BEYOND NORMAL REMARKABLY RARE HUMAN MUTATIONS
Did you know a small percentage of people are born with traits you may not have known were possible? While they may not be pizza-loving turtles who have mastered martial arts or men wearing funny helmets able to lift metal objects with their minds, their peculiarities are fascinating nonetheless! Genetic mutations are often not huge, life- altering things, but these are the rarest, most stunning mutations known to exist! Normal Eyes, Peculiar Pupils About 20% of people are born with unevenly sized pupils, called physiologic aniscoria. While each pupil is a different size, they both still react to light and are functionally normal. Some people whose pupils were previously even in size can develop aniscoria due to a health condition, such as a brain aneurysm or torn blood vessels in the neck. Sweating Like a Pig
If someone “sweats like a pig,” they may have inherited a condition called hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia and have few to no sweat glands. Even though a person can wear dress shirts on a hot summer day without developing embarrassing pit stains, the condition can be detrimental because the inability to sweat can lead to heat stroke. Super-Fast Reaction Times The average reaction time is 150–300 milliseconds. Generally, intelligence and youth contribute to your
reaction time, but some people are born with unusually quick reaction times. A
Cambridge University study backs this up, which posits that your genes play a role in determining your reaction time. The difference is not all that staggering — not enough to make you even a B-Tier X-Man — but it is noteworthy! If you weren’t born with a faster reaction time but still want to get ahead, take heart. Training and practice can improve it — with video games! Studies show that top gamers react nearly 10% faster than average!
When a person sweats like a pig, it means they don’t sweat much at all. That is because pigs have fewer sweat glands and rely on other means — like rolling around in mud — to cool down.
BATTLE FOR BALANCE EXERCISES TO IMPROVE EVERYDAY STABILITY
Methods of Improvement Fortunately, you can combat balance problems. One method millions of people lean on is a device meant to improve mobility, namely canes and walkers. While these can be helpful, they can sometimes hamper balance and may require more effort than their support merits. Moreover, some research indicates they may actually contribute to falls in some instances. That is why it is important to incorporate exercise into your routine, eat healthily, and manage any medical conditions to improve your balance and combat the risk of falling. One form of helpful exercise is strength training, which involves lifting weights or using resistance bands to build muscle strength that naturally declines in old age. Whatever your method of combating imbalance, the effort is worth it. Staving off falls can contribute to a longer, happier life.
Did you know that around a quarter of adults 65 and older experience a fall every year? Falls are the leading cause of injuries for seniors, and the risk of falling increases as we get older. Our balance declines as we age, and poor balance is a substantial contributing factor to falls among older people. While the fear of falling leads many seniors to avoid exercise altogether, this is not a good strategy. Exercising,
staying on top of medications, and getting your vision checked are all keys to maintaining balance in your golden years and reducing the risk of falls. Here are some potential causes of imbalance and methods for seniors to improve their balance and lower their risk of falling. Bodily Balance Many seniors experience balance and dizziness problems. These can be a side effect of some medications or brought on by balance disorders or other underlying medical conditions. Inner ear problems cause one such balance disorder; one part of the inner ear, the labyrinth, plays a big part in balance. If infected, it can lead to a condition called labyrinthitis, which can lead to bodily imbalance. If you believe you suffer from a balance disorder, your primary physician may refer you to a specialist, such as an otolaryngologist or audiologist, for help.
2 • WWW.SUMMIT-PHYSICALTHERAPY.COM
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