The Student Body Magazine October 2010 by Student Body Magazine

TABLEOFCONTENTS Editorial Board

Diane Cheng - Editor-in-Chief Jessica Ye- Design Editor Tommy Rucker - Publicity Chair Andrea Kim - Treasurer Advisor Bruce Lewenstein

Produced by

Jessica Ye, Andrea Kim, Sonnya Im, Susan Duan, Erica Johnson, and Mytien Ngyuen

On the Cover 16 19 5 10 6

Study Drugs: The Nerd’s Steriod? Splenda: Too Sweet to be True

It’s Not How You Study: It’s Where You Study

Boosting the Immune System: How to Stay at the Top of Your Game Fallen Victim to the Freshman 15? Don’t Blame it on Stress

Student Life 4 5 6 8 9

Cornell Housing Should Include Aquariums

It’s Not How You Study: It’s Where You Study

Fallen Victim to the Freshman 15? Don’t Blame it on Stress Winter Blues or Something Else?

Sleep Deprivation Spells Performance Decline

Health and Wellness 10 12 14 15

The Student Body is an undergraduate student organization affiliated with Gannett University Health Services. Publication of The Student Body is funded by SAFC. The contents of The Student Body are the works of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or beliefs of the organization, its affiliates, advisers, or Cornell University.

Boosting the Immune System: How to Stay at the Top of Your Game Dirty Money

The Unattractive Effects of Alcohol on the Face

Getting Started at Gannet: the Definitive Guide for Clueless Freshmen

Social Commentary 16 18 19 20

Study Drugs: The Nerd’s Steroid

A Soda Tax: the Newest Obesity Remedy? Splenda: Too Sweet to be True

Can Facebook & Twitter Really Lead to Mental Heatlh Risks? Cover and Table of Contents graphics reproduced from [1- 3]

Student Life

Cornell housing should include aquariums Sadev Parikh

ver think about getting a pet fish for your dorm room? Do it! Cornell housing rules state that, with the exception of the Ecology House, fish in tanks no larger than 10 gallons are allowed in dorm rooms, so why not… a small, low maintenance freshwater tank? It is easy to set-up, affordable enough for a college student, and an excellent showpiece. Studies going back as far as late 80’s show that looking at an aquarium can reduce stress caused by Cornell classes as well as subsequently lower blood pressure.

watching the process eager to see how the guppies (named Watson and Crick) liked their new home. The fish are now happily settled, and due to a thorough set-up process, alive and well. Michelle reports that the aquarium definitely makes her happy, and watching the fish is relaxing. When I asked Han Kim A&S ‘14, a hall-mate and owner of an even larger aquarium, about whether aquariums relieve stress, he replied “absolutely, I had an aquarium back home and I used to look at it whenever I felt stressed. It definitely has a soothing effect.”

Three researchers at The University of Pennsylvania report that “quietly watching fish swimming Studies exploring the therapeutic value of pets go in a home eases stress and may offer a means of as far back as the 1960’s and 70’s. In addition to treating the excel“Quietly watching fish swimming in a home eashigh blood lent UPenn pressure.” es stress and may offer a means of treating high study, anAlan Beck, other 1989 blood pressure.” an ecolostudy examgist at Penn, says that “blood pressure drops when ined observed lowered blood pressure amongst watching fishless fish tanks, but it doesn’t drop as patients who watched aquariums at a dental ofmuch and it creeps back up faster. With fish in the fice. The therapeutic value of fish and another anitanks, you truly get relaxation.” Lowered blood mals is even better explored in Cusack and Smith’s pressure is a popular way of measuring reduced definitive 1984 study, Pets and the elderly: The stress. I can prove it through an experience I re- therapeutic bond. cently had with A&S 14’ freshman Michelle Moglia. While set-up may be relatively simple, the studFor her birthday, I tried and tried to think of a gift ies reveal a correlation between the attractivethat would be different, something unique and ness of the fish tank and lowering of blood presmemorable at the same time. As I walked through sure, so make sure to spruce your tanks up with the Shops at Ithaca Mall looking for inspiration, I colorful fish, well-chosen décor, and proper lightknew the instant I saw the pet store that an aquar- ing. The greater implications of these colorful, priium would fit every description. After purchasing vate mini-aquariums could serve as a supplement all the components required for set-up (a very to Cornell’s recent mental health initiative. In the small 1.5 gallon tank, plant décor, gravel, a solution midst of Cornell’s efforts to improve mental health for removing chlorine, and food) and two “fancy awareness and the valiant efforts of groups like guppies,” I carried the troupe back to Cornell with- Cornell Minds Matter, therapeutic effects of aquarout even denting the bank. iums could provide a small, but substantial relief from such Cornell’s rigorous academic programs. The stress relief began from the set-up process The benefits of aquariums are endless, just make itself. Rinsing the plants and gravel, installing the sure you don’t spend so much time watching them filter (came with tank), and filling and treating that you start your Econ problem set the night it’s the water proved to be an enjoyable task. Putting due (been there, done that). the fish in was a sort of catharsis, with everyone Reproduced from [4]

It’s Not * * * * * * * * It’s How Where You You Study, Study Written by Kelly Parness

