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Friday, December 19, 2014

Why do my legs itch when I run?

“Every time I try to go running, my legs itch really badly. Is something wrong?”

We’re neither doctors nor physical trainers here at the library, but we looked into it. Itchy legs during exercise are common enough that Go Ask Alice, Livestrong, and Outside all covered the problem on their websites.

If the itching is accompanied by hives and difficulty breathing, it may be a symptom of exercise-induced anaphylaxis, a serious, though very rare, condition, and you should visit your doctor. If it’s only the hives, they can be triggered by a multitude of things, including the increased body temperature that comes along with hot weather, stress, or exercise. (Another term for hives is “urticaria,” and the specific type that’s triggered by exercise is “cholinergic urticaria.”)

The season could also be the culprit. Skin can get dry and itchy in the winter, and may be further irritated by sweat and tight-fitting clothes. Some people also have cold urticaria, a condition where, as the name suggests, cold temperatures bring on hives.

According to another theory, the itching is caused by blood moving through your capillaries. The capillaries expand during exercise to increase blood flow, and if your body isn’t used to that, nearby nerves send signals to the brain that it interprets as an itching feeling. Go Ask Alice and Livestrong both support this theory, though Outside argues that there isn’t enough evidence.

To control the itching, try wearing loose cotton clothes, as tight synthetic material can aggravate sensitive skin. Make sure your skin is well-moisturized and that you’re dressed for the weather. Outside and Livestrong also suggest taking an antihistamine before exercising. Finally, keep at it – as your body gets used to the workout, the itching sensation may diminish in time.

Runners looking to improve are welcome to come check out our selection of books, including Build Your Running Body by Pete Magill, Thomas Schwartz, and Melissa Breyer; Runner’s World Complete Book of Running; Running: Start to Finish by John Stanton; and Feet, Don’t Fail Me Now by Ben Kaplan.

Friday, December 12, 2014

What's the difference between llamas and alpacas?

“What’s the difference between llamas and alpacas? Do people use them for different things?”

Upon seeing another patron’s alpaca-wool winter coat, one of our patrons was led to wonder about what separates a llama from an alpaca. Do llamas produce wool as well? What else are they used for?

Llama and alpaca farmers seem to have noticed that people are curious about their animals, because most of their websites included a fact section, often listing the differences between the two. We took our information from, Storey’s Guide to Raising Llamas by Gale Birutta, Jennifer A. Kingson’s New York Times article “The Llama Is In,” and the websites of Rising Sun Exotics, Bald Hill Alpaca Farm, and Serendipity Farm.

When a llama and an alpaca are side by side, it’s easy to see the differences. Llamas are about twice as big, with straight backs and long noses. Alpacas have shorter, rounder snouts and more delicate features, with a large puff of hair on their heads that often falls over their eyes. Their ears point straight up, while llamas’ ears curve toward each other in a “banana” shape.

Alpacas are better known for it, and their wool has been prized since the Incan Empire. While llamas have two coats, the soft, dense fleece coat and then a coarse topcoat of guard hair, alpacas have only the fleece, so their wool is of a much higher quality. Relatively recently, however, some llamas are bred to have little to no guard hair, so as to improve the quality of their wool.

While alpacas were bred for their wool, llamas were meant to be pack animals. They can carry about a quarter of their weight, navigate difficult terrain, and their padded feet minimize damage to the environment. Storey’s Guide to Raising Llamas recommends them as hiking companions.

Llamas typically have a more confident personality than the timid alpaca, but both animals will spit if provoked, though their owners often insist that they get a bad rap and in fact spit much less frequently than people expect. Llamas’ bold natures can make them effective livestock guardians, but many are also docile and well-behaved enough to serve as therapy animals. The owners interviewed in “The Llama Is In” liken their llamas to dogs and note that they often have a special sense as to who needs them most. Therapy and “ambassador” llamas have made successful visits to hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and even libraries.

Friday, December 5, 2014

Can non-Mormons attend BYU?

“Can you go to Brigham Young University if you’re not Mormon?”

After our library book discussion group read David Ebershoff’s The 19th Wife, which focuses on characters who have various relationships to Mormonism and made several mentions to Brigham Young University, one of our patrons was curious as to whether or not people were welcome to attend even if they weren’t members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

We checked the BYU website and it turns out the answer is yes. Originally established in 1875 for the purpose of infusing academics with LDS values, they nevertheless accept students of other religions – though the number is relatively small. According to the statistics published on their website, 29,293 students in Fall 2014 identified as Mormon, while 379 either identified themselves as members of other religions (including Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, and several different denominations of Christianity) or indicated no religious preference.

For a non-Mormon student to attend, they must first meet with a local LDS leader. They must also agree to follow the school’s honor code, which includes being honest and respectful, abstaining from alcohol, tobacco, tea, and coffee, and abiding by the modest dress code. Because part of the Church’s tithing goes to the university, LDS students pay less for tuition. In the 2013-2014 school year, Mormon students paid $4,850 for tuition while non-Mormon students paid $9,700.