What are the common triggers for atrial fibrillation. How does sleep quality impact Afib risk. Can alcohol consumption lead to heart rhythm issues. Is caffeine a significant trigger for Afib episodes. How does exercise affect individuals with atrial fibrillation. Why is dehydration a concern for Afib patients. Can stress and large meals contribute to heart rhythm problems.

Understanding Atrial Fibrillation: A Common Heart Rhythm Condition

Atrial fibrillation, commonly known as Afib, is one of the most prevalent heart rhythm disorders. During an Afib episode, the upper chambers of the heart beat irregularly, out of sync with the lower chambers. This condition can manifest in various ways, with some individuals experiencing no symptoms at all, while others may encounter a range of discomforting sensations.

Symptoms of Afib can include:

• Fluttering or pounding heartbeat
• Chest pain
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath

Is Afib a serious condition? Indeed, it can be. Beyond the immediate discomfort, Afib can lead to more severe complications, including an increased risk of stroke. This underscores the importance of understanding and managing the triggers that can precipitate Afib episodes.

The Sleep-Afib Connection: How Poor Sleep Quality Affects Heart Rhythm

Many people are unaware of the significant link between sleep quality and atrial fibrillation. Dr. Michael Ghannam, an electrophysiologist at the University of Michigan Health, emphasizes that poor sleep, often resulting from conditions like sleep apnea, is a common trigger for Afib episodes.

How much can sleep issues impact Afib risk? Research indicates that even minor disruptions in sleep quality and duration can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation by up to 18%. Moreover, individuals suffering from insomnia face an even higher risk, with up to a 40% increased likelihood of developing Afib.

Addressing Sleep Issues to Manage Afib

Given the strong correlation between sleep problems and Afib, what steps can patients take? Dr. Ghannam recommends a proactive approach:

1. Consult a sleep specialist for a formal evaluation
2. Undergo a sleep study if recommended
3. If diagnosed with sleep apnea, pursue appropriate treatment

By addressing underlying sleep disorders, patients may significantly reduce their risk of Afib episodes and improve overall heart health.

Alcohol Consumption and Atrial Fibrillation: A Risky Relationship

Alcohol consumption, particularly binge drinking, poses a significant risk for individuals prone to atrial fibrillation. How does alcohol affect the heart in relation to Afib? There are two primary mechanisms:

1. Weakening of the heart muscle: Excessive alcohol intake can diminish the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively throughout the body, making it more susceptible to Afib episodes.
2. Dehydration: Alcohol is a diuretic, which can lead to dehydration – another known trigger for Afib.

Given these risks, individuals with Afib or those at risk for the condition should carefully monitor their alcohol intake. Moderation is key, and in some cases, complete abstinence may be recommended by healthcare providers.

Caffeine and Afib: Separating Fact from Fiction

Caffeine, a powerful stimulant found in coffee, tea, and many energy drinks, has long been suspected as a potential trigger for atrial fibrillation. However, recent clinical studies have challenged this assumption. What does the current research say about caffeine and Afib?

According to Dr. Ghannam, for most patients, moderate caffeine consumption is unlikely to trigger an episode of atrial fibrillation. Multiple clinical studies indicate that caffeine has minimal to no impact on Afib in many individuals.

Individualized Approach to Caffeine Consumption

While the general consensus suggests that moderate caffeine intake is safe for most Afib patients, it’s crucial to recognize that individual responses may vary. Some people might be more sensitive to caffeine’s effects on heart rhythm. Therefore, patients should monitor their own reactions and consult with their healthcare providers to determine the most appropriate approach to caffeine consumption.

Exercise and Atrial Fibrillation: Finding the Right Balance

Physical activity is generally beneficial for heart health, but for individuals with atrial fibrillation, the relationship between exercise and Afib episodes can be complex. How does exercise impact those with Afib?

Dr. Ghannam notes that Afib events are more likely to occur during extreme levels of exercise or when exercising in a dehydrated state. The increased heart rate during physical activity can potentially trigger an episode in some Afib patients.

Guidelines for Safe Exercise with Afib

To maintain cardiovascular health while minimizing Afib risks, consider the following recommendations:

• Start with low-intensity exercises and gradually increase intensity
• Stay well-hydrated before, during, and after exercise
• Avoid extreme or prolonged high-intensity workouts
• Monitor your heart rate and be aware of any irregularities
• Consult with your cardiologist to develop a personalized exercise plan

By following these guidelines, many Afib patients can enjoy the benefits of regular physical activity while minimizing the risk of triggering episodes.

Dehydration: A Silent Trigger for Atrial Fibrillation

Dehydration emerges as a significant and often overlooked trigger for atrial fibrillation. Why is proper hydration so crucial for Afib patients? The body’s fluid balance plays a vital role in maintaining normal heart rhythm. When dehydrated, the heart has to work harder to pump blood, potentially leading to irregular heartbeats.

Several factors can contribute to dehydration in Afib patients:

• Insufficient water intake
• Excessive consumption of diuretics like caffeine and alcohol
• Intense physical activity without proper fluid replacement
• Certain medications that increase fluid loss

Strategies for Maintaining Proper Hydration

To reduce the risk of Afib episodes triggered by dehydration, consider implementing these hydration strategies:

1. Drink water consistently throughout the day
2. Monitor urine color as an indicator of hydration status
3. Increase fluid intake during hot weather or physical activity
4. Limit consumption of dehydrating beverages like alcohol and caffeinated drinks
5. Consume water-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables

By prioritizing hydration, Afib patients can significantly reduce their risk of dehydration-induced episodes and promote overall heart health.