Student Life

Where can you be Similarly, in a study found the week berecently posted online fore prelims? Likely by Applied Cognitive each one of us is Psychology, scientists studying, trying to Doug Rohrer and Kelli sufficiently absorb, Taylor of the Univerrecall, and practice an sity of South Florida enormous amount of found that varying material in order to the type of problems Reproduced from [5] perform at our best on the taught to fourth graders upcoming exams. But have increased their perforyou ever considered that mance on the subsequent where you choose to study exam. This phenomenon can have a significant efhas also been seen in the fect on test achievement field of aesthetics— In and long-term memorian experiment, “subjects zation of the material? were better able to distinMost students probably guish the painting styles of assume that as long as 12 unfamiliar artists after the environment is up to viewing mixed collections our personal standards, it (assortments, including Reproduced from [6] makes no difference whether we works from all 12) than after viewspend our time in our dorm room, Uris Library, ing a dozen works from one artist, all together, or on the lawn of the Arts Quad. In actuality, there then moving on to the next painter”. is research to the contrary, which suggests that it However, not all research verifies the theory that may make a difference where you study, and for studying in various locations improves test perthat matter, how you study. formance. For instance, Gui Xue, et al, proposed Recent scientific research on this issue has proin the paper Greater Neural Pattern Similarity posed that frequently altering one’s place of Across Repetitions Is Associated with Better studying can indeed increase memorization of Memory, that brain function is improved when content and therefore test performance. However, “the same neural representations are more prethis view is not unanimous among the scientific cisely reactivated across study episodes, rather community. than when patterns of activation are more variIn a recent article published in The New York able across time.” In other words, these researchTimes, reporter Benedict Carey explains that, ers are suggesting that studying in the same place “instead of sticking to one study location, simor with the same style each time increases one’s ply alternating the room where a person studies ability to retain and process information. improves retention. So does studying distinct but Clearly, the effect of studying in multiple locations related skills or concepts in one sitting, rather on test performance and memorization ability is than focusing intensely on a single thing.” This still up for debate. Both stances on the issue presphenomenon has been documented since at least ent interesting points, yet neither one is indisput1978. In an experiment conducted that year, it able. But try out these different methods and you was concluded that college students performed could find the one more beneficial to you. So next significantly better when they studied material time an exam is looming in the near future, use it in two different rooms versus in the same room as an opportunity to find a new place on campus twice. to study… and maybe another one after that.

Fallen Victim to the Student Life

Freshman 15?

Don’t blame it on stress.

he idea of the freshman 15 has haunted first year college students for decades. Though it may be a mere myth for some, a significant number of students do experience weight gain as they make the transition from home to university. According to conventional wisdom, the primary reason behind this weight gain is stress. However, a recent study suggests that other factors may have more of an impact.

by Diane Cheng

Place of residency, on the other hand, was revealed to be a very important factor. For students living off-campus, the mean weight increase was 0.3 lbs, an almost negligible amount. Conversely, students living oncampus experience a staggeringly increased weight gain of 3.6 pounds on average.

In calculating this data, researchers followed 84 students as they made their way through their first semester of Published in the college. At the start of Health Education the study, each parJournal, the study ticipant was weighed examined two difand measured. Parferent factors that ticipants also comcontribute to weight pleted questionnaires gain: place of resiaddressing their overdency and perceived all health habits and stress level. their general stress level. After 11 weeks, The mean weight weight and height change for college were recorded once freshmen was an again, and the stuReproduced from [7] increase of approxidents were asked to mately 2 lbs, with no substantial difference complete the same questionnaires that they observed between males and females. While had answered previously. nowhere near the stereotypical 15 lbs, this rise definitively supports the conclusion that Based on their findings, researchers believe weight gain is common during the first year that one’s surroundings are more important of college. in predicting weight gain than one’s psychological condition. Perhaps more interesting are the researchers’ findings on the causes of this weight Considering the nature of the college dining gain. Curiously enough, stress did not ulti- experience, this conclusion is quite plausible. mately seem to affect participants’ weight, The average dining facility on a college camas high levels of anxiety did not correlate to pus has a buffet-style setup, with a wide varisignificant changes in weight. ety of entrees, side dishes, and desserts from which students can choose. When faced with 6

so many choices, students may be tempted to try a little of everything, thus increasing as students who are aware that their weight the chances that they will end up overeating. is being monitored are likely to be more conscious of their health habits. However, Add in the fact that many of the available the authors believe that using self-reported

In this way, weight gain can logically be credited to college dining halls, as both the food and the atmosphere encourage increased consumption. This also explains why students living off-campus experienced a comparatively minor change in weight â&#x20AC;&#x201C; because they likely consumed fewer meals on-campus, it was easier for them to maintain their physical condition.

Student Life

choices have low nutritional value and it is easy to see how a student could gain weight. Unfortunately, eating with friends only escalates this problem, as studies have shown that dining in large groups encourages people to consume more than they otherwise would.

