2008 Woodie Awards
Learn to control those red-hot cheeks
Erin Cooper, Staff Writer
Issue date: 3/1/06 Section: Student Life
Conversations with a crush, embarrassing situations, talking in front of a group, or simply being given unwanted attention are all factors leading up to unwanted hot and red cheeks. Blushing is a simple and uncomfortable phenomenon we have all experienced and witnessed at one time or another, especially as college students, who engage in oral presentations, class discussions, and who get called on to answer questions.
"Sometimes in class I will blush when I get called on by a teacher and I have know idea what the answer is," said Taryn Osburn, senior.
Blushing is caused by dilation of the small blood vessels in the face that leads to an increase in blood volume. According to Andera Ladd, former HHMI predoctoral fellow at Baylor of College Medicine, the facial vein that supplies the small blood vessels in the face is responsive to beta-adrenergic stimulation and is likely to be the neural basis of the response. The stimulation of beta-adrenergic adrenaline binds to receptors on the surface of responsive cells. All of these changes lead to an increase in the levels of cyclic AMP and this increase in cyclic AMP levels leads to dilation.
"Blushing is physiologically distinguishable from other types of facial flushing, such as that caused by consumption of alcohol, arousal, or hormonally induced "'hot flashes,' which are not caused by beta-adrenergic stimulation," said Ladd.
The reason for why we blush when we do is unknown. "I blush when I get nervous, shocked, or embarrassed," said Osburn.
Blushing tends to be more common when we are younger and then may fade away as we age. The responsiveness of facial vein to beta-adrenergic stimulation also decreases with age. "When I was young I would blush all of the time and I hated it because my brother would always tease me," said fifty-year- old Barbra Pacheco. "As I have gotten older I don't really blush that much anymore."
There are statistics that show that people from European cultures blush more readily than those from Asian cultures. The only reason for this could be social differences since there are no discernible physiological differences between them. Studies also found that women tend to blush more than men do, especially when given a compliment. "I have noticed people tend to blush a lot when they are complimented immensely," said Junior Amy Knox.
"Sometimes in class I will blush when I get called on by a teacher and I have know idea what the answer is," said Taryn Osburn, senior.
Blushing is caused by dilation of the small blood vessels in the face that leads to an increase in blood volume. According to Andera Ladd, former HHMI predoctoral fellow at Baylor of College Medicine, the facial vein that supplies the small blood vessels in the face is responsive to beta-adrenergic stimulation and is likely to be the neural basis of the response. The stimulation of beta-adrenergic adrenaline binds to receptors on the surface of responsive cells. All of these changes lead to an increase in the levels of cyclic AMP and this increase in cyclic AMP levels leads to dilation.
"Blushing is physiologically distinguishable from other types of facial flushing, such as that caused by consumption of alcohol, arousal, or hormonally induced "'hot flashes,' which are not caused by beta-adrenergic stimulation," said Ladd.
The reason for why we blush when we do is unknown. "I blush when I get nervous, shocked, or embarrassed," said Osburn.
Blushing tends to be more common when we are younger and then may fade away as we age. The responsiveness of facial vein to beta-adrenergic stimulation also decreases with age. "When I was young I would blush all of the time and I hated it because my brother would always tease me," said fifty-year- old Barbra Pacheco. "As I have gotten older I don't really blush that much anymore."
There are statistics that show that people from European cultures blush more readily than those from Asian cultures. The only reason for this could be social differences since there are no discernible physiological differences between them. Studies also found that women tend to blush more than men do, especially when given a compliment. "I have noticed people tend to blush a lot when they are complimented immensely," said Junior Amy Knox.