biomedmillie

[biomedmillie]

University tips for Freshers from a final-year student

1. Don’t study the course material the summer before the course start date

I’ve known so many well intentioned students to do this (including myself!), but it is a fruitless enterprise that ends up wasting precious relaxation time. For a start, lecturers and course coordinators are constantly changing the material that ends up on the exam year upon year, and so in most instances students end up studying subjects with little or no current relevance for the course they are about to embark upon. Furthermore, course prospectus’ are infamously vague, and on more than one occasion I have studied material based upon the course plan that has no relevance whatsoever! University is stressful no matter what year you are entering, and as a first year you may be facing many other new experiences, such as living on your own, being independent and self-sustaining, that bring challenges and difficulties of their own. So don’t spend the summer stressing; use it as a reset point to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed upon that first week of university, so you can face up to those changes! If you want to be proactive but not waste your time, I suggest looking at the reading lists for each course, and lightly looking over any topics that peak your interest. From my experience, reading lists are much less likely to change year to year, and can provide interesting background information for your course- but keep the stress to a minimum!

2. Try not to party too much in Fresher’s week!

This one is so tempting to do, but there’s a few reasons why this isn’t a good idea! First off, fresher’s weeks or ‘Fresher’s festivals’ are often very overpriced and aimed at getting naive students to spend as much of that new student loan as they can before they realise how expensive food shopping and laundry is (tip; it can get very pricey!). Also, in most universities, and definitely in my case, important orientation lectures are held where attendance is mandatory on that first week of term, and it is vital you attend. In the case of science students such as myself, this includes proper usage of microscopes, lab safety protocols, grading schemes and how markings work, your tutorial assignment and can even be work due the next week! I know you might be thinking ‘I’ve heard all this in A-levels’, but universities operate to a different calibration entirely; marking is ranked on percentages rather than a curve, there are no As and Bs, and lab protocols are ALOT stricter. You are working in a higher academic environment, and as such higher academic conduct is expected of you! And this does not just apply to science students; those studying classical subjects will have specific referencing lessons (science students also have this, but only use the Harvard format), new academic writing styles, research methods etc. With all this important information, you don’t want to be hungover or worse miss the orientation and start off on the wrong foot. But if you’re worrying that not going out every night will mean you won’t make friends, don’t fret; most students, including myself, made friends with those on their course after a few months, or through living arrangements. Freshers is by no means your only chance to make friends, there are plenty of opportunities at university to do that, and after a couple of weeks you’ll find great mates!

3. Wait a bit before buying all those expensive textbooks

I’ve been guilty of this, every single year! The fact is, you don’t need every single item on the reading list, and this can even rack up to hundreds of pounds! You can find out which books you might need to buy in the first few weeks of your course, depending on library availability, how much your lecturer relies on the text for course support and content, and your personal ability in the course. Books that are in high demand at the library and the ones you can never seem to get hold off you may need to pay for, but if the book is available the majority of the time you can often rent for weeks on end, and just renew the rent when the time is up. In that case, there is no reason to buy your own copy if the library has enough to sustain demand. In the case of course content and lecturers, the reliance on the textbooks recommended varies greatly; in one course the textbook didn’t feel necessary whatsoever, in another it was a great supporting body that followed the course accurately, and other times the lecturers had used the entire information within the textbook AS their lecture content. It is only when the textbook can be utilised as supporting information that it can elevate your study, otherwise it can be irrelevant or the exact information you just heard in your lecture. Get used to each teaching style in those first few weeks, and make an informed decision whether the information required by the textbook is already fulfilled, irrelevant or would prove to be an excellent resource. Furthermore, textbooks are dense in information, but lacking in higher qualities of information that can push your grade into those top marks, so adjust your need for the textbook according to ability. If you are excelling at a certain course, the information a textbook can provide will be too basic and I would encourage you to push yourself to reading academic journals and papers to earn those top-tier marks. However, if you are really struggling with a course, stick to the basics and give a good thorough read of the textbook; it is unlikely you will understand those higher materials without at least understanding the basics, and you can still get a good grade without reading those complex sources. Both of these scenarios occurred to me in second-year; I bought textbooks for both microbiology and molecular biology, and while I found my microbiology textbook too basic and looked to higher scientific journals, the molecular biology textbook turned out to be a godsend! Everyone has different natural abilities, so I suggest to adjust your study to those needs, and your wallet will thank you in the process!

