Why Does Our Body Suddenly Jerk Awake? AND OTHER FUN FACTS ABOUT OUR BODY Your body can do weird things you may have never been able to explain. Well, we’re here to fix that! Here are four fun facts about the human body you may have always wondered about. LACTOSE INTOLERANCE Lactose intolerance is the inability to fully digest lactose, a sugar in milk and dairy products, as a result of the LCT gene in the body mutating during infancy. The prevalence of lactose intolerance differs by ethnicity and is more common among people of Asian, African, and Native American descent, but the condition affects 65% of the global population. Lactose intolerance generally manifests in adolescents and young adults and varies in prevalence depending on the region in which a person lives.
THE P LARRY J BONDS T
Doing the right things consistently over time paves the path to success. Larry Johnson demonstrates this daily as a 14-year veteran employee with GFL Environmental. While many in the world pursue success for their own gain, Larry’s view isn’t inward-facing. Instead, he uses
his time to help others. As he diligently picks up waste as part of his 11-hour days, he lifts the spirits of people he meets.
ALL THE SMALL THINGS Josh has long seen the impactful difference
ONE-NOSTRIL BREATHING Most people do not breathe equally from both nostrils, a phenomenon known as the “nasal cycle.” One nostril is usually dominant for a period, ranging from 90 minutes to several hours, before switching to the other. This cycle is believed to be regulated by the autonomic nervous system and is a natural process most people aren’t consciously aware of. This is also why when you get sick, one nostril can get congested while the other works fine.
Larry makes in Farmville. “Larry has been picking up at our house and office for several years. He always has a smile on his face, always speaks, and always can be seen doing the ‘small’ things that aren’t so small,” Josh explains. “I try to get up early and go for a walk in the morning before a lot of the world wakes up, and I can’t count how many times I have seen Larry rolling a trash can for an elderly person. While others might say, ‘That isn’t in my job description,’ it’s not uncommon to see him going out of his way to pick up trash on the ground and help others in ways that aren’t in a job description.” SATISFACTION AND FRIENDSHIP While Larry has a remarkable eye for detail and following through on his work, he has become a true friend to the town of Farmville. Larry is satisfied when he thinks about the people he feels close to in the community.
BODY JERKS WHEN EXHAUSTED Have you ever tried to fall asleep only for your body to quickly jerk for no apparent reason? That’s called a hypnic jerk but is also known
by other names, like sleep start. The twitch typically happens during the early stages of sleep and is considered a benign myoclonic jerk, a form of involuntary muscle twitch. While the exact reason is not entirely understood, it is theorized that the jerk is a neural mechanism that helps the body transition from wakefulness to sleep. It may occur more often when you are exhausted or anxious.
“A big part of what I love about my job is meeting people and becoming friends with many of them. I like the act of serving, and I especially like helping the older people here. This is a special place I feel connected to. I even know the names of all the dogs,” he says with a smile. “I was raised in a small town in La Grange, North Carolina. Farmville has always given me that same warm feeling I had growing up.”
YOUR EARS KEEP GROWING While most parts of the human body reach a specific size and stop growing, ear cartilage grows slowly as people age. This phenomenon is due to specialized cartilage cells called chondrocytes that continuously produce new cartilage material. This ongoing growth is not usually noticeable daily, but it can become quite apparent when comparing photographs from different stages of a person’s life.
HUMILITY AND CONTRIBUTION Many in Farmville have noticed Larry’s above-and-beyond mindset and positive spark. In November, Larry learned he had been nominated for GFL Environmental Driver of the Year. As part of the nomination process, many locals wrote letters of recommendation.
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