INPUT ARTICLE: Article: There are contacts that need to be removed every night, and those that can be left in for long stretches of time without cleaning.  The important thing is to know and follow the wear recommendations for your particular lenses.  Especially when you are new to the process, removing and cleaning contacts can seem like a time-consuming chore.  For comfort, effectiveness, and safety, however, always remove and clean or replace your contacts on the schedule recommended for that specific brand and by your eye care professional. Your eye doctor may recommend a “breaking in” period for a week or two when you start wearing contacts.  During this time you will wear them for longer stretches each day to slowly acclimate to them.  This is more common with hard (RGP) lenses. Your eye care professional should provide you with detailed instructions on how to put your new contacts in, take them out, and clean them.  Instructions on how to put contacts in are fairly consistent across types and brands, but refer to your brand's instructions or website for particular details. Cleaning (non-disposable) lenses properly is essential to limiting the chance of infection and other eye problems.  The basics of the process are usually the same regardless of lens type: Wash your hands with a mild soap (without moisturizers) and dry them with a clean, lint-free towel. Remove one lens, douse it with the recommended contact solution, and rub the lens in your palm with your finger (even if marketed as “no rub”). Rinse with solution for as long as recommended.  You normally need to repeat the cleaning and rinsing process for RGP lenses. Place the lens in a clean case, then fill it with fresh solution (don't “top off” any existing solution), and keep in the case for as long as recommended.  Repeat with the other lens. If the recommendations for your lenses vary from this list, follow them. You can clean your contacts perfectly right, but if you store them in a dirty case, your chances of infection or other problems will be greatly increased.  To clean your case:  dump out the old solution; rub the inside with clean fingers; fill each well with solution, then discard it; let it air dry upside-down with the lids off.  Do this cleaning process (or that recommended by your eye doctor) as frequently as advised.  Replace your case every three months or as recommended. On related notes:  Never let the tip of your solution bottle touch anything.  This may permit germ transmission.  Also, never use tap water on contacts or accessories.  It can contain the long-lasting acanthamoeba bacteria, which can be particularly harmful to the eyes. Patience is a great virtue when adjusting to contact lenses.  As mentioned, very few people are unable to wear contacts, so the odds are good that you can overcome any discomfort that you experience at first.  Your eye doctor may recommend the use of a special protein removal product to deal with discomfort, or the use of rewetting drops to moisten dry eyes.  If you show signs of an allergic reaction to your contact solution, a switch to a preservative-free product may be all that is required.  The newer silicone hydrogel lenses and older technology often found in generic solutions can cause redness and irritation. Follow your doctor's recommendation on which solution to use to prevent this.  If you are using monovision lenses (where one eye has a contact meant to improve distance vision, while the other aids close-up vision), you can expect a somewhat longer adjustment period. A typical adjustment period for monovision is about two weeks. But in the end, most people adjust to these just fine as well.

SUMMARY: Wear and remove contacts as often as directed. Clean your contacts properly. Clean and replace your case as recommended. Give your eyes time to adjust.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: It is always best to know your adversary before going into battle, right?  Chiles are perceived as hot or spicy to us because they contain the chemical capsaicin, which enters your bloodstream and essentially convinces your body that your temperature is rising.  This helps explain the sweating, flushing, and occasional light-headedness that can accompany eating spicy foods. Carried in oils in chiles, capsaicin is also a skin and mucous membrane irritant. Capsaicin is a natural defense mechanism developed by certain plants to prevent mammals from eating them.  Most mammals take the hint and move on, but not us. Are humans just not as smart as mice, pigs, and other mammals?  It probably has more to do with our brain makeup. Our brain neurons responsible for pleasure and pain are adjacent and possibly interconnected.  This helps explain why many people get a rush out of risky behavior, especially when they can experience danger/pain without much risk, such as in eating spicy food. People tend to assume that spicy foods cause ulcers, heartburn, and other gastrointestinal discomforts, but in fact there is no real evidence to support this.  If they have this effect on you, it is likely just a sensitivity you have, like others may have to dairy, fatty foods, etc. Indeed, there is growing scientific evidence that spicy foods are good for you:  they may help you consume less calories by reducing sweet/salty/fatty cravings; increase calorie burning by increasing your body’s perceived core temperature; have beneficial impacts on cardiovascular health and cholesterol levels; and, surprisingly enough, reduce gastric acid production. Pepper spray does indeed contain capsaicin, the same thing in those chiles you want to add to your dinner plate.  So don't treat them lightly, unless you want a taste of what it is like to be pepper sprayed.  Use gloves when preparing chiles.  Or, at very least, wash your hands thoroughly after handling them. Protect your eyes and other sensitive areas.  Consider eyewear when cutting chiles.  Do not rub your eyes, nose, or mouth before washing your hands. For that matter, if you need to use the bathroom or have an itch in a sensitive area, make sure you wash your hands before (and after!). The hottest parts of a chile are the seeds and the inner membranes (usually white) that hold them in place.  This is where most of the capsaicin is located.  Scrape these away while preparing a chile if you want to tone things down.

SUMMARY:
Know about capsaicin. Think about why people subject themselves to spicy foods. Understand the health impacts of spicy food. Learn to prepare chiles carefully.