Teaching Hospital – Swat
  • Mufti Mehmood Memorial Teaching Hospital – DI Khan
  • Rehman Medical Institute – Peshawar
  • North West General Hospital – Peshawar
  • Anwar lab – Peshawar

Balochistan

  • Fatima Jinnah Hospital – Quetta

Azad Jammu and Kashmir

  • Abbas Institute of Medical Sciences – Muzaffarabad
  • Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahayan Hospital (CMH) – Rawalakot
  • Divisional Headquarters Hospital – Mirpur

Gilgit Baltistan

  • All district hospitals in the area are equipped to collect samples which are then sent to a lab in Gilgit or Skardu for testing

In addition to these facilities, citizens can visit their nearest public tertiary healthcare centre or district headquarter hospital for screening.

What to do if you test positive

The federal government in its guidelines to provinces said that patients showing mild symptoms of the virus would be isolated at their homes while only those requiring medical help would be treated at hospitals.

According to standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the federal health ministry, the move to isolate these patients at home would help “ensure control of the disease and reduce the burden on the healthcare system”.

The guidelines advise patients to limit contact with other people and maintain a distance of six feet if they do need to go out. They also advise patients to take all the necessary precautions and cleaning and disinfecting surfaces they touch.

However, patients are advised to visit hospitals if their symptoms worsen.

“You should not hide this disease at all. The sooner you get help, the safer you will be,” said Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, appealing to people — especially those who have underlying health conditions such as diabetes, heart or kidney problems — to “immediately” come to hospital as soon as they get ill.

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نہار منہ یہ مشروب پیجئے اور فائدہ اٹھائیں https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/06/02/%d9%86%db%81%d8%a7%d8%b1-%d9%85%d9%86%db%81-%db%8c%db%81-%d9%85%d8%b4%d8%b1%d9%88%d8%a8-%d9%be%db%8c%d8%ac%d8%a6%db%92-%d8%a7%d9%88%d8%b1-%d9%81%d8%a7%d8%a6%d8%af%db%81-%d8%a7%d9%b9%da%be%d8%a7%d8%a6/ https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/06/02/%d9%86%db%81%d8%a7%d8%b1-%d9%85%d9%86%db%81-%db%8c%db%81-%d9%85%d8%b4%d8%b1%d9%88%d8%a8-%d9%be%db%8c%d8%ac%d8%a6%db%92-%d8%a7%d9%88%d8%b1-%d9%81%d8%a7%d8%a6%d8%af%db%81-%d8%a7%d9%b9%da%be%d8%a7%d8%a6/#respond Tue, 02 Jun 2020 20:24:16 +0000 https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/06/02/%d9%86%db%81%d8%a7%d8%b1-%d9%85%d9%86%db%81-%db%8c%db%81-%d9%85%d8%b4%d8%b1%d9%88%d8%a8-%d9%be%db%8c%d8%ac%d8%a6%db%92-%d8%a7%d9%88%d8%b1-%d9%81%d8%a7%d8%a6%d8%af%db%81-%d8%a7%d9%b9%da%be%d8%a7%d8%a6/ ادرک روز مرہ استعمال ہونے والی چیز ہے جو لگ بھگ پاکستان میں ہر کھانے کا کسی نہ کسی شکل میں حصہ ہوتی ہے۔ مگر کیا […]

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ادرک روز مرہ استعمال ہونے والی چیز ہے جو لگ بھگ پاکستان میں ہر کھانے کا کسی نہ کسی شکل میں حصہ ہوتی ہے۔
مگر کیا آپ جانتے ہیں کہ یہ صحت کے لیے کتنی بہترین چیز ہے ؟ بدہضمی سے لے کر جسمانی دفاعی نظام کو مضبوط بنانے تک یہ جڑی بوٹی بے شمار فوائد کی حامل ہے۔ادرک کا استعمال نہار منہ کرنا نظام ہاضمہ کو بہتر کرتا ہے، دل متلانے اور دیگر ہاضمے کے مسائل کو ختم کرنے کے ساتھ ساتھ اس میں موجود اینٹی آکسائیڈنٹس موسمی نزلہ زکام سے نجات دلانے میں بھی مددگار ثابت ہوتا ہے۔یہ خون کی شریانوں کے لیے بھی بہترین ہے جو کہ خون میں کولیسٹرول کی سطح کم کرنے میں مدد دے سکتی ہے۔نہار منہ ادرک کو پانی میں ملا کر پینا آپ کی صحت کے لیے متعدد فوائد کا حامل ہوسکتا ہے۔

اس کو بنانے کا طریقہ درج ذیل ہیں :

