Stay Hydrated to Keep Your Muscles Happy

Credit: iStock Water balance is one of the most important functions of the body. The cells in the body require a stable environment to survive and work like they should. As originally put by the 19th century French physiologist Claude BernardMD: “La fixité du milieu intérieur est la condition de la vie libre, independante” (The … Continue reading Stay Hydrated to Keep Your Muscles Happy

Climate Change Research Is a Focus at APS’ Comparative Physiology Conference

Credit: American Physiological Society Earlier this fall, comparative physiologists met in San Diego for the eighth APS Intersociety Meeting in Comparative Physiology. Comparative physiology is the study of biological processes—particularly adaptation to various environments—of different species. In short, comparative physiologists study animals. The theme of this year’s conference, “From Organism to Omics in an Uncertain … Continue reading Climate Change Research Is a Focus at APS’ Comparative Physiology Conference

Sip a Sports Drink to Keep the Electrolytes Flowing

Credit: iStock Most people know it’s important to stay hydrated (but not too much!) during an intense workout. A sports drink can be an ideal beverage choice, but do you know why? After working out for an hour or so on a hot summer day, you may begin to sweat, get muscle cramps and/or become … Continue reading Sip a Sports Drink to Keep the Electrolytes Flowing

Marathon Runners: There’s a Downside to Drinking Too Much Water

Credit: iStock Imagine this: A runner has just begun the Badwater Ultramarathon, the hottest, toughest ultramarathon in the world, which winds 135 miles through Death Valley in the middle of July. After hours of intense racing, she feels incredibly thirsty and quickly gulps down a lot of water at an aid station. Worried about her … Continue reading Marathon Runners: There’s a Downside to Drinking Too Much Water

Are You Thirsty? Here’s Why.

Credit: iStock Water makes up about 70% of body weight in a typical adult. Humans can’t easily adapt to a lack of water, and you may begin to experience the effects of dehydration with as little water loss as 1% of your body weight. Humans are unique because, unlike other animals, we respond not only … Continue reading Are You Thirsty? Here’s Why.

The ‘Holidaze’: What Happens in Your Body to Cause a Hangover

‘Tis the season for holiday parties—which may include a flurry of festive cocktails that sound too delicious not to try. Overindulge and you may wake up feeling groggy with a pounding head and a mouth drier than a month-old pine tree. Hangovers are no fun, that’s for sure. So how did you go from being … Continue reading The ‘Holidaze’: What Happens in Your Body to Cause a Hangover

The Dog Days of Summer Running

  It’s August in Louisville, Ky., and my alarm goes off at 5:40 a.m. Time for my morning run with my four-legged running buddy, Julep. After I do some light stretching, we’re pounding the pavement by 6 a.m. to get a 5-mile run in. I choose to exercise before work because it’s (slightly) cooler compared … Continue reading The Dog Days of Summer Running

Take Care of Yourself while You Take Care of Your Garden

Springtime signals warmer weather and, for many people, more time outside. A garden can be a great place to get sunlight (to support vitamin D production), physical activity and delicious fresh fruits and veggies. When you go out to plant, water and weed your garden this year, keep an eye on how well-watered you are … Continue reading Take Care of Yourself while You Take Care of Your Garden

What Happens during Heat Stroke and How to Prevent It

Temperatures in July and August 2016 were the hottest ever recorded on the planet and much of the U.S. is still struggling with a heat wave. Hundreds of heat-related deaths occur in the U.S. each year, and these rates are on the rise. Awareness of when the body is losing the ability to deal with … Continue reading What Happens during Heat Stroke and How to Prevent It

Water: Can You Get Too Much of a Good Thing?

Water is arguably the best drink on Earth. Drinking water provides undisputable benefits to humans, other animals and plants. We know it’s possible to overwater a plant, but what about us humans? Can we drink too much water? And is it worse to be over-hydrated or under-hydrated? “Many, many more people die from over-hydration than … Continue reading Water: Can You Get Too Much of a Good Thing?