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September 2021 | In this issue:
THE JOY OF SWEAT COVID-19 variants What you can do to help prevent suicide Opioids and migraine headaches 5 Ways to Stay Busy and Active in Retirement
PAGE 2 | FERGUSFALLSJOURNAL.COM
‘The Joy of Sweat’
By Terri Schlichenmeyer Everybody raise your hand. Go ahead, high in the air. Raise your hand if you like ice cream, vacations, French fries, good dogs, or free snacks. Put ‘em up if you can remember your mom’s Schlichenmeyer birthday, the name of your first love, and all the words to “The Star Spangled Banner.” Read “The Joy of Sweat” by Sarah Everts and wave your hand over your head if you ... no, wait. Never mind. It’s hot outside, and just walking from home to the car is enough to put a sheen on your face, a trickle down your spine, and hooo-weee under your arms. Nearly everybody sweats, but we Earthlings spend some $75 billion on substances to help us pretend that we don’t. You’re sweating right now, in fact. Humans are “always sweating, at least a little bit,” says Everts, but get physical, and things get critical. On a hot day or after any kind of overexertion, “your internal temperature could easily reach life-threatening levels” without some sort of cooling-off. Sweat, in a sort of collaboration with bipedalism, is evolution’s way of protecting you from heat stroke. Be thankful for it: Some creatures use urine, feces and vomit to keep cool. Nope, you’re in luck: Eccrine sweat glands cover most of your body and are responsible for rushing sweat to the surface of your skin so the sweat can evaporate for a “net cooling effect.” Apo-
crine sweat glands are found along hair follicles, such as on your groin, armpits, or scalp; they’re larger than your eccrine glands and are responsible for “chemical communication” and sexual selection. Where you have apocrine glands is where you have a “stink zone.” But sweat isn’t just a smelly, wet, potential embarrassment. It can tell scientists what foods and medicines you consume and diseases you might have; it can make you manipulatable, and it can help solve crimes via fingerprints (which are basically just “sweatprints”). More than anything, though, sweat is “just a body trying its best to do its thing, to stay alive.” Welcome to midsummer, and you’ve already done that old raise-your-arm-overyour-head-take-a-whiff thing and wrung out two T-shirts. Isn’t it time to get “The Joy of Sweat” in your wet, clammy hands? It is, because author Sarah Everts turns what might be an embarrassment into a superpower, helping readers to see why we should welcome that midafternoon sheen or
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THE JOY OF SWEAT: Sweat can tell scientists what foods and medicines you consume and diseases you might have. There’s just enough science here to inform a reader, a few answers to some sweaty questions and a big maybe, just enough eeeeeuuuwww to entertain, a bit of humor to
... everybody sweats, but we Earthlings spend $75 billion on substances to help us pretend that we don’t. postworkout wetness. Along the way, she takes us into laboratories and boardrooms, perfumeries and sauna theatre to see the future of sweat and, most surprisingly, how it’s perceived remotely.
make you forget your disgust, and a whole lot of fun. It almost makes you want to go outside today and do something. That something may be to go find this book, and get
more appreciation for your perspiration. Because, really — missing “The Joy of Sweat” would be the pits. Sweat’s cool and so is air conditioning but there’s a price to pay. In “After Cooling: On Freon, Global Warming, and the Terrible Cost of Comfort” by Eric Dean Wilson, you’ll see how we (finally!) learned to control the climate of our rooms and homes, and how our comfort might be hurting our planet. This book might not completely change minds, but it might alter a few habits …
FERGUSFALLSJOURNAL.COM | PAGE 3
Consumer Health:
What you can do to help prevent suicide World Suicide Prevention Day was observed on Friday, Sept. 10, which makes this a good time to learn more about suicide and how you can help someone in danger of suicide. Suicide is a tragic reaction to stressful life situations. Most often, suicidal thoughts are the result of feeling helpless or unable to cope with what seems like an overwhelming life situation. Without hope for the future, suicide may seem like the only solution. There also may be a genetic
link to suicide, as people who complete suicide or have suicidal thoughts or behavior are more likely to have a family history of suicide. Warning signs aren’t always obvious, and they can vary from person to person. Some people make their intentions clear, while others keep suicidal thoughts and feelings secret. When people say they are thinking about suicide or act as though they may be considering harming themselves, it can be upsetting. You may
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not be sure what to do to help. You may wonder whether you should take them seriously or if you might make the situation worse. Taking action is always the best choice. While you’re not responsible for preventing someone from taking his or her own life, your intervention may help the person see that other options are available to stay safe and get treatment.