Reproduced from [8]

measurements creates a larger margin for Still, potential caveats do exist. For exam- error than does cluing students in to the purple, weight gain may have been caused by pose of the study. Taking this into account, it decreases in physical activity. At stressful can be assumed that the information drawn points during the semester, students gener- from this study is somewhat more reliable ally have less time to devote to exercise and than the data obtained from prior analyses. tend to become more sedentary. Financial concerns may have also played a role. After In any case, becoming aware of the factors all, students living off-campus often pay for at play is the best way for current students their food directly instead of simply swiping to maintain good health. By understanding a card. For this reason, such students may be the qualities of their eating environment, more fiscally conscious and will be less likely students can stave off weight gain during the college years and develop healthy habits that to waste their money by overeating. will carry into adulthood. As for their findings on stress, researchers are aware that their conclusions conflict with existing literature on this subject. However, they credit these differences to improvements in data collection. In previous experiments that linked stress with weight gain, the height and weight values used were provided by the students themselves. Because self-reported data can often be inaccurate, the authors of the current study chose to take all measurements manually. On one hand, this may have created a bias,

Regardless of the studyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s findings about stress, students should also strive to maintain sound emotional health, as a positive mental condition is a crucially important component of overall wellbeing.

But whether you are a lowly freshman or a veteran senior, the findings of the study provide an interesting take on a widely-occurring issue. Though future research will be necessary to confirm the conclusions drawn, the new information offers some refreshing insight to a long-held stereotype. 7

Student Life

Winter Blues or Something Else? By Sandy Ghosalkar G

ray clouds. Incessant rain. Cold winds. Welcome to fall in Ithaca. Cornellians often take pride in braving both the harsh academics and harsh weather. While most students will fare just fine, some, like many Americans, will experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Thirty five million Americans suffer from some form of the disorder. Inevitably, some cases find their way onto our campus. A disorder characterized by irritability, oversleeping, and loss of energy, SAD is often hard to spot, but is relatively easy to treat for most individuals.

schoolwork or pursue your hobbies but it’s not natural to feel that way all the time. So what can you do to help prevent such feelings? SAD sufferers are often prescribed artificial light boxes which emit light. This light boosts serotonin levels, which can make you feel happier. The same sort of boosting effect can be achieved by spending half an hour outdoors every day. Even on cloudy days, there is enough natural light outside to do the trick. Also expect to gain a few pounds during the winter. The body craves carbohydrates during the winter months as part of a survival mechanism to build insulation against the cold. Don’t try to hold back Seasonal affective disorder is caused by a combi- evolutionary history or let it get you down. You can nation of several biological factors. Low serotonin and probably will lose those pounds as you become levels due to low sunlight and dismore active during the spring. So ruptions in your biological clock “SAD is often hard to eating some of the Mongo stir fry can both cause SAD. Melatonin at RPCC isn’t all that bad for you. production also increases during spot, but is relatively Also devote a little extra time to periods of darkness (short win- easy to treat for most sleep. Your body is trying to adter days) and can make one feel just to a new circadian rhythm in individuals.” lethargic and sleepy. Certainly, response to the changes in light the cloudy weather and midnight level and intensity. It needs rest oil burning academics at Cornell can form a basis in order to transition with the least pain possible. for SAD. So who exactly gets SAD (no pun intended, An erratic sleep schedule will only destabilize that honest)? rhythm. An important thing to remember about any mental health issue is that anyone is susceptible. That being said, some Cornellians in particular ought to be on the lookout for SAD. Women, as a group, are more prone to developing SAD, and most women who develop chronic SAD do so in their twenties. Although less commonly affected, men who develop SAD may experience more severe symptoms. Students with a family history of depression or other mental health disorders ought to be more self-aware since genes greatly affect one’s chances of developing a mental health disorder.

Reproduced from [9]

Many of us can develop a case of the “winter blues”. It’s natural to occasionally feel reluctant to do your

Say you are active outdoors, and maybe you do indulge yourself with a few more carbs during the winter months. Yet you’re still feeling down. Ask yourself if this feeling of despondency is in response to a specific event: a bad prelim score, a bad relationship, etc… If you’re feeling down even when things are otherwise looking up, it might be time to visit Gannett. Some other symptoms you might experience are anxiety, hopelessness, loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed, and loss of libido. Getting help, whether it’s in the form of a light box or prescription drugs, is much better than ignoring the problem.

]

Sleep Deprivation Spells Performance Decline By Carnisha Guilder

Evidence of sleep deprivation amongst Cornellians is widespread across campus. Students sleep on the TCAT, in Uris library, in Trillium, during lecture and in many other public places on campus. While napping in Uris has become practically a rite of passage, sleep deprivation is something we should be very wary of because it stands in the way of achieving peak performance. We as students do not perform at our greatest capacity when we are sleep deprived. According to Prof. Maas’ website, powersleep.org, sleep deprivation has many negative effects, including depression, increased irritability, stress and anxiety, reduced immunity to disease, reduced productivity, and reduced vocabulary and communication skills. Furthermore, the Center of Disease and Control (CDC), states that long-term sleep deprivation can lead to the development of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. As college students, studying is our job and it measures our success. We put full workdays into attending class and studying, and our expected payment is good grades. However, sleep is needed in order for the brain to function optimally so we can get the grades that we deserve. In a study conReproduced from[10]

ducted at Hendrix University, 89 college freshman participated in sleep research aimed at determining how sleep affected grade point averages. Those students who were deprived of sleep averaged a GPA of 2.84, while those who were not deprived of sleep averaged a GPA of 3.17. When you are sleep deprived, you are unable to focus in those early morning lectures, which results in reduced comprehension and decreased ability to memorize the material when it is time for a prelim or final.