4. Find a method of note-taking that works FOR YOU

I’ve seen so many peers struggling because they just haven’t found the right form of note-taking for them, and instead follow a method that most do which I highly discourage! The method in question is where the student preemptively downloads the lecture PowerPoint, and makes notes in the space below of details the lecturer may mention. Now, this method works great if you are really on top of your note-taking and have a lot of extra time, but there’s a few reasons why I don’t recommend it. First off, by only making notes on those specific details students often miss the main body of text that acts as the core material, and as such must complete this mass of information at a later date. From my experience, students don’t have the time to do this and as such the material never becomes completed, leaving notes weeks or even months behind. Another method is handwriting. EVERYTHING. While I do agree that you remember more when you are handwriting notes (because it takes longer), this is way too time consuming and results in the same backlog of the previous methods, where your notes are always constantly behind on the lecture material. What I would recommend is a note methodology that incorporates both handwriting and typing up lecture notes, in a way that is not time-consuming. My own personal method utilises a Cornell template, whereby I copy and paste or type up the main body of text from the lecture the night before, and handwrite details of what the lecturer is saying in the columns. If you have the extra time, try reading through the lecture the night before also, and thinking of questions you have for the lecturer about any information you don’t understand. There are multiple iterations of this that I’ve seen, such as using post-its or writing on typed lecture notes, but all the most efficient in terms of time and memory utilise both typing and handwriting. That way you avoid that nasty note backlog, and can experiment with structures and templates that work with your study style. So don’t follow the crowd, and find a method that works best for you!

5. Have Fun!

University is a life-altering experience where most find their independence, and make friends for life. Whilst you should study hard and invest in your future, I wish I had told myself to go easier in my first year; you can still get a First whilst having fun, and you’re only going to have this period of your life for a few short years before you enter the world of work, so enjoy it! Study should never be your entire life, and those rest days are just as important, so try not to overdo your first year and just focus on enjoying that university experience; you’ll have plenty of time for study and stress in those second and third years! (Trust me...)

Note from the author: I hope this article helped to quell some of those fresher nerves, and gives advice I wish I had known in my first year! Comment below if you’re a second or third year with your advice for freshers, and new students feel free to comment with your hopes for the new academic year! I wish you love and luck!

#biomedical science #medicine #biomed studyblr #science #studyblr #doctor #med student #study #studying #100 days of productivity #university #freshers #study aesthetic #study blog #studyspiration #studyspo #study space #studywithme

[biomedmillie]

I’m interested in medicine but I don’t want my work to be my whole life. As a medical student is there still time to have fun and spend time with people rather than just studying all day every day? I really love the subject but I don’t want to give up the other parts of my life that I love, spending time with friends, playing instruments, etc.

Hi there! Just to clarify I am not yet a medical student, I am applying this year to medical school and I am currently entering my third year of my Biomedical Sciences (BSc) degree. However, my degree is very packed and on top of balancing a medical condition and working for the NHS I am very busy, so I can definitely give you some advice! The first thing I will say is that we will always make time for the things we enjoy, and so you don’t have to give up everything that makes you happy. That being said, choosing the career comes with sacrifices. I’ve missed on going out and partying in favour of studying, doing exams or prepping for med school and/or their entrance exams. And those 12-hour shifts are VERY hard, I often fainted in the beginning and got constant UTIs simply due to a lack of water. But going down this career path has been one of the most rewarding and fulfilling journeys of my life. I have overcome barriers I never thought possible, grown stronger through resilience and found a love and passion for my work that I never thought possible. So yes, there is a lot to sacrifice and there is a tough road ahead, but medicine has given me a gift I can never repay; an absolute passion and love for what I do and my purpose in life. 

Believe in yourself and your abilities and you will achieve goals you never thought possible, and remember that anything worth doing will never be easy.

I wish you so much love and luck!

[biomedmillie]

5 (more) books for aspiring med students...

1. War Doctor

By David Nott

Image Source: Pan Macmillan

This book is a real eye-opener for the extremes seen in medicine, and despite Nott’s department from the day-to-day NHS lives of other doctors, the relationship struggles and raw emotions depicted by Nott are something any healthcare worker can relate to. The book documents emergency surgeries, humanitarian crises, Nott’s own struggles with PTSD and even personal negotiations with an autocrat in an effort to relieve the life-and-death scenarios overseas we in the West often neglect. Unlike other author-doctors whose works I’ve read, you can feel the emotional investment and care Nott has for the issues he tackles with, and does not shy away from the emotional struggles that come entangled in the job. What’s more, the nature of Nott’s work makes this book an absolute page-turner, whether you’re invested in medicine or otherwise, so I recommend this book to all and everyone. If you are a medical student or are aspiring to be one (like myself), I encourage you to note the empathy Nott feels for his patients and colleagues, and try to mirror this in your everyday life. More often than not medical professionals are told to limit their emotions in order to deal with the tough nature of the job, but Nott directly challenges this; his work argues that, as medical decisions involve human life, the empathy we all experience as humans must be encompassed within our decision making due to the consequences such decisions could ensue. We must know the value of human life through empathy and emotion before making a decision which could affect it forever. This book is brilliantly written, and I encourage all to give it a good read!

