By Henrylito D. Tacio
Last July 6, the International Kissing Day was observed around the world. Originally, the practice started in the United Kingdom and was adopted globally in the early 2000s.
The concept behind the World Kiss Day, as it is also known, is that many people may have forgotten the simple pleasure associated with kissing for kissing’s sake, as opposed to kissing as mere social formality or prelude to other activities.
“Kissing stimulates more than 100 billion nerve cells, while happiness hormones and adrenaline course through our bodies, letting our hearts beat faster,” wrote Philine Paul and Carla Bleiker for dw.com. “Blood pressure and body temperature rise, too.”
Philematologists – those researchers who study kissing – found that a normal kiss burns 6.4 calories per minute. A passionate kiss, on the other hand, can burn up to 20 calories per minute.
“Doctors are totally enthusiastic about kissing because it strengthens our immune system and slows down the ageing process,” Paul and Bleiker wrote. “Just thinking about a kiss increases the flow of saliva, which in turn loosens plaque.”
A great deal of swapping goes on in a kiss. Consider this: 60 milligrams of water, 0.5 milligram of protein (yes, you read it right!), 0.15 milligram of gland secretion, 0.4 milligram of salt and up to 22,000 bacteria.
Exchange of bacteria
A long intimate kiss – about 10 seconds! – leads to the transfer of as many as 80 million bacteria between partners.
A news report gives this bit of information: “Humans have in them an ecosystem of more than 100 trillion microorganisms that thrive inside us – popularly called the microbiome. It is shaped by genetics, diet and age, but also the individuals with whom we interact. With the mouth playing host to more than 700 varieties of bacteria, the oral microbiota also appears to be influenced by those closest to us.”
Kissing disease
As a matter of fact, there is kissing disease called mononucleosis, often referred to as “mono.” The disease was first described accurately in 1920 by doctors at John Hopkins University.
In the 1950s, the disease received wide publicity when Dr. Robert Hoagland, then chief physician at West Point Military Academy, reported quite accurately that the viral disease was spread primarily by kissing!
“About 90 percent of people over 35 have antibodies to mono in their blood, which means they have been infected with it, probably during early childhood,” informs The Medical Advisor: The Complete Guide to Alternative and Conventional Treatments. “When mono strikes young children, the illness is usually so mild that it passes as a common cold or flu. When it occurs during adolescence or adulthood, the disease can be much more serious.”
Mono is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), named after the two British researchers who first identified it in 1964. A common member of the herpes family of viruses, EBV is spread primarily through the exchange of saliva. However, coughing or other contact with infected saliva – like sharing of drinking utensils – can also pass it from one person to another.
“The mono virus can stay active in a person weeks or months after all overt symptoms are gone, so close contact with someone who shows no sign of the disease can still put a person at risk,” the Medical Advisor claims.
Signs and symptoms
The Merck Manual of Medical Information says EBV can produce a number of different symptoms, depending on the strain of the virus and several other, poor understood factors. “In most children younger than 5, the infection produces no symptoms. In adolescents and adults, it may or may not produce symptoms. The usual time between infection and the appearance of symptoms is thought to be 30 to 50 days.”
“About 10 percent of people with mono develop a generalized red rash all over the body or darkened areas in the mouth that resemble bruises,” the Medical Advisor explains. “In about half of all cases, the spleen may also enlarge, causing an area in the upper left abdomen to become tender to touch.”
In 95 percent of cases, the illness affects the liver. However, only about 5 percent of individuals with mono develop jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and eyes caused by an increase of bile pigment in the blood. In rare cases of mono, the liver fails.
Other major complications that can develop from mono include seizures, various nerve abnormalities, behavioral abnormalities, rupturing of the spleen, meningitis, and encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain; but these, too, are extremely rare.
Mono comes on gradually and it has four major symptoms: extreme fatigue, fever, sore throat, and swelling of the lymph nodes. “Not everyone has all four symptoms,” says the Merck manual. “Usually, the infection begins with a general feeling of illness that lasts several days to a week. This vague discomfort is followed by a fever, sore throat, and enlarged lymph nodes.”
The fever usually peaks at around 103 degrees Fahrenheit in the afternoon or early morning. “The throat is often very sore, and pus-like material may be present at the back of the throat,” the Merck manual says. “Any lymph node may be enlarged; most commonly, the nodes of the neck are affected. Fatigue is usually most pronounced in the first two to three weeks but may last six weeks or more.”
According to the Medical Advisor, most people who come down with mono feel much better within two or three weeks, although fatigue may last for two months or longer. Sometimes the disease lingers for a year or so, causing recurrent, but successively milder, attacks.
Mono is hard to diagnose as its symptoms also occur in many other viral and bacterial infections. To confirm the diagnosis, doctors perform a blood test to detect antibodies to EBV. Sometimes, the first sign of mono is large numbers of characteristic mononuclear white blood cells in a blood sample.
Self-limiting illness
Mono is usually a self-limiting illness. Most people recover on their own without any treatment within two weeks. Most doctors advise a complete bed rest with a gradual return to normal activity.
“Because of the risk of rupturing the spleen, heavy lifting and contact sports should be avoided for six to eight weeks, even if the spleen is not noticeably enlarged,” the Merck manual advises.
In addition to bed rest, the doctor may prescribe aspirin or acetaminophen for the fever, sore throat, and other discomforts of the illness. However, aspirin should be avoided in children because of the risk of Reye’s syndrome, which can be fatal.
Stress can exacerbate the fatigue associated with mono. It can also weaken the immune system, thus making it more difficult for the body to recover from illness. Various relaxation techniques, such as meditation, biofeedback, and guided imagery, can be helpful in reducing stress.
Fast recovery
To help strengthen the immune system for fast recovery, people with mono are advised to eat plenty of whole (not processed) foods, especially fresh fruits and vegetables. Foods to be avoided are those high in saturated fats, animal proteins, and sugar, as they are difficult to digest and put stress on the body.
Vitamin supplements may also enhance the immune system. The Medical Advisor recommends vitamin A, C, and B complex along with magnesium and potassium aspartate. Research has shown that these supplements “can dramatically improve energy levels after six weeks of constant use.”
To help ease the fatigue associated with mono, the Medical Advisor recommends massaging the kidneys daily. “With loose fists, rub your lower back for three to five minutes,” it says. “A good occasion to do this is in the shower with warm water running down your back.”– ###
Photos sourced from Wikipedia
