Exercise on the Brain
Should kids spend less time in the classroom and more time on the jungle gym? The author of “Smart Jocks,” Steve Ayen claims that young students who exercise daily do better in school and standardized tests. The author of “Stronger, Faster, Smarter,” claims that when kids exercise it helps build a stronger brain and also fight the start of Alzheimer's disease, ADHD and other cognitive disorders. While both articles support the idea that more physical activity is good for kids brains. The author of “Smart Jocks” supports his claims by comparing physical ability and student test scores. On the other hand authors of “Stronger Faster Smarter” makes their claim by showing how more physical activity can not only improve children’s brain but can also assist in disease prevention. Kids exercising often at an early age can prevent brain diseases and help develop cognitive skills.
In “Smart Jocks” the author focuses on the effect of exercise frequently on the development of kids brains. Most parents teach their kids at early ages that students should spend all of their time in the library and stay off the playing field. In May 2010 physiologist Christian Roberts of the UCLA decided to test his theory that exercising as a kid could potentially increase academic score. The scientist decided to test the athleticism of 1,989 fifth, middle school students attending schools in California by timing how quickly they could run a mile and measuring their Body Mass Index’s. Next, they correlated these fitness measures with the students' standardized test scores. The results showed that students who didn’t make the California standards or the students whose MBI were about the national average had lower test scores on math and language arts compared to the student who “passed” the running test. These tests should prove that students need to be on the playground daily.
In “Stronger, Faster, Smarter” the author takes the research with exercise and brain development one step further. The author states that exercise helps develop a young brain and also helps combat the early stages of brain diseases. Scientist at the University of Illinois put multiple subject on a 3 month aerobic workout. They found that found that extensive exercise could cause older nerve cells to form dense, interconnected webs which cause the brain to react quicker. When the brain develops and works faster there are clues that physical activity can slow down the beginnings of Alzheimer's disease, ADHD and other cognitive disorders. This evidence shows that exercise will help develop brains and keep them healthier.
The two articles do not disagree with one other but they claim that exercise is healthy for the brain in two different ways. These studies have shown that physical activities help students in the classroom, and also decrease the chances of getting brain diseases in their life time. This new found evidence should make parents rethink the amount sports, and physical activity they let their kids have.
· 26, Mary CarmichaelMarch. "Health: Can Exercise Make You Smarter? - Newsweek." Newsweek - National News, World News, Business, Health, Technology, Entertainment, and More - Newsweek. Web. 16 Sept. 2010. http://www.newsweek.com/2007/03/25/stronger-faster-smarter.html
· Ayen, Steve. "Access : Smart Jocks : Scientific American Mind." Nature Publishing Group : Science Journals, Jobs, and Information. Web. 16 Sept. 2010. http://www.nature.com/scientificamericanmind/journal/v21/n4/full/scientificamericanmind0910-42.html
Drugs in Sports
All sports fans know that performance enhancing drugs ruin the integrity of the game, but most fans do not know what exactly the drugs improve and what side effects these drugs have. Over the last 25 years World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) has looked into the advantages and the health factors of performance enhancing drugs. To this day the World Anti Doping Agency has banned over 62 stimulants, amphetamines, and even some drugs that you can receive with a prescription. Adrenaline, one of the most popular illegal drugs taken by world class athletes, is consumed before workouts to increase the intensity of a workout. Stimulants are the most common reason for athletes failed drug tests, some of these stimulants include too much caffeine, creatine, and beta alanine. Many drugs that these athletes use have multiple negative side effects, some lead to death. The World Anti Doping Agency has banned these drugs and reaches out athletes teaching them about their negative effects in order to keep the game safe and the athletes healthy.
There are many different types of drugs athletes take to try to get an edge on the competition. Most of the athletes who fail drug tests are caught using stimulants. “A stimulant can be seen as any agent that enhances function, perhaps an agent which mimics the actions of an excitatory neurotransmitter or antagonizes the actions of an inhibitory neurotransmitter. Stimulants drugs are taken to either stimulate the central nervous systems (CNS), (which have the ability to affect; moods, how alert you are, and how hard you want to work out) or they have the ability to target the sympathetic nervous system which can improve cardiovascular actions. Stimulants can also which causes your blood flow to your muscular system to improve and raises your energy ” Cardiac stimulants, respiratory stimulants, and central stimulants are 3 main stimulants used in Olympic sports. Cardiac stimulants are usually used by professional bicyclist. During uphill sprints the cardiac stimulant increases blood flow which allows the bicylist to sprint further at a quicker pace. Respiratory stimulants are mainly consumed by long distance runners. Because long distance runners usually run on a flat surface throughout the race respiratory stimulants will help the runners keep the same pace all the way to the finish line. Because there are so many different types of stimulants they are the most popular banned substance. (Docherty).
