Vampire Bugs?

Anytime I think of leeches I think of the movie “The Amazing Panda Adventure”. There is one scene in particular when the boy and the girl in the movie fall into a pond because the panda went over the edge of a hill. They ran and fell down the hill into the water and when they got out they realized that they were covered in leeches. They stripped all the way down and realized they were naked in front of each other, screamed and ran into a clear stream of water away from each other. This one particular scene is hilarious and I recommend the movie to everyone.

However, back to the idea of leeches. When I think of them I picture these slimy worms with circular mouth and long razor sharp teeth. Here is a picture of them. I personally get grossed out and disgusted when I look at them. It is amazing that these creepy creatures actually contribute to the world of medicine. The use of living animals in medical treatments is called biotherapy. It was believed that this practice started 3,500 years ago with the ancient Egyptians (“Maggots”).

How are leeches used in the medical field? They are placed on the body of the patient (about one to six leeches). From there they are left on from thirty to six hours (“Maggots”). This is because leeches saliva contains a compound, also called an anticoagulant, which prevents blood from clotting for hours. Leeches can take in several times its body weight in blood. This type of procedure is used in cases like reattachment of body parts such as the ear. It is currently being researched, by Andreas Michalsen, in Germany how leeches can help decrease pain and inflammation in diseases such as osteoarthritis (“Maggots”).

I personally could not imagine having a bunch of blood sucking leeches on my body for hours. I cannot imagine how that would feel or if a person would feel them at all. It could be one of the consistent pains that your brain gets use to after about fifteen minutes and then you just do not feel it. I was curious as to how to remove a leech so I looked it up. Before I did look it up I though it was like with a tick you could not just pull it off because the head would still be there in the skin and it becomes a real problem because the teeth are stuck in your arm and the head of the leech or tick will not budge. How leeches are removed is by sliding your fingernail under the smaller end up the leech then the other end quickly (“How”). I found writing this blog post was both interesting and gross because like I said leeches are disgusting to me. However, now they are becoming quite important to us humans again and I would like to know even more about them

 

"How to Remove a Leech." How to Remove a Leech. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2013.

"Maggots and Leeches: Old Medicine Is New." LiveScience.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2013.

Have you taken you vitamins today?

Most people have heard of Vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K. Some are more popular than others like how Vitamin C is widely known because of the famous drink Sunny Delight. Now for a little background on these vitamins. Vitamin A, D, E, and K are all fat-soluble. This means that these vitamins are absorbable in fats or lipids. Each vitamin has a different job in the body that is equally important as the next vitamin. These vitamins A, D, E, and K that are fat-soluble add to the flavor, texture and palatability of the food they are in (Whitney, 150). For this post I will focus on Vitamin D.

Vitamin D is also known as calciferol. Vitamin D comes in two forms ergocalciferol which comes from plant foods in the diet. Then there is cholecalciferol which comes from the animal foods in the diet. Both have to be “activated” before they can be fully used in the human body (Whitney, p.347). When I say “activated” it means, two hydroxylation reactions must occur.  The first reaction occurs when the liver adds an OH (hydroxyl) group and then the kidneys add another OH group to produce an active vitamin. The body also produces a vitamin D of its own when ultraviolent rays from the sun hit the skin and are converted twice, once in to the previtamin D and  then in to the vitamin D.

The role of vitamin D in the body is different from the other vitamins because the active form of vitamin D is actually a hormone. I was learning about this concept this week in my anatomy and physiology class. It is called a hormone because it is made in one part of the body and then travels through the blood to cause a reaction in another part of the body. For example how the hormone oxytocin is produced in the pituitary gland and is secreted in the blood but only the uterus contracts in response to the secretion of the hormone. The way the body responds to vitamin D is by making minerals needed for bone growth and maintenance available for use in the body.

There can be vitamin D deficiencies. The signs of this deficiency are not openly seen however, this deficiency is very common. According to Whitney ten percent of the US population has this deficiency and another twenty-five percent is marginal (349). Factors that contribute to this are dark skin, breastfeeding without supplementation, lack of sunlight and not using fortified milk. When using the term “fortified” it simply means that vitamins and nutrients have been added to something in this case the milk.

