Comments | nyuanshin: Sugar In Your Phagetank

nyuanshin

Sugar In Your Phagetank

Sep 05, 2008 00:57

As far back as I can recall, I could always tell when I was teetering on the verge of illness by the way my throat started to feel thick and swollen. In preparation for the first few weeks of school -- which are always a hazardous period due to students coming in from god knows where and carrying lots of semi-exotic little passengers with them -- I ( Read more... )

better living through chemistry, health

Comments 10

_luaineach September 5 2008, 05:11:58 UTC

The title of this post made me laugh.

Start sucking down the garlic!

nyuanshin September 5 2008, 05:17:52 UTC

The real question is: did you parse it as a (sub)cultural reference?

ihuitl September 5 2008, 05:59:04 UTC

Oddly enough, I've sometimes acquired illness through drinking things that 'felt abrasive' against my throat (like milkshakes). The feeling would stay and morph into a full sore throat, then congestion and cough.

I have no idea how the chemistry of the milkshakes causes this feeling and affliction, or if it just a coincidence.

nyuanshin September 5 2008, 11:16:38 UTC

Well, glucose and vitamin C compete for access to cells via the same transporter, so high blood sugar tends to crowd out VC for the cells that need to maintain ridiculously high concentrations of it -- like your entire immune system. But it's also quite possible that physical abrasiveness can tear slightly at your esophageal tissue and temporarily strip the mucous, making infection easier. So that may very well have something to do with it.

xshardsx September 7 2008, 00:49:26 UTC

I saw this really cool episode of House once where he was on an airplane and this guy started going nutty and he had to figure out what was causing it, then the other passengers started getting worried and one of them got sick, and then they were all freaking out and a bunch more of them started getting sick, including his boss. There was a total twist to the ending, though, that really made you think.

nyuanshin September 7 2008, 01:45:47 UTC

Yeah, that one totally taught me never to go scuba diving and then get on an airplane.

xshardsx September 7 2008, 18:15:15 UTC

sethisalive September 7 2008, 15:55:00 UTC

Happy Back to School!
Hope it's a good year for you...

nyuanshin September 7 2008, 23:32:46 UTC

You too. :) It's looking like it will be. Profs all seem pretty good and I think I've got myself a little more "together" for this one.

sethisalive September 11 2008, 18:47:26 UTC

Good to hear. I think I've got myself a little more "together" for this one, too. Keeps getting better every year....