Comments on: Reflections on Being Sick http://blog.allencheng.com/2009/10/reflections-on-being-sick/ Learn Medicine with a Medical Student Sun, 13 Dec 2009 11:16:29 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Allen http://blog.allencheng.com/2009/10/reflections-on-being-sick/comment-page-1/#comment-43 Allen Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:41:27 +0000 http://blog.allencheng.com/?p=78#comment-43 Sometimes a good cough often helps rid the itch (just like scratching your skin). The mechanism for this has been a mystery for a while, but recent research suggests that it may be rooted in your spinal cord. Basically the itch sensation excites specific neurons, and scratching calms that excitement down. A lay-article here: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1889750,00.html Yet at other times scratching doesn't rid the itch. In a rash, for instance, scratching relives it temporarily but the itch quickly returns, likely because the itch is a secondary result of inflammation in the rash irritating the nerves. It may be different in other situations - this is a complex question indeed! Sometimes a good cough often helps rid the itch (just like scratching your skin). The mechanism for this has been a mystery for a while, but recent research suggests that it may be rooted in your spinal cord. Basically the itch sensation excites specific neurons, and scratching calms that excitement down.

A lay-article here: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1889750,00.html

Yet at other times scratching doesn’t rid the itch. In a rash, for instance, scratching relives it temporarily but the itch quickly returns, likely because the itch is a secondary result of inflammation in the rash irritating the nerves. It may be different in other situations – this is a complex question indeed!

]]> By: Itchy throat sympathizer http://blog.allencheng.com/2009/10/reflections-on-being-sick/comment-page-1/#comment-37 Itchy throat sympathizer Tue, 20 Oct 2009 05:31:49 +0000 http://blog.allencheng.com/?p=78#comment-37 Does coughing actually help when you have an itchy throat? Does coughing actually help when you have an itchy throat?

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