Student Life

“E

arly to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise” said Benjamin Franklin. However, with all of the homework assignments, oral presentations, and prelim cram sessions that this Ivy League has to offer, when do we have time to sleep? Of course we know that sleep is important. Our mothers always tell us to get at least 8 hours a sleep a night, and Professor Maas not only reiterates this fact in his lectures, but also skillfully argues for it in his book “Power Sleep”. But seriously, when do we have time? There are only 24 hours in a day. Many courses require two hours a day of study time, there are lectures to attend, office hours, part-time jobs, extracurricular activities, prelims, and social events. It may seem as if sleep has no place in the equation, but us Cornellians have to make it fit because it is exceedingly important for productivity, alertness, and peak performance.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, approximately 60 percent of college students are sleep deprived. On powersleep.org, I took a selftest titled “Am I sleep deprived”, the results of which told me that I am indeed sleep deprived, along with many other Cornellians. Case in point: I recently had dinner with a student who was functioning off of just one hour of sleep. My suitemates routinely function off of five hours of sleep and study long hours with the help of stimulants, despite their negative effects on health and sleep patterns. In order to improve your grades while avoiding sluggishness and insomnia, it is recommended that college students practice good sleep hygiene, which means sticking to routines that maximize sleep and productivity. The CDC suggests that individuals sleep in a dark, comfortable, and quiet environment without any gadgets. This means putting away the Macbooks, stowing the iPads, and turning off the Blackberries. The CDC also recommends going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, avoiding physical activity and heavy meals within a few hours of bedtime, and refraining from pulling all-nighters. Yes, it is important for us to study and make sure all of our assignments are completed, but we must not deprive ourselves of the sleep that we need in order to perform at our best. It’s time to stop thinking of sleep as a luxury and start treating as the necessity it is.

Boosting the Immune System:

Health and Wellness

How to Stay at the Top of Your Game

Laura Sullivan

t’s that time of year again….work is piling up and everybody’s starting to get sick. Most Cornell students know that when the stress levels rise, so does the risk of getting sick. But is there any scientific proof to back up this anecdotal evidence and if so, what is it? And since you can’t completely eliminate stress from your life, what can you do to keep your immune system at its prime? The fact is, stress does increase a person’s susceptibility to getting sick, but with moderate exercise and proper nutrition, you can fight back. Reproduced from [12]

Several studies have examined the effects of stress on immunity and have found that it increases a person’s susceptibility to viral infections. Those subjects exposed to stress had an increased infection rate from 74 to 90% and an increase in clinical colds from 27 to 47%. During exams, scientists found that students had higher T-cell (cells involved in immune response) counts, indicating an

Reproduced from [11]

engaged immune system, and a higher occurrence of health problems. But how does stress increase your vulnerability and what can you do about it? As you might expect, the brain and the immune system communicate with one another. Under stress, the brain constantly releases stress hormones, including cortisol, which has been proven to weaken the immune system. The release of stress hormones triggers the “fight or flight” response, which slows other body functions to conserve energy. When immune cells are bathed in these stress hormones, they are signaled to stop fighting. As a result, the immune response slows and the body becomes increasingly vulnerable to

“Under stress, the brain constantly releases stress hormones, including cortisol, which has been proven to weaken the immune system.”

infection. Therefore, learning to manage stress is important not only to your mental health, but also to your physical health. Methods to reduce stress include meditation, counseling, constructive relationships, and regular exercise. Moderate exercise has been shown to bolster immune response. Regular exercise can boost immune defense mechanisms by increasing anti-

under heavy stress. Therefore, it would be beneficial to add a multivitamin to your diet to ensure you are receiving the proper nutrients.

Immune response can also be enhanced by reducing your intake of saturated fat and animal protein while increasing the amount of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in your diet. Recently, reports have touted the benefits of eating salmon and other healthy fats, and it follows that these benefits extend to your immune system. Omega-3, the healthy fatty acid found in salmon, has been found to have natural anti-inflammatory properties that reduce inflammation, a Although it can be hard with a localized response of tissue to busy schedule, a well-rounded infection. It is also beneficial diet is important to maintain- to cook primarily with olive oil, ing optimum immune function. a monounsaturated fat (i.e. the Starting now, you can make healthy kind), since most other changes that help boost and cooking oils have been found protect your immune system. to have unfavorable effects on One positive step would be to the immune system. Olive oil enrich your diet with antioxi- improves immune function bedants that remove toxic byprod- cause it has anti-inflammatory ucts of the metabolic pathways properties and contains anti(oxidants) that can suppress oxidants such as vitamin E and immune function. Leafy green carotenoids. vegetables, including broccoli, are rich in antioxidants and in- Nobody likes being sick, but it creasing your consumption of is especially difficult and unthese foods can bolster your im- pleasant in the middle of the mune function. Other nutrients semester when taking weeks to also play a role in maintaining a recover can really set you back healthy immune system. Even in your academic and social though you may not realize it, life. Although you can learn to calcium, iron, vitamin A and manage stress in a healthy way, C deficiencies are common in you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make it disappear. young adults and can nega- However, there are things you tively affect immune function. can do to cut back your risk of Although recent studies have getting sick. By exercising and shown that vitamin C does not maintaining proper nutrition, protect against the common you can boost your immune recold, it does help to reduce the sponse and hopefully decrease severity of illness and provides your vulnerability to illness. a protective effect in people

Health and Wellness

bodies and other immune cell responses. Even relatively low levels of aerobic exercise, such as taking a brisk walk for 20 to 30 minutes five times a week, going to the gym every other day, or bicycling, can strengthen immune function. So, instead of taking the bus to class, take the extra time to walk, it may help your body fight infection. However, be sure not to overdo it, as excessive exercise can also weaken the immune system. Many theories have been proposed for how exercise can enhance immune function, but whatever the reason, exercise, in conjunction with a proper diet, is a potent protector of the immune system.

