Weird Medical Facts about the Human Body

The human body is a complex system of organs and cells and sometimes strange things happen to them that can cause alarm or amusement.

In his book, Doctor have you Got a Minute, Dr Tom Smith describes some of the weird medical and bodily conditions that can affect people. These include various parts of the human body and many are conditions patients are embarrassed to discuss with their doctors. Understanding the reason behind them can offer some peace of mind.

Odd Medical Conditions that Affect the Human Body

The human body is a finely balanced system and when something goes wrong, the results can be distressing or just strange:

• Women may grow facial hair as a result of hormonal changes. A predominance of progesterone over estrogen can cause this as can high testosterone levels
• An overactive thyroid gland can cause a fast pulse rate, quicker thought processes and more physical activity. All this leads to weight loss even though a large amount of food may be consumed
• Some men find that their beard grows out ginger although the hair on their head may be brown or blonde. It is thought this may be because that part of their face does not produce melanin but pheomelanin
• Redheaded people have skins that cannot make melanin which gives the skin pigmentation. Instead their body produces a red pigment called pheomelanin
• Mucus in the nose is part of the body’s defence system. Many of the germs that are breathed in are trapped in the nose. The mucus coats the germs and the body fights them resulting in a discharge of mucus. This effect is amplified when suffering from a common cold
• Diarrhoea is a sign of infection in the lower bowel. Rehydration is the best way to treat it as anti-diarrhoeal medications can keep the infection in the bowel and prolong the effects
• Body odour is made up of a number of substances including food such as garlic and onion that pass into the sweat. Strong emotions can cause extra sweating and a lack of washing can allow bacteria and fungi to grow which will add to body odour
• The volume of women’s breasts can vary as much as 30% from one side to the other
• Women have smaller livers than men and on average, have about two-thirds of the capacity of a man’s liver in breaking down alcohol
• Certain foods and drinks including shellfish, asparagus and beer can make urine smell different. A sweet smell may be indicative of diabetes
• Weight can be used as an indicator of when a girl will start her periods. Irrespective of their height, most girls start menstruating when they reach a weight of between 46 and 48 kilograms

Reference:

Doctor have you Got a Minute, Dr Tom Smith, Short Books, 2006

How to Wake Up Early

Do you have a job that requires early rising, but seem unable to get out of bed in the morning? Maybe you feel grouchy, sleep-deprived and sluggish. Read on to find out how to awake early, full of energy.

The Dos of Waking up Early for Work

Teaching yourself how to wake up early is a process that may take a few weeks. Once new routines haves been set, you will find it becomes a habit and is much easier to maintain. Here are some specifics on things you can do to rearrange sleep routines, optimize rest and train yourself to awake early:

• The most obvious way is by going to bed earlier. The average person needs eight hours sleep per night. Decide what time you need to get up and deduct eight hours off this to get a time to go to bed.
• If there is a discrepancy of thirty minutes or more between your actual and desired bed time, it is a good idea to make the changes in 15 minute intervals. Once your body has adapted to this small change, add another 15 minutes on until you are going to bed at the optimal time.
• Set an alarm to help you awake at the desired time. A soft musical alarm is less intrusive than a loud jangling one and may help you awake in a better frame of mind.
• Be careful what you do during the hour before going to bed. Ideally this should be a time when you unwind and relax. Chatting with a partner, reading a book or having a warm bath are good activities to engage in. Experiment with what works best and form new habits around this.
• In some cases, a hot milky drink can help with relaxation. Don’t drink too much or you may need to get up to use the bathroom during the night.
• A large part of changing habits is in the attitude of your mind. Write out a list of why you need to change your sleeping habits and read through it at least once a day. Include the benefits an early start will offer as well as encouragement that you can do this.

The Don’ts of Waking up Early for Work

As well as making positive changes to your behavior, there are a number of things you should avoid when retraining yourself to wake up early:

• Don’t watch violent or dramatic television shows that may stick in your mind and cause nightmares or restless sleep.
• Is your bedroom in a quiet part of the house? If it is next to the room of someone who stays up late, plays loud music or bangs around their room, you may need to request that they limit the noise after a certain hour.
• Napping during the day can interfere with night sleep, especially if you are going to bed earlier than you are used to. It is best to avoid sleeping during the day as far as possible.
• Avoid alcohol, coffee, chocolate and rich heavy meals at bed time. All of these can cause wakefulness.

How to Wake up Early and Maintain the New Routine

Once your body clock has adjusted to awaking early, you will find you start to awake at the same time most days. On weekends, don’t go back to sleep as this can interfere with your new sleep routine. Rather read a book in bed or get up and do something you enjoy. On occasion, a late night dinner, a party or a trip away from home can interfere with your sleep. Be firm with yourself and don’t lapse into old habits of waking up late. In most cases, people find it easier to maintain an early waking hour if they stick to it consistently.

When looking at how to wake up early, using the above suggestions as a checklist can be helpful. Go through the list and work out what suits you best. It may be a good idea to write these into a plan that you can follow day by day. There will be a period of adjustment as your body adapts to changes in routines and habits but if you persevere, awaking earlier in the mornings will become a natural part of life.

