- This week on the Checkup ` the explosive lowdown on gas; why are some people more gassy than others matter? - (TRUMPET SPUTTERS) Mataroria gets the buzz on mozzies. - Are they really more attracted to some people than others? - And things get hairy for Shawn. - Why do you think some men are able to grow more facial hair than others? - But first, I take the guesswork out of heart health. (QUIRKY MUSIC) If you believed everything you saw on screen, you'd think this is what having a heart attack looks like. In reality, the symptoms of a heart attack can be a lot less dramatic than they appear in the movies. Lack of awareness of heart attack signs and symptoms cost lives. But there are some preconceived ideas I'd like to challenge, starting with a little guessing game. So, which three people are most likely to have a heart attack? - I'm going to put down the women just because I think they're less likely than the men to have heart attacks. - We're eliminating those we consider least at risk,... - Would be her. She looks young. - She looks like she's had a good life. We'll give her a bit longer. - Men have more heart attacks than women, so shall we get rid of some women? - That one? - Yeah. - ...leaving those we consider to be most at risk. Any particular reason you're picking those more than others? - Look younger. - Look younger. Yep, yep. - Cos that one looks like Grandma. She's good. - (CHUCKLES) - I think men at more risk than women. I don't know if that's true, but I... I think that. - Girls are more healthy. - Really? - Yeah. - The older you get, the more prone you may be. Your arteries might be hardened after all that good living. - I'm going to leave him just cos he's on the phone and he looks like he's going to be super stressed out. - Older males are at risk, but heart disease isn't quite as gender-specific as we might think. It is the biggest killer in men, but it's also the leading cause of death in women as well. - Oh, I didn't know that. - Heart disease kills twice as many women in New Zealand as any other single cause. It's one statistic where we women aren't falling far behind. - Whoa! You wouldn't think that at all. - ...women as well. - Learnt something today. - Most of us recognise the classic symptoms. - I guess this is like a real` I mean, I imagine it's a, you know, your chest really contracts. - People get, like, jaw problems, like jaw pain as well. - Pain in their left arm. - Yeah. - Pain in their chest. - I've also heard that indigestion is sometimes a sign. - Um, shortness of breath and sort of pain in the chest. - For many decades, heart disease research has focussed primarily on men. So the methods of assessment and testing favours their physiology. But women don't always present in the same way. In fact, worldwide evidence suggests symptoms in women are often unrecognised, undiagnosed and untreated. - The first symptoms were really obscure. Tiredness, migraines, an undefined feeling of just, sort of, reflux-y pressure in my chest, almost like I'd eaten too much spaghetti Bolognese the night before and was just... Felt like I was dragging all my arms and legs around. I was that tired and lethargic. And had diarrhoea that morning, and just thought I had the flu or a gastro bug. - At the time, Rachel was juggling being a mum and working shifts as a nurse. - I actually joked with some of my workmates at the A & E that afternoon that the symptoms were very similar, but we all laughed it off because I had no central chest pain. - Heart attack symptoms are different for everyone, but up to 35% of women don't even experience chest pain. Symptoms experienced by women are often not what we'd expect. The next morning, Rachel felt even worse. She finally called an ambulance. - I thought everybody was overreacting. I thought I just needed a bag of IV fluids to rehydrate myself and to go back to bed for the day. - But a lack of liquid and sleep wasn't the issue. - Quite shocking when they suddenly say that they're going to take you straight up for an angio. I realised then that, 'OK, this is 'heart related.' Still wasn't thinking heart attack. It wasn't until I was back up on the coronary care ward that I found out that I actually had had 100% blockage of a main artery in a... aptly named spot, The Widowmaker. - Luckily for Rachel, this was caught in the nick of time. A heart attack occurs when deposits of fat and other substances build up in our arteries and prevents blood getting back to the heart. Unless the blood flow is restored quickly, it can result in permanent heart damage or even death. Sadly, at least two Kiwi women die from a heart attack every day, and over 65,000 are living with heart disease. And for someone like Rachel, they may never suspect that they are at risk of heart disease. - I feel really lucky that I didn't ignore the symptoms for longer and put myself at risk. It's