Royal Security

  • Subscribe to our RSS feed.
  • Twitter
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Facebook
  • Digg

Monday, 13 August 2012

Sleepy on the road after a meal ? What exactly happened ?

Posted on 08:05 by Unknown
Each of us, the drivers, knows what it is to feel sleepy on the road after eating. Each of us knows, that it can cause [microsleeps], with possible fatal consequences. But not only microsleeps can cause an accident. While being dizzy, your reaction time goes down and braking too late is not safe at all.

So I've asked my girlfriend, a medical doctor, what exactly happens in our bodies through this time. Is the claim "all the blood from the brain goes to stomach" a myth or true ? Why is it happening and how we can prevent ? We asked also two more doctors  we know, an internist and a specialist in methabolism and consulted some books.



It is a quite complicated process, so the following lines are a version as simplified as possible.

There are two main reasons for feeling dizzy : hypoglycaemia, (the lack of carbs, sacharides) and hypotension (low blood pressure).

Postprandial hypoglycaemia (lack of carbohydrates after a meal)

The most essential things from which we gather energy are sacharides (carbs, sugars). The mechanism how we gather energy is, that our body creates insuline which converts sacharides in our cells to energy.

There are two types of sacharides : the "fast" monosacharides (the simpler ones) and the "slow" polysacharides (merged monosacharides).

The "fast" monosacharides are causing a fast insuline reaction. All carbs are are fast digested, converted into energy, just a fraction stays in the blood, so the body asks for more carbs. If it doesn't get it, the consequence is fast drop of sugar level, we get hypoglycaemic, get hungry and important for our context - sleepy.

You can get into a deadlock - a "sugar shot" causes fast insuline reaction, lots of new but short energy, than sugar level drop and sleepiness. Than you fulill your monosacharide demand and the process repeats itself.

In contrast the "slow" polysacharides are digested slower and the whole process is less intensive as you don't get an intense insuline shot. The sugar level in the blood drops slower, we get sleepy later as well as the body requires more sugar later.

This is whay all advises says not eating food containing sugar - "fast" monosacharides such as sweets, ice cream, chocolate, sweet drinks etc. Instead they recommend eating food with "slow" sacharides, such as whole grain food like whole grain bread, rice, noodles, pastries. For drinking is recommended just water.

How to find out what to eat ? The Glycemic Index (GI), known to people with diabetes or overweight, tells more. Recommended is food with low or middle GI. You can find which food it is exactly in this table or also this one.



Postprandial hypotension (low blood pressure after meal)

is the second cause for feeling dizzy after a meal. The Harvard Health Publications as well as PubMed.gov, a very trusted source, are saying, that when you eat, your digestive system needs more blood, rerouted from other parts. But in some people this mechanism doesn't work as it should, so the blood pressure drops. The result is dizziness.

So how to prevent this ? Drink water before meal. The meal shouldn't be too large. Fewer rapidly digested carbs, as described sooner. The bottom of the blood pressure drop is 30 to 60 minutes. Let drive someone else through that time or make a break.

If some of the readers can add valuable information to this, feel free to do it in the comments section.

Have a good ride.

picture credits : Rene Martinez, Countylemonade
Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to Facebook
Posted in practical | No comments
Newer Post Older Post Home