Reference List

Mayo Clinic. 7 Tips for Better Sleep. Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sleep/HQ01387 Accessed May 27, 2011

Avoid coffee and rich desserts at bedtime

First Steps to Investigating a Crime Scene

A crime scene gives vital clues to detectives and is inspected thoroughly by various forensic specialists. These include forensic investigators who gather physical evidence and make detailed observations at a crime scene. Photographs are taken, witnesses are interviewed and a detailed theory of what happened is the result. In their book, Postmortem, Dr Steven A Koehler and Dr Cyril H Wecht describe the process of investigating a crime scene.

The First Responders to a Crime Scene

The first people to arrive at a crime scene are usually the police, fire department and paramedics. The medical personnel are responsible for checking for life in a body and declaring it dead-on-arrival if necessary. Once this has been done, the police will note the position of the body, any apparent injuries and watch the actions of the paramedics.

The police are responsible for securing a crime scene and will encircle the death scene with police tape. An inner perimeter is set aside for active investigating personnel such as the coroner or medical examiner and the crime scene photographer. The following should be noted in the police report:

• Physical conditions such as a block of ice on the floor that may melt rapidly
• Times of notification and arrival at the scene
• Time of pronouncement of death
• Those present at the scene

Outdoor crime scenes are more difficult to preserve due to animal activity and weather conditions. Rain, snow and wind can destroy evidence such as footprints and blood spatters.  

Calling in the Forensics Team

Once the crime scene is secure, the police officer will call the coroner’s office. The coroner is interested in any case where the death seemed to be sudden, unexpected, unexplained, traumatic or medically unattended.

If the death warrants investigation, the forensics team will typically comprise two death investigators, a forensic photographer and possibly other experts who deal in ballistics, fingerprints, trace evidence and blood spatter.

Homicide detectives usually work in pairs and approach a crime scene with five basic questions:

• Did the death take place at the crime scene or elsewhere
• Was there any attempt to alter the crime scene
• Does the scene point to any particular activity such as drugs or burglary
• Is the cause of death obvious
• Are there sufficient clues pointing to how the death occurred

What Evidence is Collected at a Crime Scene

There are a number of specialists who deal with physical evidence form a crime scene. The things they look for include the following:

• Blood and other body fluids
• Bones and skeletal remains
• Fingerprints
• Blood spatters and stains
• Weapons and bullets
• Hairs, fibers, paint, soil and glass
• Impressions such as shoe prints, tire tracks and tool marks
• Documents such as wills and suicide notes

A thorough crime scene investigation is necessary for a cause of death and a murderer to be identified. Police and medical personnel work together at the crime scene and forensic investigators are called in to process the scene. By collecting all the evidence available, it is normally possible to identify the cause of death and the killer.

Reference:

Koehler, Dr Steven A and Dr Cyril H Wecht, Postmortem, Elwin St Limited, 2006.

7 Conversation Killers

What Stops a Friendly Conversation in its Tracks? There are certain behaviour patterns that can kill a conversation before it gets going. In fact many people lack conversation skills and don’t even realize it. Here is a guide to some of the pitfalls when engaging in casual conversation.

The Bore

Boring people talk incessantly about themselves, their families and their interests. They don’t ask questions and they don’t listen to others.

The Know-it-all

Many people have a wide general knowledge. Unfortunately, some of them haven’t learnt the wisdom of when to share their erudition. The know-it-all believes they know more than anyone about any given topic and will always have a story that is more spectacular, more interesting and enlightening.

The Loud Mouth

These characters dominate a conversation by sheer volume. They talk loudly, laugh loudly and normally have plenty to say. They enjoy being the center of attention and don’t allow others to share and interact.

The Complainer

Everyone has problems but the complainer broadcasts his for everyone to hear. Issues that should be dealt with in private are tossed out during conversation, often leaving the other party embarrassed or uncomfortable.

The Nosey Parker

In some ways, nosey parkers are opposite to the bore. They show an interest in other people to an excessive degree. Personal questions are asked and they pry into private areas while feigning interest or concern.

The Scanner

Also known as a butterfly. These people engage in conversation while scanning the room for someone more interesting or with more elevated social status. They flit from one to the next, never paying full attention, as they look for the ultimate prize in social interaction.

The Linguist

These people sound like dictionaries. They use academic language and big words where small ones would do. The general effect is to make people feel at a social disadvantage and so ignore them.

At some stage of life, everyone has a tendency to fall into one or more of the above categories. The important thing is to recognize it and make an effort to be more considerate and accommodating when conversing with others.

4 Reasons for Performing a Hysterectomy

A Hysterectomy is the Surgical Removal of the Uterus

There are a number of reasons why a woman undergoes a hysterectomy. Surgeons will carefully consider alternatives before suggesting this, as it is major surgery.

A hysterectomy is basically the removal of the uterus but may also include the cervix, fallopian tubes and ovaries. The decision over which parts to remove is based on the condition the woman is suffering from.

