Other Classmate's blogs

(Mrs. V, I know my blog is posted late- I've been sick for the last week, sorry!)

First, I read Julia's blog about "going green". Taking AP Environmental Science this year, I have paid more attention to the movement towards becoming more environmentally friendly. I'm really glad to know that many companies and industries are making that switch to making less wastes that are harmful to our environment (especially Hercules because I live 3.5 seconds away from there!). I hope to keep reading Julia's blog and learn more about the scientific part of that switch, because I don't know much about that. Plus, as I said in the comment I left her, I want to use the information I learn from her research to back up my argument with some of the *cough* less liberal classmates of mine in APES.

Next I read Amanda's post about lactic acid and the horrible soreness after a good workout in the weight room. She went into really good detail about all the chemicals involved. I found that I cannot blame the hydrogen atoms for the soreness the next day, darn. I will have to keep reading Amanda's blog as well so that I can figure out what I can blame the soreness for.

And finally I read Sarah's post about artificial sweeteners. It is kind of scary that we see "low fat/calorie" and don't think about the chemicals that are put into those products. I am definitely doing to pay more attention to what I eat and drink now. She put in a lot of details about the side effects of these certain sweeteners, which look similar to my side effects...coincidence? I don't think so, but it is still interesting. Maybe Sarah can be the person to find a non-health threatening sugar substitute. Its all you Sarah :)

Does College cause chemical imbalances?

College is a stressful time for everyone. Trying to do all the extracurricular activities and keep your grades up just to get into the best college you can get takes its toll. Many surveys have been given in colleges around the country to support the theory of rising disorders in college students. These disorders involve depression, schizophrenia, and eating disorders. With the fear of gaining the "freshman 15", many college students grow an obsession with food and weight. Depression also developes when the student is thrown into the new life with no family, none of their old friends (usually); no familiar face to turn to and talk to. These disorders do not show themselves right away. Eating disorders can be seen after it takes effect on the physical appearance of the student. If the fear of the freshman 15 does not start the disorders, the stress of college does. With all the new classes and responisibilities, students can sometimes break down.
I'm not saying that every student that goes to college will develope a disorder, but studies have shown that the disorders are most common in college aged students. Scientists beleive the disorders are a chemical imbalance in the brain. These imbalances affect people differently, so the symptoms are not always the same.
Although the true chemical imbalances are not fully known, once they are we can use this knowlage to help the affected students. Medicines can be perscribed to balance out these chemicals and help them get over the disorder. Chemistry will be the answer to not only decreasing the number of students affected with depression, schizofrenia, and eating disorders in college but at any person who is going through those things.

Works Cited

1. Hill, Jennifer. "Attitudes Towards Mental Disorders Among College Students." 2005. 23 Jan. 2008 .

2. Rockler-Gladen, Naomi. "College Students and Depression." Suit101. 14 Apr. 2007. 23 Jan. 2008 .

3. Woods, Jennifer. "Deadly Thin Rising Among College Students." The Cypress Chronicle. 29 Apr. 2006. 23 Jan. 2008 .