Very few foods have vitamin D in them naturally. Foods such as egg yolks and salmon and sardines are natural sources of vitamin D. Recommended sources of vitamin D are to take in some sunlight because the body can make vitamin D. People should drink at least two cups of vitamin D fortified milk a day which can be bought in the stores.  Vitamin D is important for the growth and maintenance of the bone in the human body making it one of the most important vitamins during childhood and adulthood. It is not an easy vitamin to come across as you have read but it is important that we do try to get it.

Whitney, Ellie, and Sharon R. Rolfes. Understanding Nutrition. 13th ed. Mason: Cengage Learning, 2011. Print.

The Lovely Lady of the Hour

One of the most famous female nurse in the world of medicine is Florence Nightingale.  Florence Nightingale was born was born May 12, 1820 in Florence, Italy. She was raised in Lea Hurst with her sibling and her mother and father Mr. and Mrs. William and Frances Nightingale. Her mother was a British socialite and her father was a wealthy landowner. Even at a young age Florence showed interest in being a nursing, by the age of sixteen she was caring for the sick people of the village close to her families land (“Florence”).

I think it is very common for young people to take interest in what they want to do early on in life. I believe this occurs so that we know later on when the time comes for us to choose a career that it is really what we want to do. Rather than go through all of life’s obstacles only to find out in the end that what we did we had no passion in it what so ever. During the Crimean War  Florence and a group of nurses improved the unsanitary conditions of the British base hospital (“Florence”). The team managed to reduce the death count by two-thirds, the writings and notes that she took during her service called for health care reform all over the world.

According to the article “Florence Nightingale Biography”, Florence Nightingale parents were not happy about the fact that she wanted to be a nurse. During the Victoria Era the life plan of a woman was not to find her own career but to find a man of wealth and status and marry him. Against her parent wishes she attended the Lutheran Hospital of Pastor Fliedner in Kaiserwerth, Germany as a nursing student in 1844. I believe at some point every teenager has a rebellious moment. Some may not be as extreme as some of the rebellious acts other people may commit but they get there point across.

Florence returned to London in early 1850 (“Florence”). I think every child returns home at some point in time no child can stay away forever. Well in my opinion no child can stay away forever. As I stated before Florence Nightingale was a nurse in the Crimean War that broke out October 1853. At the time there was no female nurses in the military camp, the previous nurses held a bad reputation (“Florence”). In 1854 Florence was asked by the Secretary of War Sidney Herbert to come with a group of nurses to help the understaffed hospital. She established St. Thomas Hospital and the Nightingale Training School for Nurses in 1860.  Florence Nightingale died August 13, 1910 in London. I am happy to say that Florence Nightingale is one of the reasons that I am pursing to be an RN. She is a role model to me and I hope one day I can make a mark in history like she did. 

 

 

 

 Florence Nightingale Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.

Thin Metal Needles Oh My!

Many people have a fear of needles. Needles have many uses from recreational use as in drugs to medical uses such as giving a simple flu vaccine. I find it hilarious when I meet people who claim to be terrified of needles but are covered head to toe in tattoos and piercings. Then I sit there and look at them like, “Are you serious?” I bring up the topic of needles because in the medical field they are no longer simply used to put in an IV or to give a shot but they are also used to relieve pain and stress in a patient.

Acupuncture is an alternative form of medicine. Alternative form of medicine means there are no uses of drugs or chemicals and no invasive surgeries. Strictly your own body, nerves, the doctors and their needles. The doctor uses hair thin metallic needles and places them in specific areas of the body. These are called trigger points or the knots in the nerves. How acupuncture works is unclear to scientist, it is believed that the body works with the metallic needles to enhance the body’s natural pain-fighting chemicals (“Acupuncture: An Introduction”). The needles are placed in either the back or front of the patient and the amount of time they are left in the body varies by the patient.  Acupuncture can also reduce nausea and vomiting after a surgery or chemotherapy. This is positive news because many people may not want to take addition medication after being put under for possibly hours and some may not want to take more medication after just having a chemotherapy session.