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Popular Posts

  • A 9-5 pickup
    Assuming that this is not a photoshop exercise ... src : Save Saab Museum Facebook Page edit : some other pictures of this car appeared, so ...
  • Cabrio ride hints: Transylvania
    The rented 9-5 in front of the huge Palace of Parliament. Many trips in Romania usualy start in the capital Bucharest. Mine as well. After a...
  • Headlight bulbs change
    I'm quiet in the saabism blog in the last weeks, unfortunately I have to solve important things for living, so not too much time and mot...
  • The Saab model collection
    A photo of the beautiful Saab mode collection came from Saab Suchomel in the Czech Republic. That's a true enthusiast sign. So besides ...
  • A street catch
    Sometimes there are things parking on the street where you simply have to stop, even risking a parking ticket. A Porsche 356 Speedster Conve...
  • More questions than answers at the moment
    Frozen cabrio, frozen Saab. Forever ? There was another regular Tuesdays press-conference held by the administrators. The number of interest...
  • The SAAB Suchomel meeting
    Every serious car brand fan, disregard the brand itself, knows, that their cars are a great point for making new friendships and connections...
  • SAAB Support Convoy 3rd Anniversary
    The slovak and czech (moravian) fans organised a convention for the 3rd Anniversary of SAAB Support Convoy. The place was Lednice, a beautif...
  • A wonderful SAAB story discovered
    Gene Deitch is an american animator, illustrator and film director. You can see his work in Tom & Jerry or Popeye. He's also receiv...
  • Reality check : in a search for a good 9-5
    Life circumstanes are steering me towards another Saab to the family. An everyday Saab, useful and enjoyable at the same time. A good servic...

Categories

  • 9-3
  • 9-5
  • 900
  • 9000
  • 92
  • 93
  • 95
  • 96
  • 99
  • biopower
  • books
  • branding
  • cabrio ride hints
  • car apps
  • color
  • convertible
  • E85
  • electric
  • event
  • Griffin
  • Hirsch
  • Maptun
  • mobile
  • modified
  • movies
  • museum
  • music for cabriolets
  • NEVS
  • other
  • pictures and videos
  • poster
  • practical
  • roof
  • saab 9-3
  • saab 9-3 convertible
  • saab 9-4X
  • saab 9-5
  • Saab 900
  • saab 9000
  • saab 95
  • saab 96
  • Saab 99
  • saab drama
  • saab fans
  • saab sonett
  • safety
  • service
  • taket
  • toppola
  • tuning
  • tyres
  • Viggen
  • wheels
  • wind deflector

Blog Archive

  • ►  2014 (1)
    • ►  January (1)
  • ►  2013 (157)
    • ►  December (8)
    • ►  November (6)
    • ►  October (12)
    • ►  September (11)
    • ►  August (11)
    • ►  July (7)
    • ►  June (22)
    • ►  May (10)
    • ►  April (9)
    • ►  March (21)
    • ►  February (15)
    • ►  January (25)
  • ▼  2012 (251)
    • ►  December (17)
    • ►  November (11)
    • ►  October (16)
    • ►  September (19)
    • ▼  August (32)
      • No Saabs at the sea
      • A small update
      • Stone in the windshield
      • Griffin Models Configurator
      • Another awesome photo of 9-3
      • Black matte Saab ?
      • For Saab lovers only ...
      • SaabsUnited Octoberfest 2012 confirmed
      • A gorgeous Saab 99 photo
      • A superb 9-3 photo
      • Wheels of IntSaab 2012
      • Safety test
      • Just a pic ...
      • Historic truck meeting
      • Memories on the Spa Francorchamps circuit
      • Luxury cars ...
      • One million miles Saab 900 SPG
      • The black one
      • IntSaab 2012 in pictures vol. 5
      • An unplanned dinner
      • Saab 900 Classic Convertible study from 1983
      • Sleepy on the road after a meal ? What exactly hap...
      • Sand or not Sand (top) ?
      • Saabism photo on italian SAAB|news
      • IntSaab 2012 in pictures vol. 4
      • Secrets
      • Music for Cabriolets : Plaid - Lilith ft. Bjork
      • Cabrio ride hints : from Passau to Český Krumlov
      • Hirsch leather interior upgrade soon
      • IntSaab 2012 in pictures vol. 3
      • IntSaab 2012 in pictures vol. 2
      • IntSaab 2012 in pictures vol. 1
    • ►  July (18)
    • ►  June (12)
    • ►  May (20)
    • ►  April (25)
    • ►  March (15)
    • ►  February (35)
    • ►  January (31)
  • ►  2011 (91)
    • ►  December (11)
    • ►  November (2)
    • ►  October (15)
    • ►  September (13)
    • ►  August (9)
    • ►  July (7)
    • ►  June (17)
    • ►  May (17)
Powered by Blogger.

About Me

Unknown
View my complete profile