Stress and Atrial Fibrillation: The Mind-Heart Connection

Stress, in its various forms, can be a potent trigger for atrial fibrillation episodes. How does stress impact the heart and contribute to Afib? The relationship between stress and Afib is multifaceted:

1. Hormonal changes: Stress triggers the release of hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which can affect heart rhythm.
2. Indirect behaviors: Stressed individuals may be more likely to engage in habits that exacerbate Afib, such as poor sleep, increased caffeine or alcohol consumption, and irregular eating patterns.
3. Physiological responses: Stress can lead to increased blood pressure and heart rate, potentially triggering Afib in susceptible individuals.

Effective Stress Management Techniques for Afib Patients

Given the significant impact of stress on Afib, what strategies can patients employ to manage stress effectively? Consider incorporating these stress-reduction techniques into your daily routine:

• Mindfulness meditation or deep breathing exercises
• Regular physical activity, as approved by your healthcare provider
• Adequate sleep and consistent sleep schedules
• Time management and prioritization of tasks
• Seeking support from friends, family, or professional counselors
• Engaging in hobbies or activities that promote relaxation

By actively managing stress levels, Afib patients may reduce the frequency and severity of stress-induced episodes, contributing to better overall heart health and quality of life.

Large Meals and Atrial Fibrillation: The Digestive System’s Influence on Heart Rhythm

The connection between large meals and atrial fibrillation might seem surprising, but it’s a well-documented phenomenon. How can eating a big meal potentially trigger an Afib episode? The mechanism involves the complex relationship between the digestive system and the heart:

1. Vagus nerve stimulation: Consuming a large meal can cause gastrointestinal distress, which stimulates the vagus nerve. This nerve connects the gut, brain, and heart, and its activation can potentially trigger an Afib event.
2. Blood flow redistribution: After a large meal, blood flow increases to the digestive system, potentially affecting the heart’s rhythm.
3. Hormonal changes: Digestion of a large meal can lead to the release of various hormones that may influence heart rate and rhythm.

Dietary Strategies to Minimize Afib Risk

To reduce the likelihood of meal-induced Afib episodes, consider implementing these dietary approaches:

• Eat smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day
• Avoid overeating, especially close to bedtime
• Choose easily digestible foods to minimize gastrointestinal stress
• Stay hydrated during and after meals
• Be mindful of potential food triggers specific to your condition

By adopting these dietary habits, Afib patients may reduce the occurrence of meal-related episodes and improve overall digestive and heart health.

Personalized Approach to Afib Management: Identifying and Avoiding Triggers

Given the diverse range of potential triggers for atrial fibrillation, a personalized approach to management is crucial. How can Afib patients effectively identify and avoid their specific triggers? Dr. Ghannam recommends the following strategies:

1. Maintain a symptom log: Keep detailed records of Afib episodes, noting potential triggers, time of day, and any preceding activities or consumption.
2. Utilize wearable technology: Modern devices can help monitor heart rhythm and provide more accurate data on potential triggers.
3. Regular consultations: Work closely with your healthcare provider to analyze patterns and adjust management strategies as needed.
4. Gradual lifestyle modifications: Implement changes one at a time to better identify their impact on Afib frequency.

Comprehensive Afib Treatment Options

While identifying and avoiding triggers is crucial, what treatment options are available for managing atrial fibrillation? Dr. Ghannam outlines several approaches:

• Lifestyle changes: Often the first line of defense, involving diet, exercise, and stress management modifications.
• Medications: Various drugs can help control heart rhythm or reduce the risk of complications.
• Ablation procedures: These use radiofrequency energy to target and stop the ‘short circuits’ triggering Afib.
• Individualized treatment plans: Tailored to each patient’s specific needs, preferences, and overall health status.

By combining trigger avoidance with appropriate medical interventions, many Afib patients can successfully manage their condition and maintain a good quality of life.

The Importance of a Heart-Healthy Lifestyle in Afib Management

While specific triggers vary among individuals with atrial fibrillation, maintaining a heart-healthy lifestyle remains universally beneficial. What general recommendations does Dr. Ghannam offer for Afib patients? His advice encompasses several key areas:

1. Limit alcohol consumption: Reduce or eliminate alcohol intake to minimize its impact on heart rhythm.
2. Quit smoking: Smoking cessation is crucial for overall cardiovascular health and Afib management.
3. Adopt a healthy diet: Focus on a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.
4. Regular exercise: Engage in appropriate physical activity as recommended by your healthcare provider.
5. Stress management: Implement stress-reduction techniques to minimize this common Afib trigger.
6. Adequate sleep: Prioritize good sleep hygiene and address any underlying sleep disorders.
7. Stay hydrated: Maintain proper hydration to support overall heart health and reduce Afib risk.

The Role of Ongoing Monitoring and Adjustment

Managing atrial fibrillation is an ongoing process that requires vigilance and adaptability. How can patients ensure they’re staying on top of their condition? Consider these strategies:

• Regular check-ups: Maintain scheduled appointments with your cardiologist or electrophysiologist.
• Medication management: Stay consistent with prescribed medications and report any side effects promptly.
• Continuous learning: Stay informed about new developments in Afib management and treatment options.
• Support networks: Engage with support groups or online communities for shared experiences and advice.
• Open communication: Maintain open dialogue with your healthcare team about any changes in symptoms or concerns.