Hysterectomy and Uterine Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are described as benign tumors that can cause severe bleeding. These tumors grow inside the uterus, on its surface or between its walls. Fibroids are the most common cause of hysterectomies in the USA, accounting for roughly 30% of these surgeries. Fibroids cause a wide range of pelvic problems including chronic pain, excessive unpredictable bleeding, and pelvic pressure that may result in fecal and urinary incontinence. The tumors vary from pea size to grapefruit size and a woman frequently has multiple fibroids. A hysterectomy will only be performed if the uterus is riddled with tumors and the woman is suffering from profuse bleeding and chronic pain.

Hysterectomy and Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a condition whereby uterine tissue plants itself outside of the uterus in the pelvic area and causes pain, infertility, irregular bleeding, bloating, fatigue and scarring. It is the second most common cause of hysterectomies, accounting for approximately 19% annually. Endometriosis is diagnosed as mild, moderate or severe and may initially be treated with birth control pills or hormonal treatments. If a woman is past child bearing age or has completed her family, a hysterectomy is often suggested when symptoms are severe and do not respond to other treatments.

Hysterectomy and Uterine Prolapse

This condition occurs when the uterus drops from its normal position and protrudes through the vagina. It is caused by the weakening and loosening of the ligaments that hold the uterus in place and in some cases may include the bladder. Multiple births, age, weight and genetic history are all factors that may affect the extent of uterine prolapse. This is a condition that cannot be left untreated and the only permanent cure is a hysterectomy. Uterine prolapse accounts for 16% of the hysterectomies performed in the United States each year.

Hysterectomy and Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) refers to chromic infections in the pelvic area. A hysterectomy may be performed if PID has been left untreated and there is extensive scarring and inflammation throughout the pelvic area. PID can affect the fallopian tubes, ovaries and uterus and often causes infertility. PID is characterized by vaginal discharge, bleeding, lower abdominal pain and fever. While many women can be successfully treated with antibiotics, others will require a hysterectomy.

A hysterectomy is often a last resort treatment for women experiencing uterine problems. Before a surgeon considers a hysterectomy, he will often try medication or less invasive forms of surgery. A hysterectomy can bring complete relief to the problems caused by fibroids, endometriosis, uterine prolapse and PID and should be considered as a viable option if recommended by a doctor.

Reference:

100 Questions and Answers about Hysterectomy, Delthia Ricks and Lloyd B Greig,  Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2007

Physical Changes before Death

When a terminally ill person nears the point of death, a number of physical changes take place. Understanding this process helps to calm fears and assuage anxiety.

Different Pace

A sudden decline in health may herald the beginning of the end. The decline is often marked by damage or failure to parts of the body.

Distance

Death is the instant that a person leaves this world and moves into the next. When a person has a terminal sickness, death is often preceded by a stage of separation from the physical world and closeness to the spiritual world. This separation may be seen by a lack of desire to indulge in worldly pastimes and an interest in planning a memorial service and setting affairs in order.

Sleep

Sleep begins to take up more and more time. At first a familiar voice will rouse the person but eventually it may seem they are unconscious. Dreams and visions of God and heaven are common at this stage. Even if the person is unresponsive, keep communicating, touching and expressing love.

Appetite

As body systems shut down, food becomes less important. Instead of forcing the issue, offer cool, juicy foods such as ice cream, yoghurt, jell-o and fruit smoothies.

Energy

As death approaches the person may have a decreased response to the world. Occasionally there may be a final burst of energy but this is usually short-lived.

Skin

A whole range of skin changes can occur as the body shuts down. It may become clammy or flushed, turn grey/blue in color or develop blotchy patches.

Circulation and Blood Pressure

Pulse and blood pressure can become erratic during the last few days. They can have emotional effects and cause the patient to have outbursts of anger and emotion. Don’t take these personally.

Body Systems

Digestion and elimination are among the first to cease. The body may prepare for death by a profuse amount of elimination. If the heart is struggling to pump properly, it can result in swelling of the extremities or in the lungs. Suction can ease their breathing in this case. Shaking is a common effect of the systems shutting down and the best treatment is to hold the person close.

Eyes

When a person is dying, the eyes may remain open and seem to become glassy and stare. It may appear that the loved one sees something in the distance and may even reach out towards this vision. When the eyes are glassy and fixed, death normally occurs within hours.

Hearing and Touch

Hearing normally remain intact to the end so use touch and talk to them as the end draws near. Even if they are unable to respond, the contact will be of great comfort to them.

Breathing

As death approaches, the breathing rate will slow drastically with breaths being far apart. While the breathing is quiet and gentle, death is normally not imminent. As death does approach, breathing may become labored with the person gasping for air. A low throaty gurgling is common and is often referred to as the death rattle. These breaths will slow and come further and further apart until the final breath is taken

Death is something common to all mankind, but not something that most people are familiar with. If a loved one has a terminal disease, it can bring comfort and strength to the family to understand the final stages they are likely to pass through. It will also enable them to support the loved one in the best way possible.

Recommended reading: May I walk you Home by Melody Rossi