Death By Pooping

Well, surely this is one good reason why people should eat enough fibre and drink enough water so that they are not constipated and do not have to strain.
 
Ahh HAA! We've finally explained the link between a reduced risk of heart attack and fiber.... and it ain't that fiber lowers cholesterol, either...

You know what Elvis's last thought was? "this grout needs cleaning"...

ETA:
Hmmm. now I wonder if the Statins work the same way....hmmm...one side effect is 'digestive anomolies'....like soft stools....
 
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David Swidler said:
I have to wonder about the person after whom this is named. You think (s)he's proud of the association?
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Well he died in 1723, so he probably doesn't care anymore. His name was Antonio Maria Valsalva, and he was an Italian anatomist. He didn't invent the maneuver, he just had patients use it for other purposes, so he probably didn't feel ashamed of it being named after him.
 
The valsalva maneuver is also used by scuba divers to "equalize" the pressure of the inner ear to that of the surrounding water, so their ears won't hurt while descending (by "closing" the nose with two fingers and attempting to exhale while keeping the mouth shut). So, maybe, that means divers are also at risk of having a heart attack :confused:
 
Rcintron said:
The valsalva maneuver is also used by scuba divers to "equalize" the pressure of the inner ear to that of the surrounding water, so their ears won't hurt while descending (by "closing" the nose with two fingers and attempting to exhale while keeping the mouth shut). So, maybe, that means divers are also at risk of having a heart attack :confused:
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I also have been instructed to do that to keep my ear drums from retracting, I have allergies and when i swallow it causes my eardrums to retract (move in), because my eustacheon tubes don't work well.

I think that there must be two manuvers.
 
De_Bunk said:
If some of you remember i worked for the Coroners office..

At least 4/10 of 'sudden deaths' in the home, i found on the toilet with evidence at an attempt to defecate. Approx 3 of those 4, were elderly people.

Also, there was a lot more deceased that showed evidence of defecation and attempted cleaning just before death occured, from all age groups, in all areas of the home.


DB
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Wow, why do other people get all the cool jobs?
 
Dancing David said:
I also have been instructed to do that to keep my ear drums from retracting, I have allergies and when i swallow it causes my eardrums to retract (move in), because my eustacheon tubes don't work well.

I think that there must be two manuvers.
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The action of holding your breath in the valsalva's manouevre puts pressure on the diaphragm and along with the abdominal muscles squeezes the abdomen to force poop into the rectum.
 
Since the vagus nerve innervates both the heart and the upper part of the bowel (down to the splenchic flexure) the urge to defecate can be a symptom of acute cardiac failure.

As the vagus nerve becomes stimulated peristalsis increases and the victim (for want of a better word) feels the urge to empty their bowels and heads for the loo. Once there they strain and further stimulate the vagus nerve leading to, a sometimes fatal, slowing of the heart rate.

In normal health the Valsalva manouevre is safe and we all do it.
 
What a fantastic blend of useful medical information and toilet gags.

Anyway, I was wondering if farting could trigger a heart attack. Just out of interest.
 
WildCat said:
... the people who walked in after me have complained of nearly dying. So now I light a match before leaving. ;)
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Didn't The Mythbusters demonstrate that lighting a match in these circumstances makes no difference?
 
There's a lot of methane in flatulence, but if you wait until it has dispersed throughout the room, lighting a match won't ignite it. You have to light it as it exits in order to get the flame thrower simulation. Or isn't that what Mythbusters debunked?
 
joe87 said:
There's a lot of methane in flatulence, but if you wait until it has dispersed throughout the room, lighting a match won't ignite it. You have to light it as it exits in order to get the flame thrower simulation. Or isn't that what Mythbusters debunked?
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I saw their flatulence episode. Now *that's* good tv.

They covered a few myths:

1. lighting a match will reduce odour (plausible)
2. lighting a match in a portapotty could explode (busted)
3. a heavy gas-passer could suffocate himself in a small room (busted)
 
blutoski said:
...
1. lighting a match will reduce odour (plausible)
...
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That's seem logic to me considering that the burning of wood will create a multitude of new chemicals that can hide the other smelly compounds. The same principle that so called air fresheners operate by.
 
Vitnir said:
That's seem logic to me considering that the burning of wood will create a multitude of new chemicals that can hide the other smelly compounds. The same principle that so called air fresheners operate by.
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Well, they used a lighter, so there would be as little contamination as possible.

Also interesting: they analyzed the composition of flatus and obtained supplies two of the components to test them independently. Methane was not affected by flaming, but methylhercaptin smell was improved.

However, I think their test could have benefitted from a few more noses.
 
Methane is oderless. The stink is trace gases and vapors. Is three liters of water per day to avoid constipation safe for most people? Neil
 
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