Reproduced from [13-17]

Reproduced from [18]

Dirty Health and Wellness

Money

by Nicolas Cordero

ha-Ching* With banknotes, Benjamins, dough, or whatever gets you to start seeing green, realize that you give a lot more than your appreciation for goods and services when you pay with cash. Of course it would be an exaggeration to say that dineros are deadly, but the bacteria on the average dollar bill could certainly make your skin crawl. In the right situations and with the proper celestial alignments, these germs could even make you sick. The abbreviated history of paper money is as follows: it was first invented in ancient China when wealthy merchants realized that coins were heavy – thank you Dr. Rusk for Introduction to China. Bills have since flourished as the dominant form of legal tender, especially as inflating prices continue to render coins useful for not much besides vending machines and in those evil “win-aprize-with-this-claw-that-doesn’tgrab-anything” machines. The rising circulation of paper currency brings along with it the passive distribution of bacteria and viruses. These germs use big green bucks as taxis, travelling in bulk from person to person for as long as they are in circulation (which is two years on average). Coins, on the other hand, are the less efficient rickshaws of germ transportation. Thanks to the antimicrobial properties of copper, loose change can be a death trap to micro-

organisms. Nickels are composed of about 75% copper, while most other denominations have a copper constitution of greater than 90%. Pennies’ looks betray them as they are only 2.5% copper, but it makes up the entire outer layer. All of this copper creates a hostile environment for bacteria and makes coins relatively sterile.

Reproduced from [19]

The colonization of germs on a banknote does not require a dramatic sidewalk impact or an accidental plunge into a toilet bowl. While contact with icky surfaces such as the ground and countertops surely amplify the microbe immigration process, something as simple and innocent as the exchange of a bill for a cup of coffee can impart the currency with dangerous pathogens. But if you’re now start-

Alas, we cannot escape money. It permeates our lives and exchanges occur each day. Here is some advice for anyone that now feels like her or his wallet is infection city. Take advantage of technology. Debit and credit cards are often only used by the holder, and in the event that they must be handed over for a transaction, the wary card owner can at least give it a quick hand-sanitizer wipe-down upon return. If you must use cash, such as after a taxi ride, then treat the transaction like a trip to the washroom and remember to keep your hands far away from your

face until they’ve been scrubbed down. Hand-sanitizer dispensers are conveniently located throughout campus in places where currency transactions are likely to occur (like the post office and at the library circulation desks). If you’re interested in learning more about the exotic bacterial blends that your wampum harbors, then I suggest you check out wheresgeorge.com. By inputting the serial number of any bill in your pocket, you can potentially find information on this bill’s life history from information submitted by other users. One of my own dollar bills was found on the sidewalk once and on floor of a fast food restaurant later… Excuse me while I go wash my hands and scrub down my keyboard!

Reproduced from [20]

Health and Wellness

ing to think that money is bad, let me just quickly remind you that your skin is even worse! Our typical skin flora can be a retreat for any number of pathogenic bacteria. In a currency & bacteria study performed by the University of California at San Francisco, the investigators pointed out that as many as a quarter of adults can be carriers of Staphylococcus aureus. Better known as Staph, this particular bacteria is the leading cause of food poisoning in the United States. Its toxins are usually harmless to individuals with healthy immune systems, but immunosuppressed people, such as AIDS and chemotherapy patients, and sometimes even the average individual, can suffer from diarrhea, vomiting, or even blood poisoning if the bacteria enters the body through lesions on the skin or comes into contact with mouth or nasal tissues. The investigators found this and other types of pathogenic bacteria, including the enteric Escherichia coli and Klebsiella eneterobacter (housed commonly in the intestinal tract), on 7% of bills sampled from random locations. Researchers at the University Hospitals of Geneva in Switzerland also discovered that viruses, which can be even worse than bacteria, can survive for at least three days on paper bills. So the next time your cashier also serves you a donut, think where that hand has been.

Health and Wellness

more permanent effects.

