Many people tend to fight the onset of tears, when crying is in fact a natural and beneficial response to several common emotions such as grief, sadness, dejection, and even joy. Tears are triggered by our emotions, but they are also a practical and protective reaction from the body. We produce three main types of tears.

Basal tears are in our eyes all day. Basal tears are functional, lubricating tears that help improve our vision, focus, and fight against infection. A protein called lysozyme is present in basal tears. This protein protects against viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Basal tears contain oil, mucus, salt, and water. The oil prevents the tears from evaporating and blinking spreads a layer of basal tears on the eye’s surface.

Reflex tears are our eyewash tears. These are triggered by environmental irritants such as dust, smoke, and wind. These tears flush out any irritating material for our eyes. These are also the tears produced when we cut an onion.

Emotional tears flood our eyes in response to strong emotions and are similar to basal tears in chemical makeup but also contain stress hormones and natural pain relievers.

Crying has a number of other proven benefits as well. Crying has a self-soothing effect which helps us to calm ourselves, regulate our emotions, and return us to a more neutral emotional state within a certain period of time. Deep belly breaths from crying and sobbing regulate our heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing - all of which aids in recovering from stress.

Crying can cause our body to produce hormones that make us feel better. We release oxycontin and endorphins after we cry, which can help reduce stress, relieve pain, and lift our mood. In other words, having a good cry can improve our mood after we cry. 

Crying is also a way the body rids itself of chemicals that are released in the body to help us cope during times of stress, but can have negative impacts when not processed out of the body. So, if we try to push back the tears or feel shame when we cry, it can have the opposite effect, inducing anxiety, depression, upset stomach, and heart-associated issues.

Crying is also an attachment behavior. Crying signals to others that we need help and support. Most obviously associated with infants and small children, research suggests that crying serves the same functions in adults, facilitating deeper social connections and community support.

Denver, Colorado is 5,276 feet above sea level, hence the nickname “Mile High City.” 

The altitude there has been credited and blamed for the effects it has on unaware or unprepared visitors from lower elevations. People feel the effects of lower air pressure and decreased oxygen when they arrive; the same goes for visiting athletes. 

Sure, they’re better conditioned than Joe or Jane Average, but they’re drawing more on the thin air in their competitive exertions. Many, if they’re honest, have stories to tell about needing rather quickly to find their second wind and taking a few days to acclimate enough that their performances don’t suffer.

Such teams as the Nuggets, Avalanche, Broncos, and Rockies actually employ marketing schemes to plant seeds doubt in visiting teams, amplifying the disadvantages posed to those athletes who are not properly altitude trained. For example, at Ball Arena, there is signage where visiting teams enter and exit noting the city’s altitude. The numbers 5,280 are printed right on the court, near each free-throw line. The video board during introductions welcomes the road team with an ominous warning about the difficulty in catching one’s breath. Then, there are large, hazard-orange-and-black placards on display (“Attention: Altitude Warning/Low Oxygen”).

In fact, the intimidating marketing is right there in the name ... "Empower Field" at "Mile High Stadium"!

In response, we often see oxygen tanks used on the visiting teams’ sidelines to help them try to catch their breath.

There is a whole school of athletic training based on high-altitude workouts. Olympic athletes routinely seek out facilities in Denver and Colorado Springs to boost their oxygen efficiency, and countless trainers and gyms simulate the effects with dedicated breathing equipment.

Your tongue is much more than just an instrument for speech or eating, prompting some to ask:

Have you ever thought about how your tongue could be affecting your posture even all the way down to your feet?

What if something as simple as where your tongue rests in your mouth could influence your body’s alignment, balance, and even breathing?

The tongue is more than just a muscle for speaking and eating, it’s deeply connected to the body through fascia, an intricate web of connective tissue that links the tongue to the feet.

It's true. An internet query of a growing body of research reveals that the position of your tongue can influence your posture, balance, breathing, and even facial structure. Here's some of the ways tongue posture can affect your overall health:

POSTURE

- Muscle Tension: Your tongue is connected to muscles in your jaw, neck, and even your shoulders. Poor tongue posture (e.g., pressing against your teeth or lying flat at the bottom of your mouth) can create tension in these areas, leading to misalignment like slouched shoulders or forward head posture.

- Spinal Alignment: When your tongue rests properly — on the roof of your mouth just behind your front teeth — it helps stabilize the head and neck, which supports better spinal posture.

BALANCE

- Proprioception Boost: Proper tongue posture may enhance proprioception — your body's ability to sense its position in space. This can improve balance and stability, especially in people with vestibular disorders.

- Sensory Substitution: The tongue can deliver balance-related signals to the brain, directly affect equilibrium.

BREATHING

- Airway Support: A tongue resting low in the mouth can block the airway, leading to shallow breathing. Proper tongue posture opens the airway, encouraging nasal breathing and better oxygen intake.

FACIAL STRUCTURE

Palate Development: Especially in children and young adults, resting the tongue against the roof of the mouth helps shape the palate and support facial symmetry. Poor posture can lead to a narrower palate and less prominent cheekbones over time.

So, much research has been done, supporting the theory that the tongue is much more key to the body's overall health than previously realized, again prompting some to ask, 

"Could improving tongue posture be the missing key to better posture, core strength, and overall movement efficiency?"

*Click here to watch a video on proper tongue posture.