Somethings You Don't Know About Mosquitoes

Does wearing perfume attract mosquitoes? How about scarfing sweets? As the mosquito population continues to soar—threatening to ruin your hike, camping trip, or poolside cocktails—myths about the little buggers abound. One thing’s for sure: Mosquitoes carrying viral diseases, including West Nile virus, malaria, dengue fever and chikungunya, are more widespread than ever, and are poised to keep spreading, according to recent findings from Oxford University.

Getting your story straight is the first step toward staying safe (and picnicking in peace). Separate fact from fiction with the help of entomologist Joseph Conlon, technical advisor at the American Mosquito Control Association. 

True or False: All mosquitoes will bite you.

False. It’s only the female mosquito that bites, because she needs blood for protein and energy to produce eggs. Males feed on flower nectar. Then there are mosquitoes that don’t bite humans at all—they feed primarily on reptiles or birds and other mammals. Unfortunately, it’s just about impossible to ID the gender of a mosquito when it’s buzzing around your ear, and the ones that don’t bite humans have no easily identifiable traits, so go ahead and swat liberally.

True or False: Mosquitoes are attracted to perfume.

True. Mosquitoes do feed on flower nectar for their sugar nutrients, Conlon says, so it’s possible that wearing predominantly floral perfumes could put you at greater risk of being bitten. However, the mosquitoes that bite people are seeking a blood meal, so the aromas of rose, lavender, gardenia and other nectar-bearing blooms are unlikely to be a lure. If you choose to forego a floral fragrance, you’re probably still safe to spritz on other scents, such as sandalwood, patchouli, star anise, and cinnamon. 

True or False: Mosquitoes are more drawn to people who eat sweets.

False. It’s true that some people are inherently more attractive to mosquitoes than others , so you might assume that their blood is somehow tastier. But in fact, it’s more about how they smell, which is set by their DNA rather than by their dinner menu. “Attraction is determined by the whole panoply of odors someone exudes rather than one single factor,” Conlon says. “Just as dogs detect individual scents, so can mosquitoes.” The bugs are drawn to smells emanating from skin, warmth, moisture, lactic acid, carbon dioxide, and possibly other factors that are yet to be identified.

True or False: Mosquitoes Prefer Certain Blood types.

True. Studies show that mosquitoes like to feast on Type O blood, but only the portion of O’s who are “secretors,” meaning their bodies infuse blood-type-specific molecules into their saliva, sweat and mucus. Some 80% of the general population, across all blood types, are secretors, but mosquitoes seem to gravitate towards those O secretors in particular. 

True or False: Pregnancy Ups Your Chances of Getting Devoured.

True. A study published in 2000 found that mosquitoes tend to bite expectant moms more. You might think it’s because blood volume increases some 30 to 50% during pregnancy, but it’s more likely that you’re simply producing more heat and carbon dioxide, Conlon explains, which are key bait for mosquitoes. That’s also why mosquitoes are drawn to bigger people—because they give off more body heat, breathe out more carbon dioxide, and have more body to bite.

For more health info and promotions, please follow us on Facebook- Wellness Lab

Download Wellness Lab Mobile App now for more promotions 

If you like this article, you can share this to your friends and families , together we share the health information and the taste of a healthy life!

Why You Have Bad Breath—and How to Get Rid of It

Bad breath stinks, but what can you actually do about it? Chew some gum? Suck on a mint? These strategies offer some benefit, but they’re short lasting.  And brushing your teeth? Very important, but not that effective as a treatment by itself, according to a scientific review by researchers in Brazil. 

Bad breath stinks

You need a Complete Strategy. 

So let’s start with the root cause of bad breath: volatile sulfur compounds (VSC). While they sound more like fumes you’d emit from your butt than your mouth, scientists say these substrates are what typically lead to halitosis. 

Smell your breath

Volatile sulfur compounds are thought to arise from the interaction of oral bacteria that occurs in conditions like gum disease and infections, and within pockets and crevices of your teeth. 

Decaying tooth

But your tongue is the real problem, according to a report in theJournal of Clinical Periodontology. Turns out, its large surface area—with all the tiny cracks and grooves—allow it to harbor lots of the microorganisms that lead to volatile sulfur compounds.

In fact, in separate studies, scientists in Japan found that “tongue coating” had the greatest impact on producing volatile sulfur compounds in people’s mouths. This would also help explain why your breath is most likely to stink in the morning, since the compounds build up over night. 

Smoking can give a really bad breath

1. Clean Your Tongue. 

This helps disturb and remove the bacteria that create volatile sulfur compounds, and leads to a reduction in their odor. You can do this by literally brushing your tongue, but an even better approach is to scrape your tongue from back to front with a plastic tongue scraper. 

Man, your really need a tongue scraper

When you brush your tongue with a little toothbrush, you might just be moving smelly bacteria around to different places on your tongue. But the larger surface area and flat design of a tongue scraper allow it to carry more bacteria out of your mouth when you scrape it forward, says Denis Kinane, B.D.S., Ph.D., the dean of University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.

Look at those nasty stinky things

According to a Cochrane review of scientific literature, people who use a tongue scraper reduce volatile sulfur compounds by 42 percent, compared to 33 percent in those who brush their tongue. Plus, the effects of the tongue scraping last longer. 

A Strep Throat can cause bad breath as well

2. Brush and Floss Twice a Day. 

This isn’t a surprise, of course. You’ll remove tiny food particles and microorganisms that can lead to those volatile sulfur compounds. If you don’t floss, try it and then give the floss a sniff. Smell nasty? You’ve probably uncovered a breeding ground for unhealthy bacteria—and hopefully gained motivation to start flossing regularly. Keep in mind that gingivitis and periodontitis can lead to volatile sulfur compounds and bad breath, so regular dental checkups are a must. 

Protect your teeth

3. Keep your Mouth Well-Hydrated. 

When you experience “dry mouth,” dead cells on your tongue, gums, and cheeks might build up. Without enough saliva to wash them away, bacteria will begin to feed off the dead cells and multiply. This produces a bunch of sulfur-related molecules that trigger bad breath, Dr. Kinane says.

Drink more water

If you frequently feel like your mouth is dry, try an over-the-counter rinse like Biotene, which has been shown to help with dry mouth. If your breath really reeks and you don’t have a rinse around, simply swish your mouth out with plain water. The rinsing action will physically remove some of the stinky bacteria, says Dr. Kinane.

For more health info and promotions, please follow us on Facebook- Wellness Lab

Download Wellness Lab Mobile App now for more promotions 

If you like this article, you can share this to your friends and families , together we share the health information and the taste of a healthy life!