2 & 3. Complications and Better

Image Source: The Guardian

By Dr. Atul Gawande 

I’ve recommended this author before due to his unique and captivating writing-style, and his former books from the bestseller ‘Mortal Beings’ are equally enticing! Unlike Mortal Beings, Complications and Better encompass a greater variety of medical issues, and I encourage aspiring medical students to give all of Atul Gawande’s books a good look. True to form, Gawande begins each chapter by discussing a new modern-day medical problem that healthcare institutions from all over the world face; this has ranged from chronic pain, to the obesity epidemic, the advent of new surgical techniques and much more. Gawande then uses scientific literature and his own personal experiences to give a more rounded view of the topic, and suggests new research opportunities to pursue in the future. Both of these books are fundamentally interesting reads (I polished them off in a week!), tackling the major issues of our time with a highly-engaging writing style. Honestly, Gawande could write about the most boring subject matter imaginable and still form an absolutely enthralling book! Recommend to those in science and the science-interested; you don’t have to be a medical professional to read his work! Gawande writes in such a manner that his work and meaning is clear to all, so if you’re just dipping your toe into the science pool, that’s okay and definitely give this a read!

4. T’was the nightshift before Christmas

Image Source: bookedupgirl.com

By Adam Kay

I’ve recommended this author before also, and I’m sure you know why; Kay’s writing is absolutely hilarious. I’m not going to lie, you won’t gain much medical insight from this little novella, but you will get ALOT of laughs about the 'activities’ patients get up to when Christmas comes around. The book features the same bluntness about the harsh realities of medical life as Kay’s previous work, and so really does knock the naïvety out of the system about life as a doctor. This book, however, is more focused on getting the reader to laugh about the ridiculous cases NHS staff see around the holidays, and it really is a joy to read. I also hope this book convinces some to really appreciate the NHS and the staff that keep it afloat, and hopefully stops people binge-drinking around the holidays and putting enormous stress on the system. But this is not the main purpose of the work, which the book hilariously succeeds at. If you need a bit of cheering up, give this a read, and I promise you will not be disappointed!

5. The Sick Rose

Image Source: www.spectacularoptical.ca

By Richard Barnett

This is the only book on the list that could also be recommended to art students or those interested in illustration! ‘The Sick Rose’ is a book encompassing a culmination of illustrations depicting diseases long since forgotten, such as syphilis, measles, bubonic plague, smallpox and many more. With the advent of the anti-vaccine movement this could act as a harsh reminder of the deadly diseases are ancestors lives were often claimed by, and is a highly interesting read documenting a history of medicine, and providing a window into its past. For those interested in history, medicine or both give this one a good look; you’ll be stunned by the grisly yet oddly beautiful detail it encompasses. But if you have a weak stomach, I’d definitely give this one a pass: the author does not shy away from any facet of human anatomy, or the gruesome effects of these historical epidemics. Either way, this book is a highly interesting read!

If you are a medical student, aspiring to be one or are curious whether medicine is the path for you I highly recommend giving these books a good read. Not only are they all extremely well-written, but also document intricate details about the lives of extraordinary doctors, and give vital insight into the world of healthcare. I thoroughly enjoyed every one of them, and I hope you do too!

If you have any more suggestions for myself or others on the pathway to medicine, please comment them down below; we all need a good book every now and again!

#medical #medicine #medical school #premed #student #study #study space #medblr #Biomedical Science #biomedicos #biomed studyblr #biomedical research #med student #studyspo #100DayProject #100 days of productivity #science #books #booklover #bookaholic #bookblr

[biomedmillie]

hi !! i was just wondering, are you studying medicine or biomedical sciences?

Currently I’m studying biomedical sciences, hence the name biomed-millie! I’m trying to get into post-graduate medicine for the following academic year, that’s the reason you may see a lot of medicine-related posts! I also have quite a bit of clinical experience on a variety of wards, surgeries and medical practices as I’m a part-time NHS worker to gain knowledge and financially support my studies! If I get in I’ll probably change the name to ‘Med-Millie’ or some derivative, thank you for asking!

[biomedmillie]

The SARS-CoV2 pandemic; insight from a science student, an NHS worker and a patient.

My view of the pandemic, and the response

My name is Millie, I’m a second year biomedical student studying in England and hoping to apply for graduate-entry medicine. On the weekends, I also work in my local hospital as a health-care assistant (HCA), to gain experience and to support my own study. I also tested positive for the SARS-CoV2 virus on a swab test for UK healthcare workers.

