Dr. Andrew Belaveshkin

The faster, the more addictive: food, drugs, and love. The faster and higher the dopamine spikes, the higher the risk of addiction and the greater the euphoria. Conversely, the slower and longer the reward, the less significant it seems (temporal discounting).      Research reveals that the faster a drug reaches the brain, the more likely it is to be addictive. For example, the reported maximum euphoria is highest for smoked cocaine (time to peak effects: 1.4 min), followed by intravenous (3.1 min) and then intranasal (14.6 min) routes of administration. The fastest methods are smoking, followed by injection, inhalation, and then ingestion.   It turns out that the speed factor activates the brain's "salience network" and causes desensitization to the substance (=risk of addiction). A corticostriatal circuit comprising the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and insula and their connections with the dorsal caudate, which is activated by fast dopamine increases and parall...

As the air temperature decreases, the amount of water it contains decreases. Therefore, outdoor air entering a room from outside and heated by radiators has low relative humidity. In winter, this value can drop to 20%. Optimal values are between 40-60%. Humidity directly and indirectly impacts our health; let's explore them.   Direct Impact of Humidity: The lower the humidity, the stronger the evaporation from the skin and mucous membranes. This means increased irritation of the eyes, nose, mouth, and respiratory tract and impaired mucociliary transport. When mucus dries out, it can irritate the mucous membranes, leading us to touch our nose, eyes, and mouth involuntarily.    This increases the risk of infection, as the mucous barrier is weakened, making it easier for viruses to enter.    Dryness also increases symptoms related to breathing difficulties, reduces tear production, and increases eye fatigue. If you talk a lot, your voice will tire more quickly and...