why heart disease is a major killer in women, because we tend to ignore it and brush it off and put everyone else first above ourselves. - Thanks to life-saving surgery over eight years ago, life for Rachel carries on. - So, yeah, life's good. Got my 10�-year-old boy, my husband and a cute fuzzy pussycat, who is my main stress reliever. When I'm stressed, she gets hugs and cuddles. - Heart attack signs should never be ignored. If there is one time in your life that you need to be top priority, this is it. Take a cue from man flu ` make a big fuss about it. - The odours our bodies exude are a main factor in our mozzie magnet status. - Some of us hide it; others trumpet it. And that can really clear a room. * (MOSQUITO BUZZES) - There's always one ` that person in the group who's a mosquito magnet. - I'm getting bitten by mosquitoes! - The buzzing, the biting, the itching. These pesky bloodsuckers are widely despised. But are they really more attracted to some people than others? Rumour has it the food and drink we consume could be adding to our allure. It's been suggested that salty foods and sweets have pulling power. But the only food scientists believe might make mosquitoes love us more are bananas and beer. So make mine a mocktail. Nobody wants to be more attractive to mozzies. So how about food repellents? Onions and garlic, with their potent sulphur compounds? Lemongrass with its own citronella oil ` the stuff mozzie candles are made of? Chilli with burning capsaicin properties? Or foods loaded with B vitamins? I've been spreading this stuff on thick for years because somebody told me vitamin B would deter mozzies. Unfortunately, the science doesn't agree. There is no hard scientific evidence that anything we eat or drink will stop the onslaught. Our mozzie magnetism is largely to do with things outside our control, like genetics. Research shows that if mozzies flock to your family members, you'll likely find yourself a target. Blood type is also a drawcard. One study suggests those with blood type O are nearly twice as attractive to mozzies than those with blood type A. (QUIRKY, JAZZY MUSIC) We don't precisely know how genetics or blood type play their part, but we do know the odours our bodies exude are a main factor in our mozzie magnet status. Mosquitoes use smell, vision, thermal and taste cues to target their victims. One of the odours that gets them buzzing is the carbon dioxide gas we exhale. Humans can be visible to mosquitoes from 15m away, but they know you're worthy of a taste from your CO2. Mozzies also use thermal sensory information to hone in on body heat and surprise, surprise, they like it hot. So a hot and sweaty body is probably the pick of the bunch for a hungry mosquito. This is because when we sweat, we're feeding the many different types and amounts of bacteria living on our skin. They convert the compounds in our sweat into a smelly mozzie cocktail. You mightn't be able to mask your musk, but mozzies are also attracted to dark clothes, so try wearing lighter ones. Avoid stagnant water, where they breed. And if all else fails, pop on the repellent. To all the Kiwi mozzie magnets, next time you're under attack, try to remember our Aussie neighbours. We have 15 species of mosquito, and they have over 300. That's something where they can take the win. (FUNKY MUSIC) - (PLAYS TRUMPET) - We all do it. But while some of us actively hide it or completely deny it, there are others who, well, trumpet it. And that can really clear a room. (TRUMPET IMITATES FART) There's a technical term for passing gas ` flatus. And we have just two ways to do it ` belching and farting. But why are some people more gassy than others? Even saying the F word in public can invite a death stare from strangers, which probably explains why we have so many names for it. - Breaking wind. - Fluff. - Twigging. - Tooting's a good one. - Just farting. - Yeah. - A wowel moment. - I think you just call it farting. - Truffling! Also quite good. - Bottom burps. Oh, that's the quite funny one. - Dress it up all you want, but I like to call a spade a spade. Because whether it's a fart or a burp, releasing gas is a totally natural process. But how many times a day is normal? - Roughly five to 10? - About three? - I've never really given it a lot of thought. Uh, more than a few, probably. - I have no idea! Try not to. (LAUGHS) - Maybe, like, four or five. - Couple of times a day. - Handful of times, I suppose. - Depends what kind of day it is. It depends if you're having beans or not. - Five or six. - Never. - Yeah, right! 