Dr. Andrew Belaveshkin

  When we think about oral behaviors, such as oral sex or even something as seemingly trivial as picking and eating nose mucus, there’s an underlying biological mechanism at play that can have health implications—this mechanism is known as oral tolerance. While many parents may find habits like nail-biting, thumb-sucking, or eating mucus irritating, it’s worth considering the data before reacting too strongly. Research has shown that children who engage in at least one of these behaviors (nail-biting or thumb-sucking) during their preschool years have a 40% lower risk of allergic sensitization to common antigens as adults.        Now, let’s break down how this works. When children explore their environment, touching objects and putting them in their mouths, they expose themselves to a variety of antigens—tiny particles collected under the nails or those present in the air, which get trapped in nasal mucus. This mucus acts as a filter, gathering information about...

Man flu is real. The idea that “man flu” is just an exaggeration has been circulating for years in memes and videos, poking fun at men for seemingly overreacting when they catch a cold or flu.  But let's set the record straight: men don't just appear to suffer more—they actually do experience viral infections more severely. Not only are men more prone to complications from these infections, but they are also more likely to die from them. This makes it particularly important for men to take better care of themselves when ill.   Research suggests that men have weaker defenses not only against viruses but also against parasites, bacteria, and fungal infections. They are more vulnerable to sepsis, a life-threatening immune response to infection. Testosterone, the primary male sex hormone, plays a role in this. While testosterone reduces inflammation, it also suppresses the thymus, where new immune cells are trained, leading to less robust immune cell production. The higher the tes...

  The face is a mirror of the soul, as Cicero once said. In childhood, we were often warned when making faces, "If you keep doing that, you'll get stuck like that!" Indeed, frequently expressing certain emotions creates conditions for forming static wrinkles where dynamic ones used to be. As a result, even a completely neutral face may carry a permanent emotional imprint. This same emotional trace can form as the face ages. After all, expressions of happiness are associated with the contraction of muscles that lift and expand, while sadness involves muscles that pull down (depressors). With age, the corners of our mouths droop, making it seem as though we are displeased.       This can affect how others perceive and evaluate us, often leading to misunderstandings. Moreover, facial expressions, much like slumped posture, can prime our thoughts in certain directions. For example, try to notice the difference in feelings when you hold a pencil horizontally between your ...

A fake smile can help. In the 1930s, Budapest was considered one of the most depressed cities in the world and was even nicknamed the "suicide capital." Enter professor Jeno and hypnotist Binczo, who introduced the concept of a “Smile School.” They began teaching various smile styles, including the Roosevelt smile, the Mona Lisa smile, the Dick Powell smile, and the Loretta smile. Remarkably, they charged up to $500 for a six-week course on mastering the Roosevelt smile. This might seem odd (see the photos), but the real question is: does a fake smile work?     Many people believe that forcing a smile is harmful. However, research shows that a fake smile can be effective—sometimes even more so than a small, genuine one. Artificial smiles have been shown to reduce pain, lower blood pressure, alleviate stress, and improve mood. For example, groups instructed to produce Duchenne smiles or grimaces reported about 40% less needle pain than neutral expression groups.    A...