As all science students will most likely concur, when the media first picked up on the outbreak I was frustrated to say the least. Such sensationalised and misleading headlines such as ‘killer virus!’ proclaiming a deadly contagion to a misinformed public spread like wildfire. Pasta ran out, toilet paper couldn’t be found in site and those with no prior knowledge to the inner workings of infection control were suddenly preaching to the masses about sanitation on morning breakfast shows. In my own microbiology course, my kind lecturer had taken it upon herself to give us a lecture on the exact strain causing the outbreak in Wuhan, and painted a very different picture to what I had heard on the news. This was not the terrifying plague the news media had made it out to be, but rather a new mutation of a common family of viruses that were often the sources of runny noses, sneezing and other symptoms of the common cold that you or I might be infected with thousands of times within our lives. So what was different, and what warranted the drastic measures we see before us now?

The new strain of virus could infect the respiratory tract, and as such was dangerous to those with pre-existing respiratory illnesses or those that were severely immunocompromised. This accounted for an estimated 1% fatality rate, mainly targeting the elderly; although such a low rate may have you scoffing, a lower rate is more beneficial for the virus as those who act as carriers will most likely be unaffected, and as such will not know they are infected and will spread the virus to others. But none of this had been reported in the news, only the severe symptoms and the deaths that a small proportion of the population were experiencing. Such misinformation bred fear, and as such panic began to ensue that had the public rushing to supermarkets further spreading the virus and infecting the vulnerable.

What the newsstands failed to report? A WHO annual report published three months prior to the first case predicting that a virus causing respiratory illness would incite a global pandemic, advising health services all over the world to prepare infrastructure for expanded treatment (GPMB, 2019). The WHO predicts this based upon blood samples taken from bats, known reservoirs of zoonotic viruses. They monitor each new strain that crops up, and further monitor and warn other health services if a virus is found that could potentially make the jump to humans. SARS-CoV2 was found this way, flagged and seemingly never picked up by mainstream media nor bodies of government.

As a part-time NHS worker, I was on shift right up to the first peak of the virus in London at the end of March; the following week my university was shut down and students sent home, and has been my last shift to date. I cannot fault the trust I work with for not being prepared- right before the first wave of cases hit, multiple wards had been cleared and as such every ward was overflowing, including the one I was working on. I can tell you now, that even before the outbreak hit there were not enough masks, sterile gloves or plastic gowns; these are the bread and butter of a HCA when maintaining patient’s personal hygiene, and even before the pandemic every ward I worked on was always running out. This is no surprise to a healthcare worker, these are necessities used everyday by every medical personnel. Another misconception I found myself confronting was the belief that the NHS and their workers only need support during times such as this; pandemic or no pandemic, the job is incredibly hard everyday for every healthcare worker. Urinary tract infections are a common complaint among staff as the working day is so busy there is no time to go to the bathroom, I myself have fainted multiple times on placement or on shift from dehydration, and an hour break is given for a 13 hour shift. Healthcare workers need support everyday for a difficult yet highly rewarding job, not just a minute of clapping at 8pm.

When I first noticed symptoms of the virus, I was two weeks away from my online exams and in the thick of study. I have six exams in total (of which I am in the midst of right now), so it would be an understatement to say that I was stressed. I am also immunocompromised, with a current autoimmune disorder under investigation, but I was never panicked as I had worked in close contact with Norovirus outbreaks at work and had been fine. I was ill for around 10 days, and for the first seven I felt completely incapacitated. I had tried to push myself to study but to no avail, and felt debilitated by the disease. Even before my results came back, I was almost certain it was SARS-CoV2; one of my patients was a confirmed case, and I worked in close proximity with them often. My taste and smell went, I had a slight temperature and my muscles ached. For the initial week I couldn’t get out of bed, slept the majority of the time and my appetite waned as I couldn’t taste anything. But I never felt like I was dying or suffocating as the news reports suggested, and I never developed the characteristic cough widely broadcasted. After a week I was fit to go back to studying, but it took many weeks before my taste and smell fully returned. Many asked if I was angry, as my job as a HCA had put me in the line of fire so to speak, but I replied with a resounding ‘No’; I did not choose my job nor medicine for that matter without the knowledge of the risk. I loved my role in the NHS, I love that medicine is not easy but rather a struggle to reach perfection that one knows they can never ascertain. I love my patients and the compassion the job instils in me, and so I was never angry at my work nor the NHS; I was angry that the world had been warned by science that a pandemic was coming in bold, black letters, and no one had cared to listen.

As a science student, I was infuriated that the literature by world-renowned experts had been ignored. As a healthcare worker, I ached for all the lives that could have been saved if the WHO’s words had been taken into account. And finally, as a patient I was insulted that the same system the government had been criticising for years, draining life from, was the very same organisation that had saved them in the most dire time of need. The NHS has always protected the public, it is just only now coming to light. And for the record, healthcare workers have always been and will continue to be ‘heroes’, providing a gift that no single one of us can ever hope to repay.