14 to 23 is the norm. - (BURPS) Burping is arguably the less offensive release of gas. So what's the difference between a discreet burp and a healthy belch? The loudness is determined not only by how much gas is in our stomach but also the shape of our oesophagus. But it's really only cute when these guys do it. - (BURPS) - When it comes to gas from our nether regions, did you know that there are pills that can make your fart smell like chocolate? And even fart-filtering clothes? That's something Bernard Clemmens might find handy. He holds the record for the longest official fart at two minutes, 42 seconds. So where's all this gas coming from? Whenever we eat, we swallow small amounts of air, and that oxygen and nitrogen travels down through our digestive system. Then when food is broken down, other gases form, like carbon dioxide, hydrogen and methane. When these gases combine with hydrogen sulphide and ammonia in the large intestine, that creates an odour. But why do some people's farts smell worse than others? Much of it comes down to the food we eat, how much we eat, and how our bodies cope with it. The usual suspects of beans, onions and legumes are well known. They release larger amounts of gas as they break down in our bodies. Fatty foods can also be an issue because they slow down digestion, giving foods more time to ferment. Sometimes our digestive systems can't break down things, like gluten or fruit or the sugar found in dairy products. (GAS HISSES) And that can produce a lot of gas. (GAS HISSES) If you're over being a gasbag or clearing the room in a single puff, then it might be time to watch for hidden sugars, take a temporary break from high-fibre foods, and try isolating the problem foods. If excessive gas, either burping or farting, doesn't resolve with a tweak to the diet, it could be the sign of something more serious. Producing gas is as natural as the air we breathe. But what goes in does have to come out. And as the saying goes, an empty house is better than a bad tenant. Just make sure you choose the right moment. Otherwise, your reputation for letting rip could follow you around like a bad smell. - Do you think that beards make men more attractive? - With him, definitely yes. (LAUGHS) - I am the epileptic rapper. When I drop a pill, it enables my brain to communicate with my limbs again. - It's not OK to punch a hole in the wall to show your family who's boss. - Or think you can demand their love and respect. * - Throughout history, facial hair has been a symbol of religion, radicalism, anarchy, sexual attraction and fashion. There's even a world beard and moustache championship. The emergence of New Zealand's own national competition and even a Beard Appreciation Society reveals that many Kiwi males are wholeheartedly embracing the beard. But not all men can cultivate a fulsome facial fuzz. Why do you think that some men are able to grow more facial hair than others? - To be honest, I don't know. - I imagine genetics. - Depend on... their families. Their fathers, grandfather. - Is it hormones? - I wouldn't have a clue. - Hormones. Surely it's gotta be hormones. - For young males, random facial fuzz usually start sprouting around puberty, when their bodies start producing more of the male sex hormone, testosterone. In men, testosterone relates to sex drive, bone and muscle mass, overall strength, and the development of features typical of adult men, like facial and body hair. So why do you think that men grow beards? - To make themselves feel more masculine. - Presumably it's fashion, in some cases. - It's easier to maintain. Don't have to shave every day. - It does make me look older than my age. They think I'm more mature. - It adds shape to their face, you know. - Some men that I know do it to hide their chin. If they've got, like, a crap chin, cover it up with a beard, you know. - There is a tendency to equate bountiful facial hair with virility, maturity and just general manliness. This may result from the popular belief that the more hairy among us have more testosterone. Testosterone does play its part in signalling hair growth. But it's not the level of testosterone that affects our hair-growing prowess. Around 10% of our testosterone gets converted into a more potent form called dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. This is what binds to the receptors in the hair follicles on our face. It also causes the growth of darker, thicker hair that becomes a beard. How thick it is depends on genetics, which also affects where facial hair grows and when a beard reaches its full potential. So it's how our genes react to dihydrotestosterone that separates the bearded crowd from the gleaming clean-chinned ones. But who fares better in the dating game? Do you think that beards make men more attractive? - Yeah. - With him, definitely, yes. (LAUGHS) - It's not a compliment. - I really like it. - I think they look ugly. - I'm cool with hairy men, you know? Bit of a pelt ` I'm fine with it. - Bigger beard, big... bigger I-don't-know. Bigger socks, you know. (LAUGHS) (JAZZY MUSIC) (TECHNO MUSIC) - Hello, everybody. Welcome along. I am the epileptic rapper. Not just a