AIM on knowledge April 2013 ARTS HEALTH SCIENCE SOCIETY HEALTH ARTS Dealing with Stress 04 Is K-Pop Going Global? 18 by Anthony Giguère by Alexandra Poulin When the Sun Becomes a Drug 06 The Rise of Body Painting 20 by Michel Bergeron by Ann-Frédérik Gosselin Worth the Boost? 08 Mangas: An Amazing Japanese Book Style 22 by Miro Lacroix by Catherine Savard Anorexia Nervosa: 10 SOCIETY More Than We Have Ever Known Multitasking: A Fight Between Genders 24 by Stéphanie Bédard by Thomas Pozer The Dreaded C10H15N 12 Ancient Medics: The Miracle of QI 26 by Gabriel Fontaine by David Kaba SCIENCE The Pursuit of the Bride: China’s 28 The Science of Swimming 14 Most Controversial Demographic Problem by Sarah Bourque by Catherine Fontaine How Does Language Affect the 16 Way you Perceive the World? by Antoine Poirier-Morin Introduction Written by The idea of producing a magazine came to me We decided to distribute AIM ON KNOW- for two reasons mainly. To start with, I want- LEDGE in high schools mostly for teachers to Alain Gilbert ed the Cégep to publish a document showing use them in class but also for the same teach- how good some of our students are in Eng- ers to read former students’ work. I hope this lish. I have been teaching here for close to may also motivate some students to aim high- 20 years now and over the years, I have read er, to become better in their English skills. truly impressive texts written by students for whom English is a second language. The stu- This is the first version of AIM and needless dents who wrote the articles in this magazine to say, there is room for improvement. That were in my 103 course, which is the most ad- is why I will welcome any comment that will vanced level in cégep. Also, the Cégep has a contribute in making it better. A project like program in Printing Management in which this involves unsuspected details that only ex- students learn, among other things, to pro- perience will improve. Your input would be a duce printed works. It made perfect sense to valuable asset for the magazines to come. create a project where these students do work Finally, this project would have never been to publish this magazine. English teacher. possible without the help of other teachers. [email protected] Readers should know that every aspect of this Christian Pépin, teacher in Arts, helped for magazine was done by students: the writing, the pictures. Rémi Rodrigue, English teacher, the layout, the pictures for the writers, and all and Sonia Cadoret, teacher in Printing, were the many other details. The only aspects that nice enough to integrate this project in one were not done entirely by students are the of their courses. Their patience and contribu- promotional pages for certain programs. tion, especially for this first version, was cru- cial and absolutely necessary. Credits Journalists’ Pictures: Alexandre Duclos-Ferland student in Arts visuels Cover Page: Kim Lamontagne student in Arts visuels Magazine’s Layout: Anne Rancourt and Philippe Gaboury students in Gestion de projet en communications graphiques Customer Service Representative: Carolann Drouin student in Gestion de projet en communications graphiques Printer: Tactic Financial support: AGÉ and CBA 4 HEALTH Dealing with Stress Written by Anthony Giguère ooner or later, we all have to face a of workers with a high stress level indi- being felt. In this situation, the body Ssituation in which several choices cated that their job is their main source tries to hold on. This is when cortisol, a are imperative. We then try to choose of stress. Yet, financial concerns and hormone associated with stress, will be an alternative that represents our val- lack of time seem to be another import- secreted in order to maintain the sugar ues which, according to us, would have ant source of stress. rate in blood with an aim of feeding the the most positive repercussions. Some- muscles and the brain in energy. There- times, however, a much more compli- Of course, the causes of stress are after, the moment when the body cracks cated situation requires sudden adap- specific to each individual, depending under tension corresponds to the phase tation, either if that situation is dan- on what the individual considers as be- of exhaustion. This is when the effects gerous or not. At this point, the body ing stressful. However, human stress on health appear. reacts in order to be prepared to face could be classified in three general this destabilizing situation, either from causes: chemical, physical and psychic A level of stress that is too high or sim- a physical or psychological nature. The stress. Moreover, various situations ply