:اجزا
ادرک کے دو انچ کے ٹکڑے
چوتھائی کپ لیموں کا عرق
تین کپ پانی
شہد

تیار کرنے کا طریقہ :

ادرک کو چھل کر کدوکش کرلیں اور پھر پانچ منٹ تک پانی میں ابالیں۔
اس کے بعد اسے ٹھنڈا ہونے کے لیے رکھ دیں اور جب پانی ٹھنڈا ہوجائے تو آخر میں اس میں لیموں کے عرق اور شہد کا اضافہ کردیں۔اس مکسچر کو صبح ناشتے سے پہلے یعنی نہار منہ پینا فائدہ مند ہوتا ہے جو کہ متعدد طبی مسائل کی روک تھام یا علاج میں مددگار ثابت ہوسکتا ہے۔اس کے ساتھ ساتھ یہ نظام ہاضمہ اور میٹابولزم کو بہتر کرنے کے ساتھ ساتھ جسمانی وزن میں کمی لانے میں بھی موثر ثابت ہوتا ہے۔

نوٹ: یہ مضمون عام معلومات کی فراہمی کے لیے ہے۔ قارئین اس حوالے سے اپنے معالج سے بھی ضرور مشورہ لیں۔

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Junk Meals Food plan Prompted Him to Go Blind, Medical doctors Say https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/06/01/junk-meals-food-plan-prompted-him-to-go-blind-medical-doctors-say/ https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/06/01/junk-meals-food-plan-prompted-him-to-go-blind-medical-doctors-say/#respond Mon, 01 Jun 2020 18:32:08 +0000 https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/06/01/junk-meals-food-plan-prompted-him-to-go-blind-medical-doctors-say/ A teen who ate nothing however fries, chips and different junk meals for years slowly went blind on account of his poor weight loss program, […]

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A teen who ate nothing however fries, chips and different junk meals for years slowly went blind on account of his poor weight loss program, in line with a brand new report of the case.The case highlights a maybe little-known reality about poor diets: Along with being tied to weight problems, coronary heart illness and most cancers, they “may completely injury the nervous system, notably imaginative and prescient,” in line with the report, revealed right now (Sept. 2) within the journal Annals of Inside Medication.

The teenager’s issues started at age 14, when he went to the physician’s workplace complaining of tiredness.

The teenager was reportedly a “fussy eater,” and blood exams confirmed he had anemia and low ranges of vitamin B12, the report stated. He was handled with injections of vitamin B12 together with recommendation on the way to enhance his weight loss program. Nevertheless, by age 15, he developed listening to loss and imaginative and prescient issues, however docs could not appear to search out the trigger — outcomes from an MRI and eye examination have been regular.Over the subsequent two years, the teenager’s imaginative and prescient received progressively worse. When the boy was 17, an eye fixed take a look at confirmed that his imaginative and prescient was 20/200 in each eyes, the brink for being “legally blind” in the USA.Additional exams confirmed the teenager had developed injury to his optic nerve, the bundle of nerve fibers that connects the again of the attention to the mind. As well as, the teenager nonetheless had low ranges of vitamin B12, together with low ranges of copper, selenium and vitamin D.These deficiencies prompted docs to ask the teenager in regards to the meals he ate. “The affected person confessed that, since elementary college, he wouldn’t eat sure textures of meals,” the authors, from the College of Bristol in the UK, wrote within the report. He informed docs that the one issues he ate have been fries, chips — particularly, Pringles — white bread, processed ham slices and sausage

After ruling out different potential causes for his imaginative and prescient loss, the teenager was identified with dietary optic neuropathy, or injury to the optic nerve that outcomes from dietary deficiencies. The situation may be brought on by medicine, malabsorption of meals, poor weight loss program or alcohol abuse. “Purely dietary causes are uncommon in developed nations, the authors stated.It is recognized that the B nutritional vitamins are important for a lot of mobile reactions, and deficiencies in these nutritional vitamins can result in the buildup of poisonous byproducts of metabolism, and finally to the injury of nerve cells, in line with the College of Iowa.

Imaginative and prescient loss from dietary optic neuropathy is probably reversible if caught early. Nevertheless, by the point the teenager was identified, his imaginative and prescient loss was everlasting. What’s extra, carrying glasses wouldn’t assist the teenager’s imaginative and prescient, as a result of injury to the optic nerve can’t be corrected with lenses, stated examine lead creator Dr. Denize Atan, a advisor senior lecturer in ophthalmology at Bristol Medical College and Bristol Eye Hospital. The teenager was prescribed dietary dietary supplements, which prevented his imaginative and prescient loss from getting any worse.

