Here's a tip to caffeinated-beverages lovers.

People often make this mistake with coffee.. They take a cup of coffee after lunch and expect it will make them productive and concentrated immediately. That's BS. Wait for the pee.

Digestion takes ~27% of your body energy molecules [ATP], so you will anyway be sleepy.

When you ingest a cup of coffee you ingest a warm beverage. The warmth will most likely make you sleepy and the sleepiness might last 5 to 15 minutes.

Caffeine in the coffee acts as diuretic - it makes your kidney filter blood more aggresively. As a result 20-40minutes after ingestion you will want to pee.

When you want to pee it's an obvious sign the caffeine is working. Now you should be productive.

Brain [cerebrum] uses glucose molecules for energy rather than ATP, like the rest of the body does. So for the best effect:
- have lunch
- have coffee with sugar during or right after the lunch [do not drink coffee if your stomach is empty!! Ulcers, gastritis, refluxes - that's your future if you do]
- wait ~30 minutes or until you pee
- go to do your work.

This way you will not be working sleepy and your brain will have enough pure glucose to operate on [sugar is just 2x glucose molecules bound together]

I just realised that I've been experiencing a lot of stress and frustration over the last couple of months. I also realised that these feelings of dread and existential anxiety stem from my heavy use of Ubuntu. So I ended another agonizing 3 hours of trying-to-get-internet-access-again-so-I-can-get-some-fucking-work-done and managed to blow off some steam without causing too much property damage. Then I sat down and thought about it. And you know what? I hate Ubuntu.

With Window$ I can at least get some work done without having to write my own network drivers because the current ones do not function when the day of month is a prime number or some shit.

Passed my fucking Type Theory exam!
This course gave me stomach ulcers during the semester but I am done with it finally...
I just wanted to share with someone. :)

Sometimes my hatred for code is so.. overwhelming that I think I need a sabbatical or should even stop altogether.

Let's face it. All code sucks. Just on different levels.
Want to go all bare metal? Love low level bit fiddling. Well, have fun searching for concurrency, memory corruption bugs. Still feel confident? Get ulcers from large C/C++ code base already in production, where something in the shared memory, function pointer magic is not totally right?
So you strive for more clean abstractions, fancy the high level stuff? Well, can you make sense of gcc's template error messages, are you ready for the monad, leaving behind the mundane everyday programmers, who still wonders about the scope of x and xs?

Wherever you go. Isn't it a stinking shit pile of entropy, arbitrary human made conventions? You're just getting more familiar with them, so you don't question them, they become your second skin, you become proficient - congrats you're a member of the 1337.

Introduction to Vascular Health

Vascular health is essential for the proper functioning of the circulatory system, responsible for delivering oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. Healthy blood vessels help ensure effective blood flow, reducing the risk of chronic conditions like Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), Venous Disease, and complications related to End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). When blood flow is restricted or obstructed due to vascular conditions, various organs can suffer, affecting overall health and quality of life.

Vascular Health

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)
What is Peripheral Arterial Disease?

Peripheral Arterial Disease is a common circulatory problem in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the limbs. Primarily affecting the legs, PAD is usually a result of atherosclerosis, where fatty deposits build up on artery walls, obstructing blood flow.

Symptoms of PAD

Leg pain, cramping, or fatigue, particularly during walking or exercise
Numbness or weakness in the legs
Coldness in the lower leg or foot
Wounds on toes, feet, or legs that are slow to heal
Risk Factors and Prevention

Risk factors include smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity. Lifestyle changes like quitting smoking, maintaining a balanced diet, and regular exercise are crucial to preventing and managing PAD. Early diagnosis is key to reducing complications, which can include severe leg pain, limited mobility, and, in severe cases, amputation.

Treatment Options for PAD

PAD treatment options range from medication to manage blood flow to procedures like angioplasty and vascular surgery for severe cases. Lifestyle changes and consistent follow-up with healthcare providers are important for managing PAD and preventing further complications.

End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) and Dialysis
Understanding ESRD and Dialysis

End-Stage Renal Disease occurs when the kidneys lose most of their functional ability, requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant for survival. Dialysis helps eliminate waste, salt, and excess water to balance the body’s electrolytes, compensating for kidney function.

The Vascular Connection

Dialysis requires access to blood vessels, which often involves creating a fistula or graft, usually in the arm. Over time, these blood vessels can experience complications like narrowing, blockages, or infections, impacting both vascular and overall health. Monitoring and managing these issues is crucial for people undergoing dialysis to prevent severe complications.

Symptoms and Treatment

Symptoms of ESRD include fatigue, difficulty concentrating, swelling in the legs and ankles, and persistent nausea. ESRD patients must adhere to a strict treatment plan that includes dialysis, medication, and dietary changes. Managing vascular health is particularly critical for these patients due to the increased risk of vascular disease associated with kidney failure and dialysis.

Venous Disease
What is Venous Disease?

Venous Disease encompasses a range of conditions where veins, particularly in the legs, fail to function properly. Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) and varicose veins are two common types of venous disease, often resulting from faulty valves in the veins. When valves don’t close properly, blood pools in the legs, causing pain, swelling, and other symptoms.

Symptoms of Venous Disease

Swelling in the lower legs and ankles
Pain or a heavy feeling in the legs, especially after standing
Discoloration or thickening of the skin around the ankles
Visible varicose or spider veins
Risk Factors and Prevention

Risk factors include age, genetics, obesity, prolonged sitting or standing, and a sedentary lifestyle. Preventive measures include regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and wearing compression stockings for those at high risk.

Treatment Options for Venous Disease

Treatment ranges from lifestyle adjustments, compression therapy, and medications to minimally invasive procedures like sclerotherapy, laser therapy, or vein stripping for severe cases. Early diagnosis and intervention can improve symptoms and prevent complications like leg ulcers and blood clots.