Aside from becoming flushed, the face also suffers other effects as a result of dehydration from alcohol consumption. Alcohol dehydrates the body and skin by inhibiting certain hormones that are normally released to replenish the body. As a result, the kidneys overwork themselves and end up removing more water than needed from the system. This results in very dry skin which leads to wrinkling. The dry skin also causes bloating since water accumulates around areas in the face to counteract the dehydraReproduced from [21] tion. As a result, after a heavy night fter a long night of partying and drinking, people often take a pass at of drinking, people often develop a bloated and a mirror and are stunned and amused to see their wrinkled look, which may cause them to appear unappealing appearance reflected back. The effect haggard and older is complete with a bloated red face, bags under than they really are. the eyes, and an overall droopy look. We simply Not only does alcosmirk at ourselves and shrug it off. What many hol have long term people don’t realize is that these effects are not effects on your temporary but rather become long term “permaexternal appearance, nent scars”. but it also causes Many believe getting a red face from drinking is internal damage just a hard-partier stereotype, but this in fact hap- to your bones. In a pens to everyone and can become a permanent recent Health.com condition. As alcohol is distributed throughout report, Dr. Janet the body through fluids and veins, it is known Greenhut stated, to cause blood vessels to dilate and sometimes “If you have more burst. As a result of this bursting, redness appears than seven drinks on the face especially in areas around the nose. Reproduced from [22] per week, it actually Not only do the vessels in the skin become dilatreduces bone mass.” Also, according to Health. ed, but so do the small vessels in the eyes, which com report, if one is in the habit of binge drinking cause the eyes to look blood shot. This condition –having four or more drinks in a two-hour period in particular can build up overtime, resulting – one is more prone to falls, and is at higher risk for fracture due to lower bone mass. So not only does alcohol ruin your facial appearance, but it can make you more prone to injuries, which will certainly detract from your overall appearance.

Reproduced from [23]

So with all that said, how attractive is drinking after all? We all dress up looking our best to get ready for a great, alcohol infused night, but at what price? We compromise our appearance for one night of fun and end up with a red puffed up wrinkly face and blood shot eyes. We all know culture of drinking won’t disappear, but the youth and beauty of our faces will!

Health and Wellness

Social Commentary

Study Drugs: The Nerd’s Steroid?

By Sarah Parauda

owadays it’s all too common for us to open up a newspaper and yawn at the latest sports steroid scandal. But what if the drug in question was instead Adderall or Ritalin, and the awards at stake were spelling bee titles and Nobel Prizes instead of Heisman trophies and Hall of Fame inductions? Studies show that this hypothetical trend may become reality not too far off in the future. A survey of students in 119 colleges nationwide was published in the journal Addiction. The survey found that at some campuses, as many as 25% of those polled had misused medication prescribed for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as of 2005. Especially relevant to Cornellians is the fact that these rates were highest at competitive colleges in the Northeast. Students whose GPAs were under a B were twice as likely to abuse ADHD medication as those who had a B+ or higher.

More recently, Bloomberg Businessweek maga-

Reproduced from[24]

zine predicted that memory and concentrationenhancing drugs will be the next boom in the drug industry, citing that the extended release version of Adderall alone raked in $1 billion a year for Shire Pharmaceuticals as of 2007. In 2008, director John Poll comically addressed this growing trend in his film, Charlie Bartlett, in which the resourceful main character sells his prescribed Ritalin to earn money and attain popularity in his new high school.

Adderall and Ritalin are technically only prescribed for ADHD, but with the rapid increase in popularity, these drugs are now easily accessible to all students, albeit illegally. The number of prescriptions for ADHD medications skyrocketed by 369% between 1992 and 2002, and in 2005 there were 31.8 million prescriptions written for these drugs. An article in Psychiatric News from October of 2009 stated that the number of calls made to poison control centers “related to prescription ADHD medication abuse for nonmedical reasons”

that statistic alone should be enough to scare away any potential Adderall abusers.

Reproduced from[25]

Adderall and other drugs like it can be not only physically but psychologically addictive. Clinical director of psychiatry at University of MadisonWisconsin Eric Heiligenstein observed: “Students take it, get better results and feel like they can’t go off. They say—I feel like I’ve built my whole GPA on this. How can I stop?”

Social Commentary

among teenagers increased by 76% between 1998 and 2005. Coupled with the prescription increase, If the potentially dangerous side effects are not this data suggests that there is a dangerous link enough to scare students away from these study between easy access and abuse of these drugs. drugs, the punishment for illegal possession of Adderall should be. Adderall can be detected in Students who don’t have ADHD still find these urine, hair, mucus, or sweat, so NCAA athletes drugs incredibly effective in boosting their con- subjected to random drug tests risk suspension if centration during periods of intense academic they are not diagnosed with ADHD. And for nonpressure, such as exam weeks. An article from the athletes, the punishment can still be harsh, since Milwaukee Journal Sentinel gave an account of a Adderall is a Schedule II drug, which puts it in the University of Wisconsin-Madison student who same class as morphine and other potentially adused ADHD medication to power through a tough dictive prescription medications. Cornell students math class. “I could study for, like, eight hours over 18 years old are subject to New York’s drug straight,” he said. laws, which can be quite harsh depending on the amount of misused Adderall found. But, despite its tempting effectiveness at keeping students focused, Adderall and similar drugs are So if you get anything out of this article, my advice dangerous when used without a prescription. Ad- would be this: when the pressures of exam period derall is an amphetamine that works like cocaine, pile up, do not succumb to this growing trend of and is classified as a Schedule II drug. There are Adderall abuse. If you must pull that all-nighter, five of these “Schedule” classes—Schedule I is con- stick to the coffee instead. sidered the most dangerous while Schedule V is considered to be the least dangerous. Schedule II drugs have a high potential for abuse because they are both addictive and widely available (although they are regulated by prescription). Side effects can range from insomnia, irritability, and loss of appetite on the mild end of the spectrum to paranoia, hallucinations, and heart attack on the extreme end. Health Canada (Canada’s equivalent of the U.S.’s Food and Drug Administration) suspended all sales of Adderall in February of 2005 because it was linked to 12 children’s sudden deaths in the U.S. Eventually the suspension was lifted when they could not provide evidence Reproduced from[26] for a substantially increased risk of death, but

benefit from a “soda tax” because it will discourage consumption of these harmful beverages.