The paper I have referenced here is entitled “A World At Risk: Annual report on global preparedness for health emergencies” by the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board, an offshoot of the World Health Organisation. It is referenced below in the Harvard formatting:

Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (2019), A World at Risk: Annual report on global preparedness for health emergencies. Accessed [15.05.20]. Available from: https://apps.who.int/gpmb/assets/annual_report/GPMB_annualreport_2019.pdf

[biomedmillie]

Medical Cheat Sheets🩺📕

Part One

Working on some medical summary sheets; first up is the ECG! Comment with what should be the next part!🔖📝

Edit: Hi all! This cheat sheet has been corrected with real ECG traces from medical case studies. I had a few comments complaining about the accuracy of the original, which I traced from ‘Human Physiology’ 5e by Pocock, Richards and Richards. These are more realistic traces, but slight disclaimer; they are hand-drawn! I have tried to replicate these as accurately as possible, but there may be slight discrepancies between the measurements of these and real traces, so should not be used by medical professionals, but by novice students (like myself) to get a basic grasp on the concept of ECGs. I always welcome critique on this platform, and if you find any more discrepancies in any of my work feel welcome to let me know!

#biomedical science #medicine #biomed studyblr #science #studyblr #doctor #med student #study #studying #100 days of productivity #100dayproject #notes #school notes #study aesthetic #aesthetic

[biomedmillie]

28.05.20

Been catching up on a lot of reading today 📕🔖

What have you been doing?🍃🎋

#biomedical science #medicine #biomed studyblr #science #studyblr #doctor #med student #study #studying #100 days of productivity #100dayproject #study aesthetic #medical #university #medical school #gloomstudy #study space #books #medschool #bujo #bujospo

[biomedmillie]

24.05.20

First day out of hospital, catching up on my mandarin classes, and working on my anatomy notes 📕🔖✏️

#biomedical science #biomed studyblr #science #studyblr #study #plants #medicine #doctor #med student #studying #studyspo #medschool #bullet journal #studygram #bujo #notes #aesthetic #100 days of productivity #anatomy #medblr

[biomedmillie]

Book Club 📚🔖

We are our Brains

-D. Swaab

This book is an engaging read throughout for all, and truly covers the evolution of the brain from birth to death. In his work, D. Swaab speaks on almost all aspects of our lives and their link to our brains, redefining how this structure not only commandeers everyday living, but also the fate of a human being before they are born. Everything is discussed out in the open, from the genetic pre-determinations of schizophrenia and depression, to crime, free will, Alzheimer’s and how the brain is affected by faith.

This read is not for the light-hearted, with Swaab often expressing controversial outlooks based on the neuroscience he has collected over years of research. Prepare for your beliefs, predispositions, prejudices and judgements to be challenged by the very nature of our psyche. The truth is often not popular, and in his work Swaab casts it boldly out in the open into a place whereby you can learn more about your own sense of self. After all, only by understanding our brains can we understand how and why we think, the true motives behind actions otherwise incomprehensible.

Despite the controversial discoveries this book is well-known for, there is something of more substance and value to the avid pre-med reader: compassion. Often, our society looks at those who have committed horrible acts, or have a severe mental disorder, with complete disdain. We dehumanise them, because that is easier than accepting a more complex truth. In Swaab’s work, he writes of genetic pre-determinations that make one more likely to be violent, commit crime or develop severe schizophrenia or psychoses; these are often determined before a human can think, when they are a foetus in the womb. Furthermore, Swaab applies this to obesity, explaining that a mother’s nutrition can alter the genetic expression of their developing child, switching on genes that increase the risk of obesity. All this culminates to a more compassionate outlook to those often down-trodden in our unforgiving society, and without condoning violent acts Swaab provokes a deeper understanding in the reader of others they could never previously relate with.

I recommend this book to everyone, to broaden understanding of our brains and their effect on almost every aspect of life, from birth to religion, Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia, and finally what occurs to this vital organ upon our death. I especially implore science and medical students to give this a good look, to not only increase your scientific knowledge, but to increase your compassion for those you thought you could never understand.

#biomedical science #biomed studyblr #science #studyblr #study #medicine #doctor #med student #studying

[biomedmillie]

🍃🌿📚🔖

#studyblr #study aesthetic #studying #college #university #medicine #doctor #medblr #biomed studyblr #biomedical science #plants #plant mom #plantpowered #medical school #med student #medical

[biomedmillie]

Three studying tips to get into med school

1. Find a dynamic way to make notes

Utilising notes that aren’t just lines on a page is key. Stick to colourful, dynamic notes that will help keep you engaged, and try and vary up your methods as much as possible. Top tips are:

Post-it notes prompting questions and important details

The Cornell method to make notes on the lecturer’s explanations

Bright colours and highlighters to keep your brain engaged!

