I love scary movies – the scarier the better. My Netflix queue is nothing but zombies and exorcisms and ghosts and serial killers (and the occasional Linda Carter Wonder Woman episode). These investigators in the Netherlands decided to test the old “bloodcurdling” description with a simple little crossover study using a bunch of student volunteers. They drew Factor VIII levels before and after watching the 2010 movie “INSIDIOUS” and found a statistically significant change in the levels of Factor VIII after watching the scary movie (compared with a control group that watched a documentary on blood clots). What’s the significance of Factor VIII? It’s one of the factors in the blood that is necessary for activating platelets and having your blood clot appropriately so you don’t bleed to death with you get a paper cut or you cut yourself shaving. It would be nice to test this theory with other “bloodcurdling” stimuli like Stephen King books, the cafeteria Friday afternoon mystery meat special and the latest Justin Beiber album (although that’s more likely to make your skin crawl).
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/Prevention/55418?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-12-28&eun=g677213d0r
“Someone’s been eating sardines and crayons.”
“Love me some sardines. Smothered in maple syrup.”