By adopting a proactive approach to Afib management, patients can work effectively with their healthcare providers to minimize episodes, reduce complication risks, and improve their overall quality of life.

7 common Afib triggers that may surprise you

Everyone knows the benefits of a good night’s sleep — and the downfalls of not getting enough.

But did you know that poor sleep quality is one of the many triggers of a heart rhythm condition known as atrial fibrillation?

According to University of Michigan Health electrophysiologist Michael Ghannam, M.D., many of his patients aren’t aware of the connection between atrial fibrillation and poor sleep, often caused by conditions such as sleep apnea.

Atrial fibrillation, or Afib, is one of the most common types of heart rhythm conditions. During Afib, the top chambers of the heart beat in an irregular rhythm, out of sync with the heart’s lower chambers. While some individuals experience no symptoms at all, others my experience a fluttering or pounding heartbeat along with chest pain, weakness, fatigue, dizziness and shortness of breath. Afib can also lead to stroke.

Afib has a variety of causes, including:

7 common Afib triggers

“But poor sleep is just one of many triggers for Afib,” said Ghannam, noting alcohol, excessive exercise, dehydration, stress and consuming large meals as some of the more common ones. “It just depends on the individual and his or her experience.”

1. Sleep issues

Poor quality sleep, often caused by a condition known as sleep apnea, can result episodes of atrial fibrillation. Even small interruptions in an individual’s sleep quality and duration can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation by as much as 18%, and those who experience insomnia are up to 40% more likely to develop Afib.

“I recommend my patients see a sleep specialist for a formal evaluation to determine if they need a sleep study,” said Ghannam. “If they’re diagnosed with sleep apnea, they are highly encouraged to get it treated.”

2. Alcohol

Consuming alcohol, especially binge drinking, can weaken the heart muscle, making it more difficult to pump blood to the rest of the body. This, in turn, makes the heart more susceptible to episodes of Afib. Alcohol consumption can also result in dehydration, another common trigger for Afib.

3. Caffeine

As a powerful stimulant, caffeine has been identified as an Afib trigger for some individuals. However, several clinical studies indicate caffeine has no, or minimal, impact on those with Afib.

“For most patients, a small amount of caffeine is not going to trigger an episode of atrial fibrillation,” said Ghannam.

4. Excessive exercise

Working out makes the heart beat faster, so for some Afib patients, a quick burst of exercise is capable of triggering an episode. Overall, says Ghannam, Afib events are likely to happen during extreme levels of exercise or exercising when you’re dehydrated.

5. Dehydration

Whether from consuming excess caffeine or alcohol or a lack of water, dehydration is a very common trigger for atrial fibrillation. Caffeine and alcohol are powerful diuretics, which means if a person doesn’t drink enough supplemental water, they can become dehydrated, which can lead to episodes of atrial fibrillation.

6. Stress

Any type of stress can cause episodes of atrial fibrillation. Periods of stress can result in the release of stress-related hormones that can trigger Afib. Furthermore, individuals under stress may tend to have sleep issues, consume more caffeine or drink more alcohol – habits that together can lead to an Afib event.

7. Large meals

For some individuals, consuming a large meal can cause gastrointestinal problems. These, in turn, can stimulate the vagus nerve, which connects the gut, brain and heart. A spike in the vagus nerve from eating a large meal can spark an Afib event. Research shows that when gastrointestinal issues resolve, Afib episodes typically subside.

No matter what triggers the condition, treatment for atrial fibrillation depends on a patient’s preference, says Ghannam.

“We always encourage lifestyle changes, and there are medications to control the heart rhythm or ablation procedures that use radiofrequency energy to stop the ‘short circuits’ that are triggering Afib. We discuss all options with our patients.

“If we can identify a patient with Afib, we can do what it takes to help keep them in the right heart rhythm. We can manage their condition.”

Avoiding Afib triggers

Because Afib triggers are so nuanced, Ghannam recommends his patients be vigilant about their symptoms.

“We tell our patient’s that it’s up to them to identify what triggers their atrial fibrillation. We encourage them to keep a symptom log to help them keep track.” There’s also wearable technology that helps monitor triggers with more accuracy as patients may forget exactly what caused a recent heart rhythm issue, he says.

Despite the many things that might lead to an Afib episode, Ghannam’s advice to patients is consistent: “Adhere to a heart healthy lifestyle, including limited alcohol, no smoking, a healthy diet and well-controlled blood pressure, diabetes and weight management.”

And, of course, get good sleep to protect your heart not only from Afib but from other cardiovascular issues associated with poor sleep hygiene. Overall, Ghannam says, sleep quality is important, along with a heart healthy lifestyle, which can’t be overestimated. “It’s all wrapped together.”

More Articles About:

Heart Health

Cardiovascular: Diagnostics & Procedures

Atrial Fibrillation (Afib)

Cardiovascular: Preventive Cardiology

Cardiovascular: Diseases & Conditions

5 Surprising Triggers for Afib

From its triggers to its symptoms, atrial fibrillation, or afib, can be unpredictable.