toe-tapper, but a writhing, grinding, full-body-slammer. Not just hip hop, but a hip-hip-hoppin', I can't stop the rockin' as I slam-slam my body on the floor in the lobby to the rhythm of the epilepsy. - Like many entertainers, slam poet, playwright and comedian Penny Ashton writes about what she knows. But Penny's the first to admit epilepsy is no laughing matter. - I can make jokes like that because I am epileptic, so I'm allowed. - You're hilarious. - (LAUGHS) Thanks very much. - So, Penny, can you tell me when you had your first epileptic episode? - I was sitting next to my friend Liz, and I got a feeling of deja vu, and that's the last thing I remember. But apparently my head started to go like this. I must've looked like The Exorcist or something cos she totally freaked out and started crying. So, we were 16. So I must've looked pretty weird. And then a teacher took me outside, and I just apparently went for it on the ground. Another teacher went running into the principal's office and said, 'Call an ambulance!' And all this was very dramatic. - Penny is one of around 50 million people worldwide diagnosed with epilepsy. Epileptic seizures are caused by sudden bursts of erratic electrical and chemical activity that temporarily disrupt normal brain function. They can develop at any time and age, but suffering any form of brain injury or infection can increase the likelihood. Genetics play their part, too, making some of us more or less susceptible to seizures. Do you remember what it felt like? - No, I was completely out of it. I remember coming to in the ambulance. And they were like, 'You just had an epileptic fit,' and I just burst into tears. - Every person's experience of a seizure will be different. Warning signs may include deja vu, as Penny experienced; hallucinations and heightened thoughts; tingling, twitching or jerking; and the seizures themselves can be brought on by a wide range of triggers ` things like lack of sleep, flashing lights, low blood sugar and stress. - I'm breakdancing blind, I'm out of my mind. My legs are a drunk after too many wines. I'm dropping like I'm hot. My booty's lost the plot. My ride ain't pimpin' and my shocks are shot. - Have your seizures been well controlled since? - Well, what happened is I went on the medication for three years, which was Tegretol. And at the end of that I was like, 'Right, I'm never having another seizure. I'm a doctor.' I'm not. And so I went off the medication without weaning myself` all the things you're not supposed to do. And then six months later, I had another seizure. So then I went back on the medication and was like, 'All right, Penny, you are an epileptic. 'Face up to it.' When I drop a pill, it doesn't give me a thrill, but it keeps me sane and enables my brain to communicate with my limbs again. - How does epilepsy affect your life now? - It affects my life in that I take two pills a day and have to keep doing that. But other than that, I'm extremely fortunate as an epileptic that I can do my job as a celebrant, as a performer, and it doesn't affect me day to day. There's a lot of people that it does. - About one to two people in 100 go on to develop epilepsy. So it's quite common in New Zealand. But what would you want them to know? - It would be investigate the meds. Because the meds are a miracle. They are amazing. Advances in medicine are just so huge and important, but also they're not perfect. You know, like, this makes my life as a performer possible. But look into and know what they can do, know that they can make you hungry, know that they can affect your children. Keep taking the medication. Don't go and stop it because you've decided that you're not epileptic any more, like I did. That's stupid. - Like you say, every person with epilepsy is different. - Yeah, everybody's different. And all of the medications react with people in different ways. Hurricane Penny at DEFCON 10. TNT on CNN. Insurgents have stormed my cranium, suicidal synapses packed with uranium. My brain is out to lunch, and on my tongue I'm having a munch. - What do you think people should do if they see someone having a seizure? - People used to say put something in the mouth to stop them swallowing their tongue. Don't do that. Putting somebody in the recovery position afterwards. And if you don't know what that is, look it up. And maybe covering them with a blanket, if you can. Try not to stand around and gawk and stare. Mainly preserve dignity, be empathetic and don't be a dick. - Don't be a dick. (LAUGHS) - Don't be a dick, exactly. (LAUGHS) Recovery position. I'm in remission. My landlady got in an electrician. My homies are back in their hood, and this eppy rapper slapper is all good. But ladies and gentlemen, please, I do not want your pity because through it all I am sure that I looked incredibly pretty. I've been Penny Ashton. Thanks very much.