10 answers to questions about tears and crying
Health / / December 19, 2019
Layfhaker talks about whether to hold back the tears, and explains why we cry not only of grief but also with joy.
What are tears?
Tears - liquid that allocates sloznaya iron. They almost completely (99%) of water. Other - inorganic substances: sodium chloride (table salt is the basis - hence the salty taste of tears), sulphate and calcium phosphate, sodium carbonate and magnesium.
Also there are tears lysozyme - an enzyme, by which they have antibacterial properties, and oleamide, which constitutes the basis of an oily layer, which does not allow moisture to evaporate.
Why do we need the tears?
They perform several important functions. Tears supply the cornea of the eye, where there is no blood vessels, all the necessary nutrients substances purified eyeball surface from foreign particles and maintain normal body work view.
Tears evolved to hydrate and protect the eyes, called reflex or physiological. And those that are associated with all experiences are considered emotional. Scientists have long established a link between neural sloznymi glands and the brain areas responsible for emotions.
So crying - it's part of what makes us human.
And animals cry?
Animals are allocated precisely the physiological tears. It is believed that emotions are close to men, our brothers smaller may not experience. So, they do not cry with emotion. But the more scientists investigate this issue, the more we realize that it is not so simple.
For example, Professor Emeritus of the University of Colorado Bekoff Marc (Marc Bekoff) mentionedDo Elephants Weep as an Emotional Response? about scientific studies that prove that elephants and other animals can cry in response to emotional turmoil. According to him, this issue requires further study.
But what about the crocodile tears?
Crocodiles really crying during a meal. But not because they feel sorry for the alleged victim. Tears stand out because of excess body alligators salts. A food absorption process of mechanically activates selection.
Similarly, crying turtles, iguanas, sea snakes.
Is it true that the tears are different?
American biochemist William Frey (William Frey) found that emotional tears are different in chemical composition from the physiological, caused by irritation from caustic vapors of onion. It turned out that the former is larger proteins. Frey suggested that in this way the body gets rid of chemicals, isolation of which provoked stress.
That is why the emotional tears more viscous, they are more visible on the skin. They may also contain stress hormones and other substances present in the body in excess, such as manganese.
That is crying beneficial?
Studies show that people suffering from stomach ulcers and colitis (typical of diseases caused by stress), usually are crying less often than people without such disorders.
Ed Vingerhots (Ad Vingerhoets), professor at the University of Tilburg, after a long study of the issue concluded that immediately after crying many people feel worse. But after half an hour of their emotional state stabilizes. And then it becomes better than it was before they started to cry.
Bilsma Lauren (Lauren M. Bylsma) from the University of Pittsburgh foundWhen is crying cathartic?: An international study.That people are more likely to feel better after crying, which was caused by positive emotions, tears, or if something helped to understand and realize.
If the tears caused by suffering or human ashamed of what he was crying, he will feel worse.
the state also will depend on the Western witnesses. Those who shed tears alone or in the presence of one person (especially if it was a close one who is ready to support), feel better than those who cried in front of two or more people.
Why do we cry not only of grief but also with joy?
Crying - a protective reaction of the body in response to stress. And it can be caused by both negative and positive emotions. No matter what kind of feelings aroused crying. Tears help the body to recover more quickly from stress.
And what has caused that women cry more often than men?
Basically a common stereotype that crying - it is a sign of weakness. And because men just try not to show tears in public. Surveys show that in fact they cry more often than you think. Just without witnesses.
Absence of restrictions related with tears at the fairer sex may be one of the reasons that women live longer than men on average. More crying - less stress.
Scientists suggest that the frequency of weeping affect hormones. Testosterone can suppress the crying and the female hormone prolactin, most likely, it provokes.
And one more important caveat. Diana Van Hämerten (Dianne Van Hemert), Ph.D., senior researcher Netherlands Organization for Applied research has found that residents of wealthier countries may cry more often, because it is not condemned society.
Whether people meet who do not cry?
Lacrimal gland of a healthy person usually produce from 0.5 to 1 milliliter of tears per day (for the year is on average half a glass). Stress their number increases, and some diseases is reduced.
For example, dry eye is characteristic of Sjogren's syndrome - an autoimmune disease. Scientists have found that these patients not only suffer from the discomfort associated with the eyes. They are often difficult to understand and express their feelings and emotions, resolve conflicts, to establish contact with others. This proves once again the importance of tears and crying.
What if you can not cry, and the like?
- Try to cope with the breath. Take a few deep breaths through your nose and slowly exhale through your mouth.
- To keep the tears, you can quickly blink.
- Try through the power of a smile, looking at himself in the mirror.
- Take a few sips of cold water, wash, apply ice to the temples and forehead.
- Try to turn your attention to something neutral, start to look at an object, remember the multiplication table or the alphabet.
- Pinch yourself, bit her lip, but without fanaticism, not to cry out in pain.
- Make a small charge: wave your hands, roll the head, repeatedly press or squat, wait a couple of minutes lath.
- If tears stifled, try to shout. Usually after that emotional stress decreases rapidly.
If possible, it is better not to restrain her tears. Do not rub your eyes, do not cry face in the pillow, do a cold compress to the eyelids. All of this will quickly put himself in order.