Afib is a type of heart rhythm disorder that starts in the upper chambers of your heart, known as the atria. “With afib, the top of the heart quivers instead of contracting. As a result, blood clots can collect, which puts people at increased risk for stroke,” says Corrine Jurgens, PhD, associate professor at the Connell School of Nursing at Boston College and spokesperson for the American Heart Association. The good news is that there are ways to prevent it.

“Many patients with atrial fib don’t have symptoms,” Dr. Jurgens says. Just as you can have atrial fibrillation without visible symptoms, you can experience an attack of atrial fibrillation without a trigger. But most people are able to identify at least some of their afib triggers, and this knowledge can help decrease the frequency of attacks and lower your risk for stroke.

Which afib triggers should be on your radar? Here are five of the lesser-known triggers that can be harmful to your heart.

1. Drinking Any Amount of Alcohol

Old rule: If you have afib, it’s okay to drink, as long as it’s in moderation. New rule: Any amount of alcohol can increase the risk of an afib episode. A study published in Novembe 2021 in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that the risk of an afib episode was 2 times higher after one alcoholic drink and greater than 3 times higher after at least two drinks four hours after consuming an alcoholic beverage. “If you want to minimize afib recurrences, zero alcohol is probably best,” says Jim Cheung, MD, chair of the American College of Cardiology Electrophysiology Council and professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. “But, as in all things in life, you have to balance things with whatever pleasure you derive from having the occasional drink or two.”

2. Stressing Out

“It’s difficult to prove an association between afib triggers and stress, but there have been a number of studies linking practicing yoga with reducing afib occurrences,” Dr. Cheung says. These studies suggest that reducing stress (with yoga) may help improve afib symptoms. A review published in February 2021 in the International Journal of Yoga, for example, in which study authors reviewed six studies involving 231 participants, found that yoga was effective in reducing the number of afib episodes as recorded by patients themselves and on heart monitors before practicing yoga and afterward. Two of the six studies reported less depression and anxiety after the yoga phase, compared with the groups who didn’t practice yoga. In the review, participants practiced yoga 45 to 60 minutes for one to six days per week, for two to three months. Pranayama, a deep breathing technique, was the most common form of yoga practiced in all the studies.

A study published in August 2022 in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology suggested that afib may cause stress and, likewise, stress can cause afib. The study authors recommend that doctors focus on the impact a heart-rhythm disorder may have on person’s mental health, rather than just the physical symptoms alone. When counseling people with afib, study authors recommend mentioning treatments to reduce stress, such as antidepressant therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and yoga.

3. Smoking Marijuana

While marijuana or cannabis is widely used around the world, there is limited knowledge about its safety in people with afib. But studies are starting to reveal compelling evidence. In a study published in September 2021 in Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology, researchers tracked hospital admissions for people with afib and cannabis use disorder (CUD), in which someone has constant cravings for cannabis and can’t stop using it to the point that it interferes with daily life. They found that from 2008 to 2018, people hospitalized for afib who also had CUD more than doubled — from 0.3 percent to 1.3 percent. On average, the hospitalized patients were 52 years old. “Cannabis can trigger symptoms in people with preexisting heart disease like afib,” says Jurgens.

4. Cutting Down on Healthy Carbs

Can a diet low in carbs like grains, fruits, and veggies trigger afib episodes? A study published in April 2019 in the Journal of the American Heart Association provides food for thought. The research, which tracked the diets of nearly 14,000 people for roughly 22 years, found that low-carb diets were linked to an increased risk of afib incidents. The relationship between a low-carb diet and heart disease risk is controversial, but researchers speculate that skimping on healthy carbs, such as fruits, vegetables, and grains, and eating refined carbs such as certain breads and crackers may increase inflammation and oxidative stress (when oxygen-containing molecules outnumber the antioxidants in the body). Both cellular processes may pave the way for afib.

As far as beverages go, on the other hand, if you enjoy a cup of java, you’re in luck. Historically, people with afib have been warned about the potential harm of drinking caffeine. But a study published in August 2019 in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that participants who drank one to three cups of coffee per day had a lower risk of afib. “Caffeine has been found to be protective against afib, which is a good thing because I love my two cups of coffee in the morning,” Jurgens says.

5. Not Getting Enough Sleep

“Sleep apnea has clearly been linked to afib,” says Cheung. The sleep disorder can cause changes in heart function and structure, including enlarging the atria, one of the heart’s chambers, which may make you more susceptible to afib. “If we put patients with afib and sleep apnea on a CPAP machine, it can reduce the diameter of their atria and things can improve,” Jurgens says. CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) is a machine that uses mild air pressure to keep airways open while you’re sleeping.

But even if you’re routinely having trouble sleeping well, it can up your afib risk. A study published in September 2021 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology involving over 400,000 participants in the UK Biobank, a large-scale database of health and genetic information, found that roughy 86,000 people who had a sleep score of 5 (a healthy sleep pattern) had a lower risk of developing afib, compared with people who had frequent bouts of insomnia, snoring, and daytime sleepiness. Study participants were asked to rate their sleep patterns on a scale from 1 to 4 or greater, with 4 or greater indicating the healthiest sleep pattern, meaning generally free of snoring, insomnia, and daytime sleepiness, and who slept seven to eight hours each night.

“In medicine, a lot of our work is focused on medications and surgical procedures, but it’s important to focus on lifestyle factors for atrial fibrillation,” Cheung says. “You want to make sure you get adequate sleep, exercise regularly, and lose weight if you need to.” According to the American Heart Association, those lifestyle strategies, as well as not smoking, eating a heart-healthy diet, managing blood pressure, and controlling cholesterol have been shown to prevent afib and its complications.