Now, let’s take a look at just how bad soda is for us. I have completely stopped drinking the horrid stuff, but pretty much all of my friends still do. The main objection to soda used to be that it leads to tooth decay. We now know that there are far worse consequences, including Type II Diabetes and heart disease, due to the extra body weight.

Reproduced from [27]

Social Commentary

ur Country has gone through several phases of limitations beings put on our beverage sector in hopes of ameliorating problems of abuse and overuse. From the British placing a tax on tea in the colonies to Congress passing an amendment outlawing alcohol during the Prohibition Era, our country has gone through some tumultuous times when it comes to quenching our thirst.

In addition to those horrific findings, it has also been found that fructose, which represents half the sugar in soda, raises triglycerides after meals and also proReproduced from [28] motes a gain in abdominal fat. The higher count of triglycerides can lead to increased blood pressure, artery blockage, and kidney disease.

The newest saga in this beverage quest comes in response to another problem: obesity. There have been numerous scientific studies, which have found that the amount of sugar we consume is a major factor in how big we have become. In the last half century, consumption of sugar in the United States has increased by more than 24 pounds a year. This massive increase in sugar consumption can only lead to expanded There has also been research in the viability of a waistlines and the crowding out “...the reduction in the con- “soda tax”. A recent Yale study found that for every 10% increase of other nutritious foods. sumption of soda would rein the price of soda, consumption duce medical costs...” Scientists have pinpointed soda to dropped by 7.8%. In the same be the culprit of increased sugar. study, it was found that even though sales of sugary It has been found that soft drinks account for 7% of soda would decrease due to a tax, there would be an the calories that Americans consumes. This statistic increase in the sales of alternative beverages such means that soda is the leading source of added sugar as diet drinks as well as water. This finding assured and the single largest source of calories in our diet. those weary of losing jobs to the decreased demand In order to remedy this problem, the state of New that there was no need for such a concern. York, among others, is considering an excise tax of about a penny per ounce on high-calorie sweetened beverages. In expected fashion, the American Beverage Association opposes this tax, with allegations that their efforts have already accounted for an 88% reduction of sugared soda calories in our nation’s schools.

A recent Harvard study followed 88,000 women for 24 years and found the risk of developing heart disease increased 20% among those who drank 2 sugary drinks a day, when compared to those who drank less than one per month.

The Association also argues that this tax will affect the affordability of food for families who are already on a tight budget. Dieticians everywhere have countered this argument with the fact that soda is not a desirable dietary ingredient. It is not a food, not a basic necessity. They also say that the people will likely

Adding a penny-per-ounce excise tax on sugary soft drinks could also generate an estimated $1.2 billion in New York State alone. At the same time, the reduction in the consumption of soda would reduce medical costs, about half of which are paid by the government. Unlike the colonial tea tax and prohibition, it has also been found that in New York, 72% of the population would be in favor of a soda tax, given that at least a portion of the revenue would be used for obesity prevention and, namely, subsidizing the purchase of healthy foods. This should be assuring news to allwho desire to rid our nation of its “large” reputation. © The Student Body 2010

Splenda: Too Sweet to be True by Susan Duan

hen I first saw Splenda’s commercial, with cute smiling kids and yummy baked cakes, I thought it was the best thing ever. “Made from sugar, tastes like sugar, but with zero calories!” says the commercial’s narrator with enthusiasm. Splenda is a dream come true for anyone with a sweet tooth but who doesn’t want to gain weight by consuming too much processed white sugar. For the past few months, I, for one, have been dumping Splenda into my coffee without any guilt. Because I’ve been consuming so much of the heavenly artificial sweetener, I joked to my friend one day, “If they find out that Splenda is as bad for you as aspartame, I’m going to die.”

done, sucralose was found to adversely affect the animals subjects involved.

But what if the body does absorb Splenda? While the manufacturers claim there is minimal absorption, the FDA says there is 11% absorption, and the Japanese Food Sanitation Court says there may be up to 40% absorption. Suddenly, it matters what Splenda actually is.

study found that saccharin caused bladder cancer in rats, and the government has listed the chemical as an “anticipated human carcinogen” since 1981, but the FDA did not enforce a ban. Similarly, aspartame has gained the reputation of being a neurotoxin, and people have complained of side effects such as rashes, respiratory problems, headaches, dizziness, and mood changes. At present, it seems that sucralose is going down the same path.

Reproduced from [29]

As a chlorocarbon, sucralose is part of a dangerous chemical family. For instance, dioxin is a chlorocarbon that is 300,000 times more carcinogenic than DDT (also a chlorocarbon), which was banned from being used as a pesticide due to its toxicity. In fact, sucralose was discovered by scientists who were researching insecticides. Chlorocarbons are generally associated with genetic, organ, and reproductive problems. Specifically, when sucralose is absorbed, it affects the liver, kidney, and gastrointestinal tract. Manufacturers claim that the chlorine in sucralose is as harmless as the chlorine found in table salt, but they have done no studies to support this. And in the few studies that have been Reproduced from [30]

Although none of these artificial sweeteners have been banned, it is clear that they are absorbed by and then cause damage to the human body, as supported by short-term studies done on animals. Whether or not this damage is significant is debatable, as no long-term studies have reached fruition. No matter how good Splenda may be to my taste buds, I do not want to be a guinea pig in evaluating the safety of a potentially dangerous chemical, so before more onclusive evidence is available, I bid farewell to those yellow packets of chlorocarbons.