The teenager was additionally referred to psychological well being companies for an consuming dysfunction. The researchers observe that the teenager’s weight loss program was extra than simply “choosy consuming” as a result of it was very restrictive and brought on a number of dietary deficiencies.A comparatively new prognosis generally known as “avoidant-restrictive meals consumption dysfunction” (beforehand generally known as “selective consuming dysfunction“) entails an absence of curiosity in meals or avoidance of meals with sure textures, colours, and so forth., with out concern to physique weight or form. The situation normally begins in childhood, and sufferers typically have a standard physique mass index (BMI), as was the case for this affected person, the authors stated.

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Constipation https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/06/01/constipation/ https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/06/01/constipation/#respond Mon, 01 Jun 2020 18:23:58 +0000 https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/06/01/constipation/ That stopped-up feeling of constipation is uncomfortable, but you’ll likely encounter it at some point in your life. In fact, up to 113 million Americans […]

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That stopped-up feeling of constipation is uncomfortable, but you’ll likely encounter it at some point in your life. In fact, up to 113 million Americans say they’re often bothered by constipation. “It’s probably one of the most common digestive disorders that we see in this country,” says Neville Fernandes, MD, a gastroenterologist at Medical City Las Colinas in Irving, Texas.

While it doesn’t necessarily signal a more serious health problem, it can. Dr. Fernandes gave us the scoop on constipation: what it is, common causes, and tips for relieving symptoms of constipation.

What is constipation?
Doctors classify constipation as delayed emptying of the stomach. “Medically, we say it is when you have less than three bowel movements a week,” says Fernandes. “But it’s hard to say because normal can mean anywhere from once every two days to three times a day.”

Signs and symptoms
If you have one or more of the following symptoms, you may be constipated:

  • Fewer than three bowel movements in a week
  • Bowel movements that are hard, dry or painful
  • Bloating and pain in the abdomen
  • Difficulty having bowel movements, feeling the need to strain or bear down
  • Feeling like you haven’t completely gone
  • Nausea and vomiting

Main Causes:

1. Medication
Fernandes says that many medications—perhaps more than people realize—have constipation as a side effect. “Things like antidepressants, pain medicines, anticonvulsants, aluminum antacids, and blood pressure medications can all cause constipation.” If you’re constipated and take any of these medications be sure to tell your doctor, who may make an adjustment in your prescription or change your medication.

2. Diet
A big part of having a healthy digestive tract is getting enough of the right nutrients—and that means fiber. “People just don’t get enough fiber in their diet and the colon requires fiber to stimulate it and help it contract,” says Fernandes. So, how much fiber do you need? The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases recommends that adults get 22 to 34 grams every day, depending on their age and sex.

3. Water intake
Staying hydrated isn’t just important for kidney and cognitive function, lubricating joints and regulating body temperature, it helps your colon stay on track, too. “The function of the colon is to reabsorb water, and if you’re dehydrated, your body is going to automatically try and reabsorb water, which is going to make you more constipated,” says Fernandes. Stay hydrated by drinking at least eight glasses of water a day—and even more during the warm summer months.

4. Certain medical conditions
Diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, hypothyroidism, inflammatory bowel diseases, muscular dystrophy, and spinal cord injuries can cause constipation. If you have one of these conditions and experience problems with bowel movements be sure to tell your physician, who can work out a treatment plan that’s right for you.

5. Changes in Routine
If you’ve ever had trouble going while you’re on vacation, you’re not alone. “I think people get out of their routine, maybe in an unfamiliar environment, they’re eating irregularly so they become constipated,” says Fernandes.

How to know when it’s serious
If you experience frequent constipation and have unexplained weight loss, rectal bleeding, or a family history of colon cancer, see your doctor, says Fernandes. It could be anal fissures, hemorrhoid complications, rectal prolapse, and, in rare cases, fecal impaction or bowel obstruction. It can also result from gynecological problems such as fibroids or even ovarian cancer, which can compress the intestine. Children may be born with Hirschsprung’s disease, meaning they do not have the bowel nerves that push the stool through. The condition is treated with surgery.

What to do
If constipation does strike, there are some things you can do to relieve the discomfort and help your colon get back on track. “Over-the-counter laxatives are usually a good start,” says Fernandes. But be careful not to overuse them. “Some people are so dependent on laxatives that if they don’t take them, they can’t go to the bathroom regularly,” he says. Talk to your doctor before you start taking them. Bulk-forming agents, stool softeners, lubricants, or prescription medicines may help, too.

Fernandes says the most important piece of advice he can give is to take care of your body. “I would encourage people to focus on making sure they’re eating a balanced, high fiber diet, drinking lots of fluids, exercising regularly, and disciplining themselves to set aside time to use the toilet.”

Medically reviewed in June 2018.

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