Detecting Afib With the Apple Watch

Could you have afib and not know it? It’s possible. “A significant proportion of people with afib don’t have symptoms. But with the advent of smartphones and wearable devices, we are finding increasing rates of afib being detected,” Cheung notes. Devices using the latest Apple WatchOS 9, which has an FDA-approved afib History feature, can estimate how frequently a person shows signs of an irregular and rapid heartbeat.  But it’s important to note that some changes in heart rhythm are normal. “The latest version of the Apple Watch features a rhythm strip you can bring to your doctor, which can take some of the guesswork out of whether you actually have afib,” Jurgens says.

Additional reporting by Sandra Gordon.

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story from RimWorld – Games on DTF

How to survive on an alien planet if you don’t know how to do anything and suffer from mental disorders.

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RimWorld is sometimes called a simplified analog of Dwarf Fortress – here you don’t have to put up with the lack of graphics and a complex interface and memorize a geology textbook, but the game about space settlers generates stories that are not so exciting.

According to the plot, a passenger space ship crashes and three escape pods with passengers land on the surface of the planet, and together they have to build a prosperous colony. Each of them has its own vices, weaknesses, virtues, health problems, skills and inclinations. Control in RimWorld is indirect – you can only give instructions to colonists during combat – so most of the time the characters are left to their own devices and act in accordance with their procedurally generated characters.

After five years in “Early Access”, the game is finally getting close to a full release, and I decided to go back and check on how the local colonists are doing. To make the game a little more interesting than usual, on my next trip to the stars, I decided not to take a balanced team of professionals complementing each other, but three of the strangest characters from those that the procedural generation system would offer me.

sociopath clone

My first colonist was called Dan, and he was a clone – biologically he was 37 years old, and he spent another 450 in cryogenic sleep. Dan was grown in a test tube, and all his adult life he worked on the same “farm”, growing other clones. Then he managed to escape – apparently not without difficulty, judging by the trace of a bullet wound on his right leg.

Due to his specific background, Dan was not adapted to almost any job – it was better not to let him go to construction, or to the stove, or to weapons. For some reason, he didn’t even know how to put out a fire. Dan roughly imagined how to plant potatoes or corn, but he did it very badly, and he was not going to learn. The five-hundred-year-old clone was attracted to high matters – science and creativity – plus he had a good tongue. His last quality, theoretically, could benefit the colony – he could maintain the atmosphere in the team, cheer up his comrades in difficult times and become the unspoken leader of the team. But here, of course, it was not without problems.

It’s hard to say which was more influential – a life spent on a clone farm or 450 years in cryogenic sleep – but the unfortunate Dan suffered from a whole range of mental disorders. He was a pronounced sociopath and neurotic. Firstly, he did not need communication at all, and resorted to it only when circumstances compelled him. Secondly, he was unfamiliar with the word “empathy” – Dan did not care about the life and health of those around him in principle. Thirdly, any little thing could piss him off and make him hysterical.

Finally, as icing on the cake, Dan was a pathological sexist and misogynist – he literally couldn’t stand the opposite sex. Obviously, only the most friendly and balanced neighbors could get along with such a “patient”.

This was not our case.

Veterinary Masochist

As a child, Sly Schafer had a certain “tragic event”, which he prefers not to remember. Throughout his childhood and adolescence, he refused to talk to adults, preferring to communicate with pets, and then entered the veterinarian. If the sociopath Danny did not need communication, but was an excellent speaker and manipulator, then Sly’s socialization was completely disturbed: he did not know how to carry on a conversation at all.

Sly did not possess any particularly useful skills either: leading the life of a recluse, he learned to make objects and shoot from firearms – the latter leads to certain thoughts – but he did both very badly. But he was a world-famous expert on animals – nothing else in this life interested him at all.

Sly was very intelligent and could quickly learn new skills when needed, but he sometimes behaved “eccentrically” and was also an inveterate masochist. Basically, it could have been worse.

Nudist Super Soldier

54-year-old Afiba Dafoe, apparently, had some kind of paranormal abilities. Most of her life, Miss Dafoe, who was then called “experiment 11529914”, spent within four walls – experiments were performed on her. She never saw the experimenters themselves – she only heard a voice that communicated with her through the speakers. The owner of the voice called herself “Mother”.

At some point, “Mother” unexpectedly opened the doors of the laboratory and released Afiba into the big world, specifying that this would be the “final test” and that she would continue to watch her. Whatever the plan of the mysterious “experimenters” was, one thing could be said with certainty: Miss Dafoe was absolutely not adapted to life in the big world.

If Dan and Sly struggled with tasks like building or gardening, but they had a chance to learn all this with enough free time, then Miss Dafoe, who spent her whole life locked up, was basically not capable of such a thing. She couldn’t even go to pick berries or give medicine to a sick person. The only thing is that for some reason she knew how to cook – at least she knew how to turn on the stove, unlike her two brothers in misfortune.

However, despite her relative uselessness in everyday life, Miss Dafoe had two trump cards up her sleeve. She was a real genius, either because of her superpowers or because of decades of never-ending intelligence tests. In just a few days, she could figure out how to build a hydroponic farm or even a rifle from improvised materials. Plus, the 54-year-old victim of the experiments was a master of hand-to-hand combat and a real killer – she could fill up any wild beast with her bare hands. This gave the colony at least some chance of survival – neither the neurotic clone nor the sociophobic veterinarian was completely unable to defend themselves.

