Saturday, October 6, 2007

The Appendix: Researchers May Have Found Out Why We Have One

Our appendix seems to be an organ that is really only referred to when there are problems with it. It seems to have no function, yet we have one and as over 300,000 Americans who were hospitalized know, it can be deadly. So why do we even have one? Researchers at Duke University Medical School believe they have found the reason. Recently published in a scientific journal, surgeons and immunologists from Duke University have stated that the appendix actually does have a function and it has to do with germs.In our digestive systems there is a very large amount of bacteria which aids our digestive process. And supposedly there are more bacteria in our body than human cells. So what happens if we begin to lose a lot of the good bacteria which aids our digestive processes? Do we go to the store to get more? The doctor may have an answer, but our body has said something much different in our past. The appendix has the job of ‘housing’ good bacteria in the case where we may need a new batch of it in our systems. In a way, it refreshes our digestive system if the need ever came to be. However, these days the appendix is not needed as the germs that would be supplied by our appendix can easily be passed from human to human simply with our everyday contact.Going back hundreds and even thousands of years ago, the human populations on earth were not nearly as dense as they are today. Plus, epidemics such as cholera had fallen upon mankind and adding to the difficulties in producing good flora for our digestive systems. The good bacteria in our system is what helps our bodies break down and digest the foods we put into our bodies. If the good bacteria is not there then our bodies simply would not be able to complete the process of digestion as necessary. So many many years ago, humans needed a way to produce their own good bacteria for their digestive systems in order to survive. This is believed to be the reason we have an appendix. That ‘problem’ organ now seems to have an essential role in the evolution and survival of the human species. After all this information, some of you may think “I better not get that thing taken out cause you never know if and when I might just need it!” This would be a terrible choice, of course, as, again, we really do not have a need for it now. And unless the populations on earth go back to the way they were thousands of years ago, then it would be fine and urged to have the inflamed appendix removed before it potentially becomes deadly. Over 300 Americans die each year from appendicitis. So if you feel a pain down in there, then there should be no question about seeing your doctor and possibly having your appendix removed.
http://www.TheWindsorExpress.comS. Michael Windsor is currently publisher and a writer for The Windsor Express Daily, which features daily exclusive articles based on improving the little things which matter most in our daily lives. Visit us today and subscribe for free! Resources: eGadCity Travel, ShareOurArt Art/Photo/Music, TheraPeep.com, WellNETHealth Health and Lifestyle , MatchMingler Dating and Matchmaking, SquarePEAK Finance, Healing Touch, GreenAVO Food & Drink, FootYard.com Footwear, Mr Deal Presents: Vegas Vegas VEGAS!
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