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PAGE 4 | FERGUSFALLSJOURNAL.COM
COVID-19 VARIANTS MU, DELTA AND WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT MUTATIONS
By Deb Balzer, Mayo Clinic News
A new COVID-19 variant called B.1621 or mu by the World Health Organization is being monitored by scientists. While this variant is making news, it is not the dominant strain in the U.S. or elsewhere, says Dr. John O’Horo, a Mayo Clinic infectious diseases physician. “The delta variant is really the predominant strain everywhere at this point. And while it is important that scientists and public health officials keep an eye on this, we’re still in a space right now where the mu variant is something to keep an eye on for the future rather than a concern.”
The highly infectious delta variant is twice as contagious as previous variants. It was first identified in India in December of 2020. Mu was first detected in January 2021 in Colombia. Mutations of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, have been emerging since the pandemic began. “Each of these variants is classified, in part, based on the number of mutations they have around the virus itself and some of these viral mutations around something called the spike protein, which is what it uses to actually enter the cells and cause infection,” says O’Horo. “And that’s also the target of many of the vaccines.” “The further that these
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COVID-19 VARIANTS: Vaccination continues to be the most important step in warding off serious illness from COVID-19 infection. change from the original, the more concern there is that it may evade some of the immune systems around that spike protein. We can still see with the delta variant that vaccines are still able to con-
nect with this and neutralize this at a high enough level to prevent hospitalizations and severe infections. As we look at things like the mu variant, the concern and the question that’s still unanswered is how
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much have these drifted in.” There are three classifications given to SARS-CoV-2 variants based on how easily they spread, how severe their symptoms are, and how they are treated: • Variant of interest. • Variant of concern. • Variant of high consequence. O’Horo explains the classifications as “The threat board that some of the scientists are using to keep track of these variants. They look to see which ones of these are demonstrated to really cause significant disease and have increased transmission like delta, which of these are variants that are concerning because they have some potential for spread and they’re being recorded in more areas, so something to keep a close watch on like mu—that’d be a variant of concern. And then
variants that are emerging where there are more hypothetical concerns about them, but it’s worth keeping an eye on, would be the variant of interest.” Vaccination continues to be the most important step in warding off serious illness from COVID-19 infection. It takes at least two weeks for the vaccine to take full effect once you receive it. “Vaccination against the variant still remains highly effective. Even though there are reports of breakthrough cases, they tend to be far less severe and far less frequent. We can see nationwide that areas with high rates of vaccination are not hit as hard by the delta variant. And that helps make sure that hospitals and clinics are not overwhelmed, as well as keeps individuals safe.
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SCIENCE SATURDAY: OPIOIDS PROVIDE LOW EVIDENCE OF PAIN RELIEF FOR MIGRAINE By Adam Harringa, Mayo Clinic News Evidence that opioids provide pain relief for migraine headaches is low or insufficient, a large Mayo Clinic meta-analysis published recently in JAMA has found. However, some newer therapies, along with established migraine treatments, were associated with moderate to high evidence of pain relief. The meta-analysis – which combined results from multiple scientific studies – included 15 systematic reviews and 115 randomized clinical trials of 28,803 patients. While the researchers note that this study provides a good starting point for treatment con-
versations between patients and providers, many patients respond differently. “Choosing a treatment for migraine attacks requires an individualized approach for each patient,” says lead author Juliana VanderPluym, M.D., Mayo Clinic neurologist. “Living with migraine can be challenging, and sometimes debilitating, for millions of people worldwide.” Migraine headaches can cause severe throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation, usually on one side of the head, often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. A migraine usually lasts from four to 72 hours, if untreated.
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PAIN RELIEF FOR MIGRAINE: Choosing a treatment for migraine attacks requires an individualized approach for each patient.