Miss Dafoe was also a “nudist” – she did not like clothes very much and tried to get rid of them at the first opportunity. However, in comparison with the psychological problems of Dan and Sly, this tendency of hers looks like something completely insignificant.

Adventure Begins

So, the ship crashed, and three capsules with colonists ended up on an unfamiliar planet. The Dream Team was complete.

Seeing a cave with an intricate system of entrances and exits not far from the landing site, the newly minted colonists decided to settle there – it was enough to install wooden doors in the passages to get something like the “Granite Palace” from Jules Verne’s “Mysterious Island”. They decided not to start deforestation and large-scale construction – anyway, none of them would have really succeeded in either.

In the early days, the members of the introvert team, as expected, hardly crossed paths with each other. Shy veterinarian Sly Schafer made doors, beds, chairs and a dining table – he did it very slowly and wasted a huge amount of wood, but no one was able to help him. Then he installed a windmill at the entrance to the cave, providing the colony with a small portion of electricity.

Dan, a sociopathic clone, planted rice and potatoes non-stop – he did it, again, badly, but he was the only one who, in principle, could do it. But he worked very quickly and energetically – because of his neurosis, the clone was very worried when he had unfinished business, and tried to deal with them as soon as possible. Dan did not even take breaks to rest, and even more so to communicate with his comrades – he returned from the field only late in the evening.

Afiba Dafo suffered from idleness – her talent to kill and her knowledge of quantum physics so far had nowhere to apply, and she knew nothing else. She was not averse to talking to someone, but both men were so deeply immersed in themselves that they were not up to her. Plus, do not forget that one of them was a misogynist at all, and Afiba annoyed him with her mere presence. As a result, the fifty-four-year-old victim of the experiments spent whole days killing time, dragging objects from place to place. Was it all part of Mother’s plan? Who knows.

Late in the evening, when the eternally irritated Dan was returning from the fields, everyone had dinner in silence, wished each other good night and went to bed. Everyone was relatively content with life, except that Dan was still sick of having to cross paths with Miss Dafoe, and she herself continued to suffer from the need to wear clothes.

Talented Miss Dafoe

After a few monotonous days, Afiba had two reasons for joy at once. Firstly, for the first time she tried to undress in public – and found out that both of her neighbors were so deeply immersed in their inner world that they did not pay any attention to her behavior. Soon, Miss Dafoe took the hated clothes to the pantry and did not wear them again – she did not meet any condemnation.

Secondly, the brilliant veterinarian Sly, who was forced to retrain as a very bad carpenter, finally built a “research table” for her and made the devices necessary for doing science. Inspired Afiba, yearning for mental exercises, sat down at the drawings, and in a few hours figured out how to build a forge – during this time, the misogynist Dan managed to dig up several potato bushes. Taking a break for lunch, Miss Dafoe began to develop blueprints for creating a full-fledged firearm from improvised means.

Afiba soon moved on to the study of microcircuits – according to her calculations, in a week and a half, automatic turrets and a television with a cathode-ray tube could appear in their colony – if, of course, Sly has time to dismantle the wreckage of the ship for spare parts.

Sly, meanwhile, finally built an electric stove – it was powered by a windmill. Afiba, as the only one who knew how to handle her, had to divert her attention from her breakthrough research and move to the kitchen – to the delight of the sexist Dan. The colonists might well not live to see a brighter future with turrets and drilling rigs if they continued to eat raw rice.

Soon Miss Dafoe stopped going out altogether. The cave was filled with comfort: when the sociopathic colonists returned home, they were always met by a completely naked 54-year-old woman – she either stood at the stove, preparing inedible rice and potato dishes, or sat in a corner and enthusiastically developed murder weapons.

Masochist veterinarian Sly also found a way to fulfill himself – when all the necessary furniture was finally ready, and the floor of the cave was laid with parquet, he finally had free time to communicate with animals. Sly was able to take a break from the company of people so unpleasant to him – on the very first evening he returned home in the company of a young boar, to whom he gave the nickname Misaki. The next day, a female deer named Daria joined the company of colonists.

The cave imperceptibly turned into a real menagerie – new deer and wild boars settled into it every day. Some were quickly trained by Sly to follow on his heels, while others acted independently and constantly strove to destroy provisions. Breeding artiodactyls right in the dormitory did not bring any practical benefit – the veterinarian would clearly not allow to slaughter their pets for meat. But Sly stopped being sad.

Dan, meanwhile, continued to weed the potatoes. Every day his subtle artistic nature rebelled more and more against this primitive occupation, but there was nothing to do. The colonists needed something to eat, Miss Dafoe was too busy with her microchips and Sly with her deer.

Fresh blood

Suddenly, a fourth capsule landed near the cave – in it, the colonists found another crashed. It was a seventeen-year-old girl named Kaylee. After putting her to bed and providing the medicines necessary for recovery, the inhabitants of the cave decided to find out who the hardship brought to them, what useful skills Kaylie has, and how she can be used in the household.

Of course, Kaylie didn’t really know how to do anything. As a child, she often sang songs at family celebrations, and endless praise from relatives made her narcissistic – nothing else noticeable happened in her life. The regiment of fine artistic natures, incapable of physical labor, has arrived.