This practice was discovered in China over 2,000 years ago (“Acupuncture: An Introduction”). This is one of the many practices that Americans have come to use from many of the Asian countries. It was said that scientist really are not sure how acupuncture scientifically works in the body to eliminate pain. Research is continually done of course. It is a crazy thought that this hair-thin metal needle can relieve pain that has been affecting a person for a long time. Yes, the pain may return here and there but at the same time it is worth it because they are not consuming many different.

Treatment cost may vary from place to place you go because it is not readily practiced in a hospital (“Acupuncture: An Introduction”). Some insurance companies do cover the cost of acupuncture even though it can be used to relieve some health problems. I think it is a good thing. I personally have not tried acupuncture yet but I plan on trying it soon. I would like to try it mainly for the benefits of reducing stress. Work and school can be quite stressful sometimes and everyone deserves a break every once in a while to clear their minds.

 

 

"Acupuncture: An Introduction." NIH.gov. U.S Department of Health and Human Services, Aug. 2011. Web. 6 Feb. 2013.

Peaceful Sleep ?

Sleep apnea is a condition in which a person stops breathing in their sleep for short periods of time. Some people begin to snore in their sleep, while others may startle awake from not being able to breathe. Most people will complain of feeling tired through the day because of lack of peaceful sleep and will have a very sluggish demeanor. Sleep apnea can be diagnosed in people when they participate in a sleep study. A sleep study is where people go to a sleep lab and sleep in the observation rooms. Wires are connected to the brain and body and there are cameras all around the bedroom. As you sleep there are medical personal that monitor your vital signs and you while you sleep.

Upon being diagnosed with sleep apnea some people are prescribed or given a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). This machine supply’s the user with continually flowing oxygen while the person sleeps to prevent the airway from closing as they rest. As a result, snoring that was present is now reduce thus giving the patient a good night sleep. Although this is long term treatment many users are annoyed by the machine (“Living with CPAP”). I have met patients in the hospital who had their machine with them but left it in their duffle bag because they refused to use it. It is rather a large mask that sits on your face with a hose attached from the mask to the machine. I imagine a person who sleeps very wildly may have some issues with the tubing of the machine with them moving around so much.

My father has a CPAP machine and he has been having comfortable sleep filled nights now that he has his machine. The machine does need to be care for in return for caring for the person using it. For example some machines take water and you must refill the container ever so often. Some parts may even need to be cleaned everyday or every other day (“Living with CPAP”). It just depends on what machine you receive. I believe this machine is one of the best machines created for medical use. Some people do not wake up during their sleep apnea episodes and have to be shaken awake from their sleep. People can now prevent other medical problems from occurring from lack of sleep. Couples can now have a better night sleep because one does not have to continually wake up every night to wake up the other.

 

 

"Living With CPAP." - NHLBI, NIH. U.S Department of Health and Human Services, 13 Dec. 2011. Web. 06 Feb. 2013.

Best plant ever or just one of many?

The contributor of the day is an object that is small in stature and, green in color. You can buy it in stores such as Home Depot and Lowes. However, when you look at it around your home you most likely won’t stand there and say, “So this is what has my skin so soft.” So may I present the contributor of the day, Aloe Vera (A.barbadensis L.), a small plant of many uses. One of Mother Nature’s most famous plants, that I personally use the most out of any other in my life and maybe yours too. Aloe Vera is a plant that has been used for over thousands of years.

 Aloe Vera is grown in warm climates, which is why it makes sense that most of the species of Aloe are native to Africa (Chopra, 576). Early records record uses of aloe as medicine for skin and other disorders in the ancient times (Iqubal, M. Khan, Z. Khan, 1). The earliest pharmaceutical use of Aloe Vera recorded was in ancient Sumeria 1750 B.C (Chopra, 575). Early Egyptians referred to this plant as, “the plant of immortality,” because of its many health healing abilities. The use of Aloe Vera today has become both cosmetic and medical. In this day and age we have found a way to turn Aloe Vera into gel. In this state the plant can be used on burns and ulcers.

