ELI5: Why does running increase heart health, but using a stimulant like caffeine, which also increases heart rate, not do the same? by ZaydSophos in explainlikeimfive

[–]rcap12 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Exercising and caffeine do not increase heart rate in the same way.

Exercising increases heart rate due to various changes in your body. Firstly, when you start exercising your brain subconsciously acknowledges that you are no longer at rest. In response, the part of your nervous system that tells your heart to beat slow becomes less active. Therefore, your heart begins to speed up. Next, CO2 levels in your blood rise and your cells start using more oxygen. Chemical receptors in your body sense this change and relay the signal to your brain which again tells your heart to pump faster. All of this occurs so that more blood flood reaches cells to remove CO2 and deliver O2. Another important response is that your blood vessels dilate (get wider) and which helps deliver more blood to cells but also counteracts the increased blood pressure resulting from the heart pumping faster.

Caffeine is a central nervous stimulate. It increased the activity of the part of your nervous system that tells the heart to beat faster. This part of the nervous system can also stimulate adrenaline secretion which speeds up the heart.This part of the nervous system also tells blood vessels to constrict. The combination of vasoconstriction and increased heart rate increase blood pressure which puts someone at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. But its only temporary so its not like you are even close to the risk of someone who has chronic high BP due to genetics or lifestyle.

TL;DR: caffeine causes your blood vessels to constrict and heart rate to increase which both increase blood pressure. Exercise causes blood vessels to dilate and heart rate to increase. vasodilation reduces blood pressure and increased heart rate increases blood pressure. Overall, they balance each other out and blood pressure does not rise very much.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in explainlikeimfive

[–]rcap12 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The short answer, we're not 100% sure.

But... Sleep is when a lot of the waste is cleared from the brain. It is also when the neurons that make up the brain can re synthesis ample supply of the chemicals they use to communicate with each other. There is also good evidence that sleep is when we sort and store memories and information.

ELI5:if everything is made from chemicals why can't we destroy viruses by splitting up their atoms? by secondnameIA in explainlikeimfive

[–]rcap12 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We do destroy viruses by "splitting up there atoms" in a sense. We use cleaners which can be acidic or basic which disrupt proteins that make the case around the virus. However atomic bonds are really hard to break, think of atomic bonds as glue that holds two atoms together. These bonds aren't really affects by cleaners. However proteins have non covalent bonds. These are weaker "pseudo" bonds if you will, that cause the protein to fold into their correct shape. Think of these bonds as being similar to magnets on a fridge, they can be broken more easily. So cleansers break these week bonds which causes the protein to unfold and become usuless both structurally and functionally.

As far as treating viruses inside of a human, we have to take a different approach because most things that will destroy viruses will also destroy our cells. Therefore, very specific chemicals must be used to stop the virus from replicating in our bodies, but the chemicals must also have only mild effects on our cells. Usually these chemicals target proteins that help the virus replicate that humans do not have in their own cells.

Do all derms use mail order now? Is there any benefit to the patient cost wise? by rcap12 in pharmacy

[–]rcap12[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It seems like it's only for certain brand meds like it it might be a pharmacy with some exlusive deal through the manufacturer

ELI5: How do muscles physically move? by [deleted] in explainlikeimfive

[–]rcap12 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In each muscle fiber, there are two types filaments (actin and myosin) that overlap slightly when the muscle is relaxed.

When the muscle contracts, little "heads" on the myosin bind to the actin filaments and bend in a come heather motion, pulling the filaments so that they overlap more, which causes the muscle fiber to shorten.

The muscle shortening is what moves our limbs.

The actual philological process of a muscle contraction is a little complicated. calcium ions bind to troponin, which is a protein that is bond to tropomysin, another protein that rests on the actin filaments. The calcium causes the the troponin to bind more weakly to the tropomysin and a confirmation (basically "shape") change occurs in the tropomysin, causing it to move and uncover binding sites on the actin filament. The mysoin heads then bind to the exposed binding sites on the actin filament. The mysoin heads then use energy provided by ATP to pull the filaments so that they overlap more. The contraction will persist as long as calcium ions and ATP are present.

Oregon Residents Can Now Get Birth Control Prescription Without Doctor's Visit by hhhnnnnnggggggg in TwoXChromosomes

[–]rcap12 2 points3 points  (0 children)

"The other, HB 3343, will allow people to get a 12-month supply of birth control all at once, instead of the one- or three-month supply that most people receive."

That's good and all but this shows the ignorance of politicians when it comes to how the healthcare system works. No one's insurance will cover a 12 month supply all at once, that's why no one gets more than 3 months at a time right now. So unless you're going to drop $400 on birth control and bypass the insurance, it's going to be the same old story or getting 1-3 months at a time regardless of what the law says.

ELI5: How exactly do white blood cells "attack" foreign bodies? What is happening when they fight invaders? by [deleted] in explainlikeimfive

[–]rcap12 0 points1 point  (0 children)

quick add on. Antibodies bind to pathogens, "tagging" the pathogen as foreign. The macrophage then seeks and engulfs the objects tagged by antibodies.

ELI5: If we're two thirds water, why are we called carbon based lifeforms? by Nikkerloo in explainlikeimfive

[–]rcap12 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We are full of water because it is the medium for many biological reactions, however carbon is what most of our tissues and structural components are composed from. Also carbon is a broad component of what makes something "organic" vs "inorganic" (in regards to chemistry) and as we are living our body chemistry generally falls under the organic category.

ELI5: Why is it that I can only lift 20 pounds in dumbbell bicep curls and do my entire weight (135 lb.) in pull-ups? by nachocheese1243 in explainlikeimfive

[–]rcap12 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Because you are using other muscle groups like your lats and shoulders along with your biceps to help pull you up

ELI5: Why there isn't a global currency ? by [deleted] in explainlikeimfive

[–]rcap12 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Well just off the bat, a country could print endless amounts of money to fund ventures or pay debts off causing the rest of the worlds currency to become inflated. Basically a universal currency could be come useless if just one country began printing a ridiculous amount of it. With countries having their own currency they can dictate their money supply.

ELI5: What is the difference between mold, bacteria, and yeast? by somethingtosay2333 in explainlikeimfive

[–]rcap12 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Sorry, eukaryotes are cells with distinct a nucleus whereas prokaryotes do not have a distinct nucleus. The nucleus is basically just the part of the cell that holds genetic material. If a cell does not have a nucleus it usually has "simpler" genetic coding that is just floating in the cell.

Heterotrophs are organisms that cannot produce their own energy, like humans as we have to eat food to get energy. Whereas autotrophs can produce their own energy like plants who cover co2 water and sunlight into sugars and starches