2. Extra reading is key

Extra reading, whether from a non-fiction paperback, a textbook recommended from your course or a reputable website is a great way to place information you have learned into context of the real world. It’s also a great way to wind down studying, whilst still engaging with relevant material. For people aspiring for medical school in particular, reading the autobiographies of doctors helps to give insight into procedures you wouldn’t of known about and is great for deciding your medical field.

3. Start organising your study time

Setting out time in your day and organising your study time is one of the more crucial aspects of successful learning. By waking up and knowing your goals for the day, what topics you want to study and for how long, your maximising your efficiency, and most importantly your motivation. Sometimes we have so much information to cover we don’t where to begin, but by planning your study time you remove this hurdle entirely, and can ensure all points are covered!

Extra note from the author- If you have exams this month in January (like I do), I wish you luck! The most important aspect to remember is not to panic, and remember that your rest days are just as important as your study ones.

#study #hospital #medicine #doctor #medical school #bullet journal #study aesthetic #med student #biomed studyblr #studyspo #studyblr #study blog #studyspiration #medblr #biomedical science

[biomedmillie]

📚📓📖🔖

#medicine #studyblr #studying #study #100 days of productivity #doctor #biomed studyblr #med student #medblr #medical #books #bookblr #bookaholic #booklover

[biomedmillie]

#med student #100 days of productivity #hospital #university #study aesthetic #study #studying #medblr #studyblr #biomedical research #biomed studyblr #bullet journal #biomedicos #ecg #ecg monitor #cardiology #cardiac #physiology

[biomedmillie]

#medical #university #student #100 days of productivity #studyblr #studyspo #studying #medicine #doctor #ecg monitor #ecg #biomedical science #biomedicos #biomed studyblr #biomedical research

[biomedmillie]

Top 5 books for aspiring medical students

1. When Breath Becomes Air

By Paul Kalanithi

This inspiring piece of literature documents the dynamic struggle of the shift from doctor to patient as Kathlanithi struggles with debilitating lung cancer, all whilst aiming to finish a neurosurgical residency. Like no other I have ever read, Kathlanithi beautifully communicates the passions behind his pursuit from medicine, and illustrates the integral humanity that accompanies both being a doctor and having a life-threatening illness, commenting on his own humanity and attitudes to the patient experience as a doctor himself. A unique perspective like no other, incredibly thought-provoking and a real tear-jerker! If you wish to grasp the emotional side of medicine, no other literature could give such a complete picture as Kathlanithi demonstrates.

(Image: Horizon Push, 2019)

2. Being Mortal

By Atul Gawande 

As the title suggests, Being Mortal is an in-depth discussion on how both society and medicine deal with death, with Gawande astutely noting that sometimes false hope for a miracle cure pushes us to undergo treatments that undermine the quality of life. But not only does Gawande critique the modern medical system, but offers solutions that forego the exchange of excess suffering for more time. Using personal experience and anecdotes, the experiences and work of others and scientific reviews and journals Gawande dismantles the modern view of death as something to be feared and avoided, but offers a choice to greet it with open arms in comfort when the time is right; setting personal goals rather than buying lost time. An excellent thought-piece of literature I couldn’t bear to put down, and an essential for any future practitioner to observe the dynamic ways to deal with death.

(Image: MacmillanFYEbooks, 2019)

3. Do No Harm

By Henry Marsh

Do No Harm is the enthralling tale of a maverick neurosurgeon, whose adrenaline-filled accounts of life-saving procedures will fuel the passion of all would-be medical students. Marsh reads as an interesting and dynamic character himself, making astute comments on medicine and the NHS from the perspective of a brilliant (albeit slightly frustrated) consultant at the top of one of the most challenging fields. Marsh’s stories of his foreign endeavours and first-time procedures in countries such as Nepal and Ukraine make this book even more thrilling, and often astounded at the bravery that is sometimes required to save a life. Brilliantly captivating, I dare any reader not to get obsessed with brain surgery after reading!

(Image: Dr Jack Lewis, 2015)

4. Fragile Lives

By Professor Stephen Westaby

Westaby’s book detailing daring heart surgery and a passion for invention and technological change is awe-inspiring and provides an exciting frontier for the future of medicine. You will hear enthralling anecdotes about mechanical hearts, patients with no pulse and children with holes in their hearts. Westaby’s innovation and pragmatic thinking is truly something to marvel at, and a practice all students should hope to ascertain. A thrill till the very end, and a joy to read for all.