out of control often results in mul- body then reacts to the several effects such as the lack of time, the lack of rest, tiple consequences and serious symp- related to the peak of adrenalin caused an emotional shock, familial or senti- toms that affect the health of an indi- by the stress. As such, the stress can be mental events, work and certain harm- vidual. On the cognitive side, problems beneficial, but there are times when it ful dependences (tobacco, alcohol and of memory, difficulty to concentrate, becomes harmful to the whole body, drugs increase the level of stress) seem poor judgment, negative thoughts and both physically and mentally. One thing to be recurring causes of stress. We may omnipresent concerns are consequences is sure: stress may affect anybody, but conclude that any changes in our lives caused by stress. Furthermore, on the the consequences depend on the level could result in stress. It is important emotional level, irritability, strong tem- of stress of that person. to understand that stress is important, per, incapacity to calm down, feeling even essential, for our survival. How- of insulation and rejection, as well as a In fact, according to Statistics Canada, ever, certain situations will be more potential depression are the results of in 2008, 21, 2% of men (2.8 million) and difficult to manage and will affect our severe stress. In addition, the nutrition 23.4% of women (3.2 million) aged over health more seriously. of that person as well as his sleep will 15 confessed that most of their days be unbalanced. Moreover, the person were quite or extremely stressful. Inter- First of all, stress can be subdivided in will tend to isolate himself from others, estingly, women in general seem to be a three phases: the phase of alarm, the to neglect his responsibilities, to use little more stressed than men. Actually, phase of resistance and then the phase substances (alcohol, tobacco, drugs) in they were 1.5 times more likely than of exhaustion. In the phase of alarm, order to relax and will develop certain men to say that most of their days were the acute stress, which is the benefi- nervous habits. Stress is also considered fairly or very stressful. Of course, the cial stress, is concerned. We feel the to be a risk factor related to many dis- sources of stress differ from one person need to act as fast as possible in order eases, such as heart disease, herpes and to another, but in general, the causes are to face a situation which is unforesee- to mental illness. It also makes it hard still similar. According to a survey from able and new. Then, we enter the phase for some people to control their dia- Statistics Canada, approximately 62% of resistance, where chronic stress is betes. All those reasons demonstrate the AIM ON KNOWLEDGE 5 Source: © 2011, Denis Chabot, Le monde en images, CCDMD © 2011, Denis en images, Chabot, LeSource: monde importance of dealing with stress. Here if it is worth making a big deal out of In my opinion, we tend to exaggerate is some advice to help you deal with it. it, if the situation you have to face jus- many situations for no reason. There tifies your level of stress. Be optimistic. is no reason to feel sorry for ourselves, First of all, evaluate your level of stress. A positive attitude will help you to face especially if we don’t have the capacities This step is of primary importance in the moments of stress, contrary to a to change the situation. It is important order to manage stress. You will then be negative attitude which will depress you to remember that the only thing that aware of the intensity of the stress which more. Lay down objectives which you matters is the future, since we cannot affects you; it might make you realize know are realizable to avoid the useless change the past. If you feel that stress is that you are not stressed as much as you discouragement. Moreover, physical ac- unbearable, make sure it won’t bother believe. Thereafter, determine what are tivity is an excellent way to relax, just you. Do what you like and what makes the causes of your stress. To do so, ana- like the multiple techniques of relaxa- you happy. Do not forget that controlled lyze how certain situations affect you tion (yoga, meditation, visualization, stress will keep you away from many and the way you react towards them. etc.) In brief, choose an activity you like, problems. Obviously, try to avoid the situations that makes you happy. What could be which cause you stress. Although that is better than having pleasure while relax- not always possible, it is a step towards ing? success. Then, have a look at what you consider as being stressful.