Aloe Vera is widely known for its uses on the skin. Why is Aloe Vera so useful on the skin you may ask? Aloe Vera has properties that allows rapid healing of the epithelial tissue (Iqubal, M. Khan, Z. Khan, 1). As I was searching for the history and uses of the Aloe Vera plant I come across a wellness site where a woman posted a list of forty uses of Aloe Vera. To see this list will take your breath away because I for one could only name at the most three uses of Aloe Vera and the first one would obviously be the fact that it is in lotion.  Aloe Vera has had such a positive impact in the advancement of medicine. When first used by the ancient Sumerians it was used to relieve stomach aches and nausea, then as time progressed it was used as ointment on burn wounds.  

Now Aloe Vera is not only being used in medical field but now in cosmetology, because of this discovery there came my love of lotion and other skin products. Though this is a very help and giving plant we as human can cause it to harm us. As we have power plants and factories and etc. we contaminate the soil in which the plant gathers nutrients. If the plant takes in too much pollution and in turn is used for medicine in a human the beneficial nutrients become toxic to us. With that knowledge to keep the Aloe Vera plant around we must take care of the plants soil home so that in the future when we need the plant it will be able to treat us instead of poison us.

A. K. Chopra, et al. "Concentration Of The Heavy Metals In Aloe Vera L. (Aloe Barbadensis Miller) Leaves Collected From Different Geographical Locations Of India." Annals Of Biological Research 2.6 (2011): 575-579. Academic Search Complete. Web. 30 Jan. 2013.

IQBAL, SABA, M. MASROOR A. KHAN, and ZEBA H. KHAN. "Combined Application Of Tria And Potassium Stimulates The Gel Content, Morphological And Biochemical Characteristics Of Aloe Vera." Golden Research Thoughts 2.6 (2012): 1-6. Academic Search Complete. Web. 30 Jan. 2013.

The Main Man

To start off my blog about contributors to medicine I thought it was appropriate to begin with Hippocrates, “the Father of Medicine.”  Hippocrates was a Greek physician. He practiced medicine all around Greece. His first light of fame came from creating the medical school on the Greek island Cos. While working at the medical school Hippocrates created about seventy documents on the prevention diagnosis and treatment of diseases (Schneider, 5). This medical work was called Corpus Hippocraticum.  This is kind of like the nursing diagnosis reference manual textbook I have now. This manual has over a thousand pages of different nursing diagnosis not medical diagnosis. A nurse cannot give a patient a medical diagnosis only a physician can. It tells you the signs and symptoms that a patient can or will be exhibiting. The textbook present ways to cure or control the diagnosis the patient is given. The manual gives short term and long term goals for the diagnosis to achieve for the benefit of the patient. So, yes this work by Hippocrates has a rather large influence on the medical field all over the world. Hippocrates established the basis of a medical ethic code. The Hippocratic Oath is recited by new physicians and nurses at school graduations. Only it is a modernized version now because the original version mentions abortion and assisted in suicide. Here is the link to both the modern and original versions of the oath http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/hippocratic-oath-today.html . The teaching style of Hippocrates has been used and passed down through the years. He taught students that having detailed observations was a critical part of diagnosing a patient (Schneider, 5). This is actually very important in a physician and nurses job.  The first thing a nurse does when he or she opens the door to a patients room is make sure they are breathing and not bleeding. After which she begins the verbal communication with the patient. Hippocrates believed that the knowledge of science could be used as a resource to figure out what causes diseases. Hippocrates taught, “Proper diet, fresh air, a moderate climate, and attention to habits and living condition were necessary for healthy living (Schneider, 5).” From these teachings alone anyone can see that Hippocrates was ahead of his time. Proper diet is a continual issue of this day and age. It may have not been that much of a problem back then because Chipotle and McDonalds were not around the corner or on every corner of the roads in Greece. Although the moderate climate is a bit out of our physical abilities to control seeing how for the past two days we have woken up it has been two degrees outside. Hippocrates made a large impact in the lives of medical workers and patients. His influence and will forever be around and never forgotten.

Schneider, Dona, and David E. Lilienfeld. Public Health Volume 1, From The Age Of Hippocrates To The Progressive Era : The Development Of A Discipline. n.p.: Rutgers University Press, 2008. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 23 Jan. 2013.