(Image: Amazon, 2019)

5. This is Going to Hurt

By Adam Kay

Both hilarious and heart-breaking in the same instant, This is Going to Hurt encompasses the multi-faceted nature of medicine, from the best of situations to the harshest of truths. A sobering read for any medical-hopeful, Kay’s work will both inspire you, and invite you to question the reasons for chasing such a challenging profession in an austere political environment. Resonating throughout, and a brilliant yet dark account of the medical field that fully encapsulates what it means to be a doctor.

(Image:AnOther, 2017)

#reading #books #medicine #science #death #doctor #medschool #premed #biomedical science #review #recommended #author #thisisgoingtohurt #fragilelives #when breath becomes air #do no harm #being mortal

[biomedmillie]

Three common medical myths perpetuated by Hollywood

1. We only use 10% of our brains:

This is a common myth perpetuated by science-fiction to rationalise concepts such as telekinesis and telepathy, insinuating that some substances can increase our cerebral capacity and hence such abilities are possible. It only takes a few PET and fMRI scans to figure out that humans use almost all regions of the brain almost all the time, even when sleeping. In fact, in the phase of sleep where dreams occur, known as rapid eye movement phase (REM), the brain is almost entirely awake except for centres which control muscular activity and movement (essentially paralysing us for our own safety when you’re dreaming of boxing with Mike Tyson). Almost every section of the brain is a control system essential for the human experience, such as the occipital lobe that processes visual information, or the temporal lobe associated with emotion and long term memory. Just look at these images below and tell me if only 10% of our brains are utilised:

Image above: (Wygant, 2007)

The images actually demonstrate the devastating effects of neurological conditions affecting brain function such as Alzheimer’s, where patients forget key memories and loved ones, form impairments in their visual processing and become confused and afraid by their surroundings. A loss of even 10% of function can have life-altering effects on the human experience.

Therefore, the insinuation we only use 10% of our brains is nonsensical and ridiculous. We all want to believe in telekinesis, but there’s far more interesting science out there that is true, and backed by peer-review!

2. CPR can immediately bring people back to life.

CPR stands for Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation and is often what is seen in films as chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth (sometimes called ‘the kiss of life’). An easy commentary for anyone trained in first aid is that the Hollywood celebrities in films don’t try nearly as hard as necessary in real life, often poorly mimicking the procedure with a few half-arsed and sluggish pumps to the chest (often in the wrong place) and one breath that causes the casualty to miraculously recover.

Two myths are encompassed in these dramatic scenes: the first already aforementioned, in real life over 100 compressions per minute must be performed to keep blood flow sufficient, with rounds of 30 compressions and 2 breaths repeated over and over in the middle of the sternum. Secondly, CPR alone will not resuscitate a patient. Its purpose is to keep blood and oxygen flowing to the brain until help can arrive, and secondary resuscitation and/ or defibrillation can be performed. Compressions alone will never cause the casualty to regain consciousness. The only time where this hollywood scene is even slightly performed in real life are cases of drowning, where chest compressions force inhaled water out of the lungs, thereby removing the obstruction to breathing. But even this is rare!

Even though you won’t get that miraculous movie scene moment, CPR is essential in emergency situations for keeping the brain alive: if you ever have to perform it, do not stop until help arrives, unless you feel you may lose consciousness (it is after all much more strenuous than those beautiful actors make out).

3. A Defibrillator/AED can bring someone back from the dead.

A defibrillator is a device used by medical professionals with two electrodes attached to pads, which are positioned diagonally on a patient’s chest (below the breastbone on the right side of the chest to just on the lower half of the rib-cage on the left side of the chest), sending a charge of electricity directly through the heart. The myth? Any patient who’s dead or dying can be given a shock and bolt right back up alive and well.

This is unfortunately, yet rather obviously, untrue. A completely dead heart will not be restarted, it must have a ‘shockable’ rhythm. This is not the absence of a rhythm, but rather erratic electrical activity in the heart causing uncoordinated contraction; the heart is alive, but is not acting as an effective pump. The most common shockable rhythm is known as ventricular fibrillation (VF), which causes the heart to quiver rather than synchronously contract. A correctly administered shock can restart the heart’s electrical activity and allow coordinated electrical activity to resume, but a dead heart it cannot bring back. Hollywood seems to get the out-dated panels out for almost all ailments, but an AED or defibrillator can only be used in cardiac arrest, and a shock only administered if a shockable rhythm is present.

Can this wonderful device bring patients back from the precipice of death? Yes, if a shock is advised and correctly administered the life-saving uses of an AED cannot be over-exaggerated. But don’t expect to go into the morgue with an AED and revolutionise medicine, it doesn’t work that way!