Social Commentary

For example, in a study led by Abou-Donia at Duke University Medical Center, rats were fed Splenda for twelve weeks. After this time period, the researchers found that the rats’ intestinal chemistry changed—for the worse—based on the composition of their fecal matter. There was a reduction in beneficial fecal bacteria and an increase in fecal matter pH. After twelve weeks of recovery, the number of bacteria was restored, but pH remained elevated. Normally fecal pH for adults lies in a narrow range of 7 to 7.5, and deviations indicate Unfortunately, they did find out that Splenda, digestion problems. Another study shows that suthough not lethal, is certainly not as harmless as it cralose also results in up to 40% shrinkage in the seems. Splenda is sucralose, thymus (a gland heavily involved in the ima chlorocarbon, which is like Chlorocarbons are mune response), swelling of liver and kidregular sugar, with twelve generally associated neys, and reduced growth rate. Just as the carbons in a ring, but with with genetic, organ, manufacturers say, Splenda is not sugar. three chlorine atoms in place Although they want to emphasize the difand reproductive of three hydroxyl groups. ference in calories, perhaps they should problems. This change makes Splenda be emphasizing the difference in how the indigestible, and thus the chemical affects the body. company can claim that Splenda has no nasty calories associated with the sweet taste. And even if The safety of other artificial sweeteners, such as Splenda were dangerous to the body, it wouldn’t saccharin (Sweet ‘N Low) and aspartame (Equal, matter since it is not absorbed anyway. Nutra Sweet) have also been questioned. One

Najah Levers Edit My Profile

Can Facebook & Twitter Really Lead to Mental Health Risks?

Social Commentary

ebsites such as Facebook and Twitter are a part of a growing new trend of social media networking. More than 500 million people have active Facebook accounts, while Twitter has recently gained much notability with almost 100 million users worldwide. These sites are generally used as a means of keeping in touch with friends, sharing events, and updating people on personal feelings and daily experiences. Although these networking sites may enhance social interaction, there has been an increasing concern amongst students regarding an “addiction” to these websites. Is there such a thing as too much or too little social networking? Is it really possible to develop a Facebook or Twitter addiction and if so, what are the possible health implications of such a disorder? Health professionals are now indicating that becoming addicted to social networking sites may be very possible. The phenomenon has become so widespread that psychologists have labeled the excessive usage of Facebook as a new mental health disorder known as Facebook Addiction Disorder (FAD)—a subcategory of Internet addiction.

In a nationwide study conducted by a team from Stanford University’s School of Medicine, it was estimated that nearly one in eight Americans suffer from at least one form of Internet addiction. The Center for Addiction has even recognized social networking addiction as a serious disorder and has considered possibly including it in the new version of the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Some of the possible signs of this disorder include neglecting important obligations such as household chores and school work for social networking activities, avoiding sleep regardless of fatigue to spend time on sites like Facebook, and becoming agitated when forced to spend time away from these social networks. Regardless of these ideas, addiction to social networking has been highly debated and has sparked criticism throughout the medical world.

Reproduced from [32]

Reproduced from [33]

Social Commentary

The American Psychological Association has been consistently encourages individuals to keep pushquite skeptical about accepting social networking until they get what they want. ing addiction as a real disorder since there is so little research on the matter. PsyThis is true in any case chiatrists believe that social netof behavioral addicworking addiction may actually tion and is usually reinbe a symptom of an underlying forced by emotional cycondition such as depression, cles. For example, one anxiety, or social phobia. who feels lonely and sad may use a social Despite the criticism, many pronetworking site such fessionals are adamant in clasas Facebook or Twitter sifying social network addiction to seek pleasure and as a serious medical disorder. Dr. happiness in order to Mohamad Hussain Habil, direcalleviate these negative tor of the University Malaya Cenfeelings. Reproduced from [31] tre for Addiction Sciences, claims that social networking addiction is a “behavioral It is important to understand that just because you addiction similar to pathological gambling, sexual love Facebook or Twitter, it doesn’t mean that you and shopping addiction.” are an addict or have a disorder. However, it is crucial to ask yourself what drives you to use these “Besides teenagers and young adults, these be- social networking sites. If you find yourself relying haviors are also quite common amongst working on social networking to replace a negative emoadults,” Dr. Husain says. tion or a desire for connection, it is much better to find a healthier substitute, such as friends or famHe also suggests that these symptoms may even ily, to lighten such feelings. be a “result of a neurochemical dysfunction where normal behavior becomes abnormal.” Then again, social networking sites will not go away any time soon. The best thing that we can do Another psychologist, Dr. Rob Bedi of the Univer- is to moderate our actions and the amount of time sity of Victoria, believes that social networking we spend on Facebook or Twitter. That way, we addictions are very common and can result from can work on rebuilding our real human connecwhat psychologists refer to as “intermittent rein- tions instead. forcement”—the idea that handing out rewards in-

Have Something to Say? Be Heard. Write for The Student Body.

contact: Diane Cheng (dc479)

ÂŠ The Student Body 2010

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