Kelly also had a hypersensitivity to the paranormal, and, most interestingly, she hated men. Life in the colony promised to sparkle with new colors.

Young Kelly upset the delicate balance between three introverts, none of whom communicated with the other two – for several days I watched with rapture as this exalted person slowly drives the sexist sociopath Dan to a nervous breakdown. However, she did not have time to finish the job.

Clash of the Titans

Unexpectedly, aggressive raiders appeared in the colonists’ field of vision – Dan, Sly and Kaylee immediately ran into the cave and locked the door behind them, but they immediately realized that it was too early to worry about their lives: it was a lone bandit armed with only a knife.

The colonists didn’t even have a knife, but they did have something much more dangerous: Miss Dafoe. An elderly woman resolutely got up from the table, ran out into the yard and rushed across the enemy – in what she was.

By an amazing, almost unbelievable coincidence, the bandit who attacked the settlement was also a victim of experiments and possessed incredible hand-to-hand combat skills. The battle began to take shape not in favor of Miss Dafoe, and Sly rushed to her aid, accompanied by a whole herd of wild boars and deer. However, with a last effort of will, the brave woman knocked out her fellow super-soldier and trudged back into the cave. The bandit died on the spot.

Miss Afiba Dafoe was bleeding – the villain managed to pierce her with a knife in several places at once. She was to spend the next few days in bed under the supervision of her comrades. Breakthrough research stalled, and the colonists again had to switch to raw potatoes – Kaylie, as it turned out, cooked in such a way that it would be better not to cook at all.

Nothing particularly interesting happened over the next couple of days. Unless three tame piglets unexpectedly came across the settlement, apparently having heard about how well the boars are treated here. Sly, of course, took them under his wing – Dan now had to grow even more potatoes to feed them.

And then disaster struck.

Disaster

Hypersensitive Kayleigh had a feeling that something extremely dangerous lurked in the neighboring cave – but, for some reason, she still constantly went there and looked at the entrance for a long time. Inside, she once met giant centipedes, which are called cave beetles in the world of RimWorld, and since then she has not gone inside – apparently, the instinct of self-preservation was still not alien to her.

One fine morning, Kaylie met Sly near the sinister cave – he, as usual, was combing the map for untamed deer and wild boars – and immediately entered into a conversation with a shy veterinarian. One can only guess what they were talking about – perhaps about gender inequality – but the conversation ended with Kaylee shouting some kind of insult in his face. In response to this, Sly could not stand it and hit the girl.

A fierce fight ensued: an absolutely physically immature Sly was still slightly stronger than a seventeen-year-old girl, but the battle ended in victory for Kaylie. Perhaps it was because Sly was a masochist and took too much pleasure in pain.

Anyway, Kaylie knocked out the overly sensitive animal lover and calmly walked away, leaving him lying at the entrance to the cave. Soon Dan arrived at the scene and carried the unfortunate Sly back to the cave.

So, three of the four colonists needed medical attention – Sly and Kaylee beat each other severely, and Miss Dafoe had not yet had time to recover from stab wounds. All day Dan ran like crazy, tending to their wounds – the clone’s nerves were on edge. Evening has come – it would seem that it’s time to calm down a little by digging up potatoes. But Dan made a different decision – he resolutely went to the very mysterious cave, which for several days in a row beckoned to Kaylie.

As it turns out, when Kaylee and Sly started beating each other, Daria the deer, Misaki the boar, and a bunch of other tamed animals were grazing nearby. Hearing that their beloved master was under attack, they immediately rushed to the rescue – much like in Disney’s “Snow White” – and decided to take a short cut by running through the cave.

In the cave they were met by a whole brood of giant centipedes. Some of them were eaten right away, while other animals were injured and left to bleed – including Daria and Misaki. As it turned out, it was to help the wounded artiodactyls that the neurotic clone Dan ran through the night. Maybe Sly, who regained consciousness, asked him to do this, or maybe he himself became so attached to tame deer and wild boars that he decided to risk his life to save them. Or maybe he just didn’t want the meat to go to waste – who knows now.

Anyway, it was a very stupid act. He managed to save Daria and drag him home, but, entering the cave for the second time, he came face to face with an angry centipede. One bite was enough for Dan to lose consciousness – the monster did not finish him off, but after a few hours the clone would still have died from blood loss. The situation became critical.

It was already late at night, and Dan still did not return, and Miss Dafoe decided to go in search of him. By an effort of will, she got out of bed and limped towards the ominous cave – the bandit managed to stab her in the left leg with a knife. Soon she saw a clone bleeding among the carcasses of deer and wild boars, as well as centipedes slowly patrolling the cave. Time was running out, but Miss Dafoe could not think of any way to help her comrade out – getting into hand-to-hand combat with a brood of giant centipedes would be suicide even for her.

Suddenly, the centipedes, as if on cue, ran out of the cave and rushed to the colonists’ base, as if they had suddenly made a spontaneous decision to get rid of their neighbors once and for all. Taking advantage of this, the wounded Miss Dafoe lifted Dan onto her shoulders and dragged him to the base with the last of her strength. As it turned out, the colonists knowingly made several exits out of it at once: the centipedes guarded them at one, while Miss Dafoe decided to make her way back through the other. However, soon her strength finally left her, and the brave inventor lost consciousness.