These illegal drugs that the athletes take to improve performance have numerous catastrophic side effects, some leading to death. Adrenaline is produced naturally in every body but athletes have been known to add more illegally through injection. Adrenaline is taken before workouts because it raises blood pressure and gives athletes a “pump” causing athletes to increase workouts drastically. Over dosing on adrenaline will cause your body to go into cardiac arrest because your body will not be able to adapt to these harsh enviornments. Numerous stimulants can change the body’s temperature, so when these are taken in correct circumstance (over dose) they can greatly improve the chances of hyperthermia (Docherty).
The World Doping Agency has been researching illegal drugs taken during competition and training to make for an equal playing field, and to keep these athletes safe. Out of the 62 illegal drugs, stimulants have shown up the most on drug tests. Some of these stimulants have been linked fatality so the WADA has been sharing the research with young athletes to help keep them away from performance enhancing drugs.
· Docherty. "Drugs in Sports." EBSCO Publishing Service Selection Page. Web. 28 Sept. 2010. http://ehis.ebscohost.com/views/static/html/Error.htm?aspxerrorpath=/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer.
Concerns With FDA
The Food and Drug Administration safeguards citizen’s safety in response to currently marketed harmful drugs and unhealthy foods, but presently shirk this responsibility by providing caustic drugs publicly. The FDA needs increased research surrounding new drugs, since death can result. Furthermore, the FDA requires continuous drug research following their public release to assure citizen’s safety. Unfortunately, without a larger budget, the FDA would not have the funding to support the endeavours. The FDA can’t continue new drug research following the drug’s public reveal causing frequent drug recalls. Extreme cases places lives in ever-present danger by the FDA’s shirking.
Many drugs have proven to contain deadly side effects; however, often these effects will go unexposed or scientists will reveal it after many have already suffered the consequences. In 2004 a diabetes drug a new drug; supposedly, it can double your heart attack risk. The FDA knew about this side effect but it took them 2 years to publicize the fact. In 2006, an antibiotic drug was approved by the FDA to go on the market that has a side effect with the strength to destroy a liver in 5 days. A scientist lost his job attempting to create an antidepressant; ultimately this drug has actually increased suicidal thoughts in teens. In 2004 the FDA decided to not remove the painkiller Vioxx from the market until 6 months after many users experienced heart attacks or strokes. China produces a large majority of the drugs we’re consuming, but in 2005, the FDA lacked finances and abilities to check all the factories used. The FDA only observed 13 of the 714 factories the US used.
The bottom line is the FDA needs more money if they are going to be able to improve the drug market. “It has been projected that The FDA is going to administer over $1.5 trillion in food, drugs, vaccines, medical devices, blood and tissues, radiation-emitting machines, animal feeds and drugs, cell phones, dietary supplements, biotechnology and gene therapy -- and, post-9/11, sniff out any food-borne terrorist plot.” The problem is agency's funding is around $2 billion. It is nearly impossible to have the FDA approve all drugs going on to the market if they have a sliver compared to the targeted budget.
With a lack of capital, not all drugs that go on the market can be approved by the FDA, which some experts say is the worse threat.”The respected Institute of Medicine, created in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences, recently labeled the FDA's drug branch "dysfunctional," saying it muzzles scientific dissent, inadequately monitors drug safety and relies too heavily on drug company dollars. "I don't think the FDA is at a collapse point yet, but it's getting close," says Hubbard, who retired in 2005 after 26 years at the agency. "In some places, regulation is so weak that there's nothing left." With “nothing left.”
To get a new drug approved by the FDA a company must collect about 1000 volunteers, the new drug must have zero major side effects (death, stroke, heart attack). The problem with this approach is 1000 volunteers is only a very small amount compared to the millions of people who consume each drug when they’re on the market. The FDA must find more volunteers who are willing to take these news drugs because recalls are higher than ever.
After drugs go on the market the research is completely stopped. There needs to be a continuation of research after the drugs go on the market, and hopefully this will be one way help terminate bad drugs that go on the market. I believe there should be a warning on the label or a symbol that will announce to the people that this drugs is new on the market and there is research that still needs to be completed. I believe this will help us be more conscious about which drugs we consume. As a consumer we need to do a little research before we take all drugs, because with new drugs there are always side effects we might not be aware of. This precaution is necessary to make sure there haven’t been any fatal side effects with these drugs.
Lately the FDA has approved drugs to go on the market that have severe side effects. The drug companies need to have more trials before the product’s release date and severely hurt the users. Without a monetary increase the agency won’t be able to fix the many drug distribution and research issues.
· Kaufman, By Marc. "FDA Is Criticized Over Drugs' Safety Problems - Washingtonpost.com."Washington Post - Politics, National, World & D.C. Area News and Headlines - Washingtonpost.com. Web. 14 Oct. 2010. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/23/AR2006042300958.html>.
· Jetter, Alexis. "Problems in the FDA: Crisis in the FDA | National Health Care | Reader's Digest."Jokes, Cartoons, Food, Health, Sweepstakes, Word Power | Reader's Digest Magazine Articles. Web. 14 Oct. 2010. <http://www.rd.com/your-america-inspiring-people-and-stories/problems-in-the-fda/article55513.html>.
