Why do we hiccup ?

There is a diaphragm located between the chest and the stomach. While inhaling air this diaphragm goes down and presses the stomach due to which the lungs are filled with air, while exhaling air, the diaphragm goes up and the air comes out from the lungs. Thus the diaphragm goes up and down and the process of respiration continues incessantly without making any sound.

The diaphragm functions like a piston. But sometimes, due to the formation of gas or increase of acidity in the stomach , the diaphragm gets irritated and as a result contracts suddenly. In such a situation , the air passing into the lungs experiences obstruction and makes a peculiar sound. This is nothing but the hiccup.

Therefore it is a process by which the body tries to expel gas or undesirable food material out of the stomach so that the respiration remain unobstructed. Shrinking of the diaphragm due to drinking or the growth of a tumour near it also causes hiccup.

The best way to stop hiccup is to drink a glass of cold water because the cold water stops the irritation produced in the diaphragm and it resumes it normal movement. Hiccup can also be stopped by holding breath for a while. Sometimes the hiccup stops when one sees something frightening.

If the hiccup does not stop even after a long time, it is advisable to consult a physician. Generally under such situation, doctors prescribe the inhaling of oxygen mixed with 5 to 10 per cent of carbon-dioxide.

Do you know why we get tired after doing some work ?

When we do some work at a fast speed,our muscles do not get as much oxygen as they need. In such a saturation to provide extra energy to the body, the glycogen stored in our muscles is transformed into lactic acid through the process of fermentation.

The lactic acid reduces the working capacity of the muscles. This state of the body is known as fatigue. The lactic acid acts as a poison for the muscles. If we expel the lactic acid from the muscles by some process, they can again become for for working.

As a result of the muscular action some other substances called fatigue toxins are also produced in the body. Blood circulates these acids and toxins throughout the body because of which both the body and the brain get tired. Even when we do some mental work lactic acid and fatigue toxins are produced in the body and we get tired.

Scientists have conducted many experiments in this field. A dog was mad to work hard and when it is got tired and went to sleep its blood was transfused into an active dog’s body. The later dog automatically became tired and fell asleep. Similarly if the blood of the active dog is transfused to the body of a tired dog, he immediately became active.

Fatigue is not only a chemical process but is a biological process too. It is a defence mechanism. This tells us as to when to stop work and give rest to the body. Fatigue cannot be removed fast. It is essential to give rest to the cells of the body to remove it.

Sleep is a very effective means to reduce fatigue. This repairs the damaged cells of the body. With the arrival of proper quantity of oxygen in the body through breathing, the lactic acids reconverted into glycogen and we again start feeling fresh. Little rest also removes fatigue to some extent. The loss of glycogen due to fatigue is repleted to some extent by our food also. That is why a tired person feels very hungry .

Do you know why we feel hungry ?

When the blood gets depleted of nutritive materials, a message is sent to our brain by our body through nerves. The deficiency of nutritive materials is caused in the blood by the consumption of energy in the routine work. A sick man remains in a state of rest and consumes small amounts of energy. He, therefore, does not feel hungry for several days.

Whenever there is a deficiency of nutritive food substances in the blood, a message goes to the ‘hunger centre’ of the brain. This centre acts like a brake on the activities of the stomach and intestines. When the blood has sufficient nutritive substance, the hunger centre stops the activities of the stomach and intestines. On the contrary when there is a lack of nutrition the intestines and stomach become active. That is why you can hear your stomach rumbling when you are hungry.

When we feel hungry, we do not demand any particular kind of food. A starved person will eat any kind of food. The main constituents of food are proteins,carbohydrates,facts,mineral,vitamins and water. Each component has specific role to play. Proteins are nitrogenous compounds which are used for the growth of the body, for the repair of muscles and tissues.

Carbohydrates and fats produce heat energy in the body. Minerals build the bones and tissues. Vitamins protect the body from some diseases. Water is the main constituent of the cells. It carriers the nutritive substances and oxygen to the different parts of the body. Because of the deficiency of any nutritive substances we become ill. Hence we conclude that it the deficiency of the nutritive elements in the blood that cause hunger.

Do you know why one feet is bigger than the other

The constitution of our body is not completely symmetrical. There is a little asymmetry between the left and the right sides of the body. If we notice carefully, we find that the right side of our face is slightly more developed than the left side .

The right hand is slightly bigger than the left one. Our heart is located on the left while the liver on the right. The inner constitution of the body is not in complete equilibrium. That is why even the development of the bones is slightly asymmetrical. Because of this asymmetrical development, our right foot is bigger than the left foot.

This asymmetrical structure of the body affects us in many ways. That is why if we are blindfolded, we are not able to walk in a straight line. We start moving in circles, because of the asymmetrical structure of the body. This is true of animals also.

The total world’s population use their right hands more than the left ones. Only 4% are the left handers.

Why is the right side slightly more developed than the left one

Though nothing can be said with certainty about this, scientists hold the view that since most of the people use their right limbs more often for any work, their right side is more developed than the left. Ninety-six percent people of handers.

The use of the right or the left hand is controlled by the brain. it is the left part the brain which regulates the functioning of the right limbs. In the world, greater number of people have the left side of their brain more developed than the right one. Hence the number of right-handers is also large.

Types of Fishes that produce Electricity

They closely resemble other fishes. The electric eel is the most dangerous of all these. It is found in the swamps of the Amazon and the Orinoco rivers of the South America. Some people call it the Brazilian electric eel too. It is blackish in colour. Its length goes up to 1.8meters. Its electric organs are located below its tail. it is able to overcome animals as big as horses by giving them electric shocks.

Few men are also reported to have experienced its electric shocks for many hours. It is capable of producing electricity of 400 volts with one ampere current. Some fish of this class have been found to produce a potential difference of 650 volts.

The cat fish is another fish that also produces electricity. It is found in the rivers of America and measures up to 1.2 meters.

The torpedo ray is the third kind of fish producing electricity. It is found in the warm seas. Found in the Atlantic Ocean, this fish measures up to 1.5 meters and weighs up to 90kg. This fish is also called the ‘electric ray’. It is black from top and light coloured from below. Its electricity producing parts are located between its heads and gills. Its has been found from scientific experiments that the muscles of such fishes
contain electric cells. Their capacity to generate electricity gets exhausted also. But after they take food and rest,this capacity is regained. This fish is also eaten.