Because you Neatorama readers are so smart, you might already know how sickle cell anemia makes someone resistant to malaria. This apparent evolutionary disadvantage has actually survived through the generations because it makes individuals more fit for survival in other ways. While sickle cell anemia is the best known of these evolutionary diseases, it is not the only one. Migraines, depression and bipolar disorder are all passed down genetically, and there’s a good reason these traits that seem to be negative haven’t been eradicated through the millenia.
Migraines
Migraines don’t just cause majorly painful headaches, they also stimulate the nervous system, making people far more sensitive to light and sound. While this doesn’t really help modern day migraine sufferers, it could help save someone’s life in prehistoric times. Scientists speculate that migraines allowed prehistoric men and women to be one step ahead of their predators and their prey, making them more fit for survival. Source Image Via Migraine Chick [Flickr]
Depression
While between 30 to 50 percent of all people suffer from depression at some point, it doesn’t seem the condition would offer any advantages. Surprisingly, depression actually helps people focus on their problems and then think more clearly about the possible solution to the issues that are bothering them. Studies show that people who are depressed tend to score better on complex problems in intelligence tests than those who are not. Side effects of depression, such as lack of sexual interest and lack of appetite, can even help prevent distractions from our problem solving abilities. Source Image Via Darkwood67 [Flickr]
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder works in a much different manner. When individuals inherit severe bipolar disorders, they can have a hard time concentrating, making sound decisions, feeling comfortable in social situations and organizing their time. But, when someone gets the right combination of the genes that cause bipolar disorder, they can see increased creativity, courage and productivity. Source Image Via Ventolinmono [Flickr]
;P - Tee-hee!
A great case can be made for paranoia being an aid to survival and autism assisting the focus of geniuses. Diabetes is good in areas that alternate feast and famine. And these are just off the top of my head.
As a chronic migraine sufferer... I shouted a resounding "BULLSHIT!" when I read this line. How the hell is a migraine supposed to allow you to be one step ahead of predators when you're pretty much completely incapacitated during a Migraine attack? Yes, it makes you more sensitive to light and sound IN THE WORST WAY POSSIBLE. Once that migraine attack starts ramping up, there is nothing you can do but lay down and wait it out. Migraines are crippling and there's nothing remotely resembling any sort of superpower or advantage when dealing with pain, more pain, oversensitivity to stimuli and MORE PAIN.
Also, if you notice a predator around your community before anyone else, you could easily notify someone else to do something about it even if you are incapacitated.
Yessss...this ability will come in really handy if a problem in my life should arise where the best solution will be to JUMP OFF A BRIDGE. 'Cause I feel like doing that pretty frequently.
:-|
This old mechanic&motorbike racer speaks out of experience& with due respect: this is BigPharma's B$
Please check out the following wch is physiological Chemistry& TRY it before Y'all flame me&condemn it-
http://www.orthomed.org/
http://preview.tinyurl.com/yj33lxd
The Miracle of Magnesium
Posted by: Dr. Mercola
By Carolyn Dean, MD, ND
Magnesium deficiency triggers or causes the following 22 conditions; the introduction of magnesium, either by a high-magnesium diet, with green drinks, or magnesium supplements, can help alleviate these conditions:Anxiety and panic attacks
Asthma
Blood clots
Bowel disease
Cystitis
Depression
Detoxification
Diabetes, Syndrome X,
and Metabolic Syndrome
Fatigue
Heart disease
Hypertension
Hypoglycemia Insomnia
Kidney Disease
Liver Disease
Migraine
Musculoskeletal conditions
Nerve problems
Obstetrics and Gynecology--premenstrual syndrome, dysmenorrhea (cramping pain during menses), infertility, premature contractions, preeclampsia, and eclampsia in pregnancy, lessens the risk of cerebral palsy and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Osteoporosis
Raynaud's Syndrome
Tooth decay
Science and medicine have both turned their backs on magnesium. Science opts out because the scientific methodology is defined by being able to test one thing at a time ending up with one result. Science finds magnesium too difficult to corral, partly because it is responsible for the correct metabolic function of over 350 enzymes in the body.
The creation of ATP (adenosine triphospate) the energy molecules of the body, the action of the heart muscle, the proper formation of bones and teeth, relaxation of blood vessels, and the promotion of proper bowel function are all under the guidance of magnesium.