References:

Wygant, S. (2010) Diagnosis: Alzheimer’s Disease; Risk Factors & Treatment Options. [online] Available from: https://homeinstead.wordpress.com/2007/08/21/diagnosis-alzheimers-disease-risk-factors-treatment-options/ [30/12/2019]

#medicine #myths #movies #science #neurology #cpr #defibrillator

[biomedmillie]

Debunking health-related IG posts

Post One:

The whole portrayal of this image is wrong; the body is efficient at ‘cleansing’ by itself. The liver is the body’s detoxification system and as such any product or food claiming to ‘detoxify’ or cleanse your system is unfortunately exaggerating its abilities. The symptoms the image is describing are common for those with a generally unhealthy diet, whilst some have no scientific backing whatsoever. 

The sugar cravings are most likely attributed to high sugar and low-fibre foods that are not slow-release, whilst belly fat is due to an overconsumption of calories (all adipose tissue acts as stores for excess sugar). 

Bloating and gas can come from a diet with little fruit and veg- this means low dietary fibre as well as poor gut flora which help absorb nutrients from food, causing gut problems.

There is no scientifically proven link between diet and skin condition (although if a certain diet or avoidance of foods work for you, stick with it!).

Low energy, again a claim from eating fast-release carbohydrates.

Overly sugary foods and liquids can cause bad breath (NHS, 2019).

Constipation is again due to a low fibre diet; insoluble carbohydrates such as cellulose act as roughage which aid peristalsis (rhythmic contraction of the gut).

Certain energy restrictive diets can improve cognitive function, but no paper I could find linked diet with mood (Brinkworth, Buckley, Noakes et al).

Post Two:

Again, another mysterious claim of ‘detox’. This one comes from a specific chemical in apples, mainly Phlorizidin. This is a drug that helps lower blood sugar concentrations and was previously considered as a treatment for Type 2 diabetes (the drug, not a diet of apples). However, this drug is inefficient at lowering blood sugar and better alternatives have been found.

There seems to be a common belief in pseudo-science that bile lets the liver excrete toxic or ‘bad’ substances; in all my studies there is no literature to support this, bile aids in digestion and is an alkaline mixture rich in bicarbonate ions to neutralise acidic chyme once it enters the duodenum. All excretion is facilitated by the kidneys, which essentially act as a filter for the blood.

Post Three:

There is some credence for celery juice’s ability to boost your immune system’s function due to its rich source of vitamins, particularly vitamin C which supports your immune by increasing the cellular processes of the cells that run it (Carr, Magini, 2017), but to say it removes ‘viral waste’ is ridiculous to say the least. Despite viral waste not even being a legitimate medical term, viral debris from destroyed cells will be removed by phagocytosis; white blood cells (phagocytes) engulf the cell, destroy it and absorb the remains.

Furthermore, common viruses such as the Flu are Pyro viruses, meaning they increase your body’s temperature. This is because your hypothalamus increases its ‘set point’ (the core body temperature) to kill the virus off. There is no scientific evidence to significantly suggest that celery juice aids this.

All in all this post is incredibly misleading.

Post Four:

The literature on this is extremely mixed, with some studies reporting inconclusive results and others reporting effects in contextual memories. All studies agree certain odours activate specific context-dependent memories (meaning there is no inclination to suggest that just because you’ve been sniffing rosemary you’re going to remember Avagadro’s number). All in all, there’s not enough scientific literature to draw a conclusion, and I have no clue where the author got their “75%” from.

I’ll reference a prominent paper on this below, but again this post is extremely misleading (Ball, Shoker, Miles. 2010).

Conclusion:

In summary, take IG posts with a pinch of salt! Medical facts are stretched or even falsified to create a satiating quote that we all wish to believe, of which the avid science student will often roll their eyes and scoff at. Before changing your diet and lifestyle, always consult a healthcare professional before doing so.

Note: If any information is factually incorrect please privately inform me with some scientific support and I will always correct my work- we could all learn a little more! However I do fact check to the best of my ability using accredited journals and studies published by the scientific community. I will not be naming the authors; my intent is to shame no one, but to inform the general public about evidence-driven science.

References:

Brinkworth GD, Buckley JD, Noakes M, Clifton PM, Wilson CJ. (2009) Long-term Effects of a Very Low-Carbohydrate Diet and a Low-Fat Diet on Mood and Cognitive Function. Arch Intern Med. 169(20):1873–1880

Ball, L.J. Shoker, J. Miles, N.V. (2010) Odour‐based context reinstatement effects with indirect measures of memory: The curious case of rosemary. British Journal of Psychology. 101 (4).

Carr, A.C. Magini, S. (2017) Vitamin C and Immune Function. Nutrients. 3;9 (11).

NHS, (2019). Bad Breath. [online] Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Bad-breath/ [30/12/2019]

#science #biomedical science #instagram #health #diet #lifestyle