This time, it’s time for Sly and Kaylee to be heroes: forgetting about the quarrel and the wounds inflicted on each other, they got up from their beds and ran to save their comrades – despite the fact that centipedes could go back at any moment. Curiously, Kaylee chose to carry Miss Dafoe rather than Dan: the war of the sexes was probably going on. Soon all four were at home. The centipedes waited a little longer under the door and went away.

For the next few days, all four hapless colonists spent the next few days in bed bleeding. None of them even had the strength to bring food or medicine to a neighbor. The food, by the way, ended – the one that was happily devoured by the surviving deer, wild boars and three piglets, and in order to get a new one, it was necessary to somehow bring Dan to his senses.

The heroic Miss Dafoe passed away in her sleep – apparently, at her age, such adventures do not benefit even super-soldiers. Her body continued to lie in the dormitory – no one had the strength not only to dig a grave for her, but even to take Miss Dafoe out into the street. The other three continued to lie in anticipation of death – as in the denouement of one of Quentin Tarantino’s films.

The Princess and the Beavers

Salvation came from an unexpected place — a certain girl who introduced herself as a princess burst into the settlement and declared that robbers were chasing her. Moans were heard from behind the door – she was invited inside. She once again warned that robbers were chasing her, and that they would definitely come to this settlement and try to break through. From behind the door they said they didn’t care anymore.

The princess finally brought medicine and food to the sick, after which they recovered a little. It was revealed that “Princess” was just her nickname, but her real name was Ashley. Ashley was raised to be sold for organs, but she ran away and became a traveling preacher. Her religion, by the way, condemned any violence, so in a fight with bandits, one could not count on her.

The Princess also chatted incessantly, did not really know how to do anything and was a subtle artistic nature. Everything is as usual.

“Bandits”, thank God, turned out to be one single raider armed with a spiked club. Sly unleashed his last surviving war deer and wild boar on him, and Dan and Kaylee beat him to death with their fists. This “attack” ended.

Before the unfortunate colonists had time to take a breath, a huge flock of beavers appeared on the horizon. They immediately began to destroy the trees – in the long term, this meant that in the next few years it would be possible to forget about buildings and furniture made of wood. With the last of their strength, the colonists began to destroy the beavers with a spiked club – by the end of the day, the beavers retreated, and several dozen trees were still saved.

Sly was lying in bed again – defending himself, the beaver bit his hand. It must be admitted that simply heavenly conditions were created for the masochist in the colony. The princess, horrified, was burying the corpse of some elderly nudist woman whom she did not know. The sexist Dan and the man-hater Kaylie were sitting at the table eating raw potatoes – by this point the relationship between them was so tense that a conflict or even a fight was only a matter of time. At the same time, Dan was also on the verge of a nervous breakdown after killing beavers non-stop for a whole day.

They had nothing but a modest harvest of rice and potatoes, a broken club with spikes, unfinished drawings of the brilliant Miss Dafoe, which they would now have to figure out for years, three gluttonous piglets, Daria’s wounded deer, which quietly destroyed their entire supply of medicines , a few trees that survived the invasion of beavers, and a brood of voracious centipedes nearby. And, of course, each other – four psychopaths who hate each other and are not capable of any work.

One thing was pleasing: it probably couldn’t be worse.

Winter was coming.

#rimworld #stories #long

Omega 3 1000 mg 200 caps

Omega-3 / Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to be particularly effective in lowering levels of atherogenic triglycerides in the blood, as well as “bad” LDL cholesterol.

As a result of the changes that have taken place in the diet of people of recent generations, disturbances have arisen in the regulation of many biological processes. Among them, especially serious consequences for the body are, firstly, disorders of lipid (fat) metabolism in the liver and blood plasma and, secondly, a violation of the fine mechanisms of regulation of the balance of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory substances.

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Many modern medical studies confirm that the cause of such disorders is a dietary deficiency of unsaturated fatty acids of the Omega-3 family. It has been observed that peoples who consume large amounts of common fatty foods along with marine fish oils (Marine Lipid Oil) have very low rates on the spectrum of cardiovascular diseases.

The use of Omega-3 fatty acids corrects the ratio of group 2 and group 3 prostaglandins in the human body, which restores the regulation of the inflammatory process, allergic reactions, pain syndrome, blood clotting, many functions of the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys and also nervous transmission.

The use of marine fish oil leads to the normalization of blood viscosity, and also prevents the development of thrombosis. Omega – 3 fatty acids have proven to be particularly effective in reducing the level of atherogenic triglycerides in the blood, as well as “bad” cholesterol – low density lipoproteins.

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Indications for use:

• Cardiovascular diseases (heart attack, stroke, coronary heart disease, cleaning and restoration of elasticity of sclerotic vessels, thrombophlebitis, hypertension, migraines).
• Diseases of the nervous system and brain (impaired cerebral circulation, multiple sclerosis).
• Allergic diseases.
• Omega 3 is indicated for diseases of the endocrine system (decreased function of the thyroid gland and adrenal glands, diabetes).
• Diseases of the digestive system (hepatitis, cholecystitis, gastritis).
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Contains fish (sardines, anchovies, mackerel). Vitamin E from soy.

Fish oil is a product from Peru.

The natural fish oil concentrate used in this product is manufactured under strict quality control standards. Free of potentially harmful levels of contaminants (such as mercury, heavy metals, dioxins, and other contaminants).