About 12% of people world- evidence and mild side efwide suffer from migraine, fects. Lasmiditan, another including 18% of women, ac- new therapy, also had a high cording to the Migraine Re- strength of evidence, but also NABUR is a free online forum to connect search Foundation. was associated with a signifiwith found your community, on facts The study that trip- cantfocus risk of adverse events. tans, NSAIDS (nonsteroidal Among devices, external & make a difference. anti-inflammatory drugs vagus nerve (located at the POWERED BY THE DAILY JOURNAL JOURNALISTS such as aspirin, diclofenac, side of the neck) stimulation ibuprofen and Join ketorolac), and remote electrical neuthe Conversation! or a combination of the two romodulation (located over provided the largest evi- the arm) each had moderate Great Places to Kayak - Outdoor Activities Group dence-base at two of evidence. Exter“Kayaking isfor one relief of my favorite things strength to do on the lakes in summertime. hours, I as one day love well how relaxing it can after be. I have nal gonetrigeminal kayaking up north by Ely, nerve (located but not near Fergus symptoms began.Minnesota Two newer over theFalls.” brows) stimulation - Katie Schroeder, Journalist Product Manager treatments recently approved and transcranial magnetic by the Food and Drug Ad- stimulation (located over the Has your pet ever saved you before? - Pets Group ministration (FDA), ubroge- back mix, of the head) showed “I will never forget my medium-sized shepherd Bandita. She came to pant usand rimegepant, had slightly less strength of evias a very young stray pup full of cactus stickers, and was part of our familyof for 15dence. years” moderate to high strength - Karen Walenga, NABUR member
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5 ways to stay busy and active in retirement
(StatePoint) Many people look forward to their retirement for years. However, once it begins, they may find all the newfound free time overwhelming. If you’re planning on retiring soon, having a plan for how you’ll spend your time is important for your health and happiness. Here are five ideas for staying mentally and physically active, as well as engaged in your community: 1. Start a walking meetup: Host a morning walking group in your neighborhood. A brisk morning walk is a low-impact way to get in shape and keep your heart healthy. Plus, the fresh air and camaraderie is good for your mental wellbeing. To ensure the group’s success, keep meet-up times consistent and let participants know in advance the pace and distance you plan to walk. You may even want to start a fun tradition, such as ending every stroll session at a local coffee shop. 2. Become a tax expert: Consider taking an online course on how to do taxes and become a resource for friends during tax season. Get prepared by visiting the IRS site, which provides information on tax return preparer credentials and qualifications, as well as details about how this year’s tax laws have changed and how they’ll impact deductions. Equip yourself with a good printing calculator, such as the HR-170 from Casio, which features two-color printing and Cost/Sell/Margin functionality. The calculator allows you to check and correct up to 150 steps and
print your calculations after correction so you can maintain accuracy. Plus, its clock and calendar features will help you stay organized. 3. Volunteer your skills: Many recent immigrants need logistical help getting situated in the United States. If you speak a foreign language, consider volunteering through your local library or community center. Become a literacy buddy to your new neighbors or help them complete essential paperwork, such as job applications and school enrollment forms. 4. Learn music at your own pace: It’s never too late to begin your music education. Whether you’re learning to play the piano for the first time or revisiting an old passion, new tools will allow you to hone your skills independently and effectively. Check out Casiotone keyboards, which are portable and well-suited for any level of play, as most of the models have features that will guide you through its built-in songs by either a key-lighting system or an on-screen step-by-step process. With the ability to slow the tempo to aid in practice, or learn melodies individually by selecting left-hand or right-hand parts only, you can quickly master favorite tunes and build your musical confidence. 5. Read the classics: Are there classic books you’ve always wanted to read but have never gotten around to? Use your abundance of free time to finally make your way through your literary bucket list. Whether it’s “Moby Dick” or “Ulyss-
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RETIREMENT: Having a plan for how you’ll spend your time is important for your health and happiness. es,” consider inviting friends schedule. to participate. Challenging To promote your health titles will be more easily and happiness in retirement, and enjoyably tackled with keep your body and mind friends and a discussion active and engaged.
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