Author Archive

Your Amazing Body Series 1 – Respiratory System

September 27th, 2010

thumbnailCAS0ILIR I have been in the medical field for over thirty years. As an RN for half that time. The rest was as a medial Unit Secretary, and a nurse’s aid, or Patient Care Technician as they are called now.  Thinking about this is pretty amazing.

I have participated in surgeries - bowel and breast reconstructions, amputations, as well as medical procedures such as hemodialysis, bedside hemodialysis, to name a couple and countless memories of patients I cared for.

My interest in the medical field started when I was eighteen when my mother had to have surgery to remove cataracts in her eyes.  I started reading anatomy books and fascinating documentation on surgery in the 18th and 19th centuries. Boy have we come a long way! Thankfully.  It was all so interesting to me.

When I becamea registered nurse I had plans to work in the OR because I loved surgery. But as fate would have it I became a labor and delivery nurse instead (that’s where the job opening was for a fresh nuring school graduate at the time). It all worked out.

I have a love for anatomy and physiology and when I teach childbirth education I always emphasize the magic of physiology and anatomy in my classes – simply because we forget how amazing the human body is, how it performs, or rather how much of the human body we take for granted.

If you are in a career other han the medical sciences, you won’t know what we know. Just like I don’t know about the amazing bio-seciences, in-depth microbiology or biology. I know about the human body its anatomy and how it functions. It’s absolutely amazing.

So I thought I would start a basic series about the human body in hopes you may look upon your own amazing anatomy, the wonders of how your own body works, and gain a better understanding of why it’s a good thing to take care of it – it’s the only one you’ll ever have … love it and enjoy it. It’s remarkable!

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

When I first learned that oxygen exchange happened in these little “grape” like clusters in the lungs called Aveoli I was surprsed. Simply because I thought when I inhaled, the air filled my lungs like a balloon and when I exhaled my lungs deflated and that was the end of it!

Nope .I was actually inflating the “grapes” where oxygen exchage happens on a microscopic level. In fact it’s at this microscopic level where oxygen passes through the membrane  into the blood stream attaching to red blood cells that transport  oxygen to tissues and cells within my body. At the same time, CO2, or carbon dioxide is exchanged and exhaled as I, and you, exhale.  The actual exchange of CO2 and O2 in the aveoli is called “respiration”.

Watch this video to get an appreciation on how this works.

Once you understand how the respiratory system operates it’s easier to understand how the simple act of breathing can carry other microscopic elements into the body and cause a potential health problem.

Now, having shared this, does it raise questions for you? Let me know what they are…

Thank you in advance for your comments!

ltfsigsmile

Oh … So Preventable

September 21st, 2010

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This is really distressing to me. Pay attention!

Yesterday I heard this story on the local news and was shocked to hear it – yet not, because people are not paying attention.

Listen ….

Now, the results are not in yet  if this man did indeed die from a chemical exposure . Regardless .. this is a LOUD warning bell to you and everyone else you know. And here it is :

90% of chemical exposures happen in the home and are preventable!

This guy was using bleach to hose down his deck. If he mixed the bleach with ammonia he created a new chemical compound of CHLORINE GAS which is DEADLY.

There are so many products on the market that are toxin free. Buy them! Protect yourself! Protect your kids and pets! What is so difficult about this?

So, check what’s under your kitchen, bathroom sink!  If the labels read poison – get rid of it! Stop using bleach to clean your counter tops, kitchen,  home with! And NEVER mix products together.

Everything we use creates microscopic chemical reactions that we can’t see, but can cause a great deal of harm to our health and well-being. Trust me. They’re happening.

Be wise and stay alive. Can you imagine going to clean a part of your home, garage, back porch, etc, never thinking you could be harmed (or die) by what you’re using to clean with??????? Yikes!

You are, we are smarter than that. All it takes is education. Educate yourself on being safe in your home and what products to use that are safe. If you’re not sure where to begin, email me – info@leslynotes.com

This is a passionate message to you  from your Green RN

Let me know what you think, and thank you in advance for commenting.

ltfsigsmile

The Day the Internet Turned Warm

September 20th, 2010

(repost from June 2010)

I must take a break from the usual “birth” related topics to showcase an amazing personal experience – and something that may interest you.

I am in essence a business woman working her way through all the information on network marketing, social media, etc.  And asking the perennial question: How do I get traffic to my site? All in an effort to get my message out there – essentially to build my business in helpingpregnant women.

Well, promoting my business/message and services on the Internet got as far as my own desk.  One day I checked my stats and was THRILLED to see lots of visitor hits!! Only to discover I had not changed the settings to ignore my visits – just pick up the millions of other people who came to visit my blog – not mine, theirs … .  Bummer…

I actually disliked Facebook (FB)  sometime ago too because of all the applications and such, and it was slow to load … not now though. Because if I still had ny nose up in the air about FB, I would not have discovered what I am about to share with you now.

I have always known that people make the world go round.  The idea you can live a life without people (although I suppose some do like Jeremiah Jones) , or even start and build a business without people is well, ridiculous.

There’s millions of people on the Internet – yet how do you really connect with them to build relationships while getting your message out to them and others in a “warm” manner?   The internet can be a cold place and isolating. Not anymore. You’ll hear why.

Watch …


Learn more  -TSA+ Tribe Syndication Association

Now, I have only been a member for two weeks since the date of this post and already I have seen an increase in traffic and interest in what I do. Yet it’s WAY more than traffic! It’s being part of a HUGE family with the same goal – helping others.  You may be familiar with Zig Ziglar  who says “If you help people get what they want, you get what you want”.

So here are my thoughts about TSA:

  • it’s free ( i know you were wondering about that)
  • promote/syndicate others, they do the same for you – and WEEKLY
  • meet wonderful people
  • make outstanding new friendships
  • it’s fearless – we’re all in it together
  • no more cold “friendship” requests
  • you know who you’re talking to
  • it’s educational – reading blogs by others is very educational, and enlightening
  • helps to keep writing new content on your blog because you know people will be coming and you don’t want to have the same post up
  • motivational
  • the results are DIRECTLY related to effort
  • it’s fun
  • a positive experience
  • gives hope that your message will get out to “cyber” space
  • you are not alone

So. Join us.  Maybe I’ll see you there and read your blog …