which turkey?

last week we spent six days in durango for the thanksgiving holiday.  although we had planned to spend much of our time outside, we hadn't planned on the cold weather.  we had enough forethought to bring kota's new snowsuit, but on our first outing we discovered that he is already too tall for it!  he was a good sport and he walked around in the snow for a good ten minutes, but we couldn't stop laughing because he looked like a bright red starfish.  he couldn't bring his arms down and he couldn't get his feet together!  but he was warm and that was the important part!

so, we learned that kids have a much lower tolerance for and excitement about snow than us adults.  notice kota's lack of excitement after ten minutes of play.  why is that?  is it mental or is there some physiological reason?

here are a few pointers about babies and cold:
-your baby will generally need more layers than you will, since he or she is not as active, therefor not producing as much heat
-humans lose more heat through their heads than anywhere else.  this is especially true for babies, who have proportionately bigger heads than adults.
-babies and toddlers need extra layers on their legs since they don't move at all, or, in the case of toddlers, they don't move very fast
-glare can be especially bad on snow, so consider a pair of sunglasses for your tot.
-periodically test your baby's warmth by touching his nose, cheeks, or fingers.  at the end of each adventure, as you unbundle your child in indoors warmth, immediately test his hands and feet, particularly to see if he's dry and warm.  this is the test of whether your outing has been successful and will give you clues to what may be needed on your next winter trip.


as in all cases, babies need special care and attention in the snowy world.

it's just nerves

that's what rob says when he tickles me. "it's just nerves!"  when he has captured me between his legs and stimulated my ticklish self to a point of either wetting my pants or simultaneously combusting, he says calmly, "it's just nerves."  when i have finally recovered (read: caught my breath and returned to a state of more love than fear) i try to retaliate.  but, of course, rob is not ticklish.

what is it that makes me so ticklish and rob so immune?  was it the years and years of "abuse" from my two older brothers?  was it that from an early age i enjoyed the laughter that accompanies tickling?  was it learned or is it inborn?  these are questions to which i have to know the answers.  if i could learn to like tickling, perhaps i could learn to be immune.

my internet research revealed some interesting results:
-tickling is probably limited to humans and primates, but it is not understood why some people are more ticklish than others.
-tickling is commonly accepted as an integral bonding activity, particularly between parents and children.  when expressed between siblings it is usually used for punishment and intimidation.  between friends and lovers tickling is the fifth and highest grade of social play and illustrates deep intimacy.
-perhaps we are ticklish for the purpose of bonding, perhaps it is an evolutionary adaptation to protect those particular areas of our bodies, or perhaps it has helped us develop combat skills.
-and the reason we can't tickle ourselves is not entirely understood, but it is likely that the cerebellum sends precise information about the position of the tickling target to the somatosensory cortex, voiding the element of surprise, which is required for tickling.

this is what it looks like when my brother tickles me:

notice that my headband is in his hand, i am totally stuck under his arm, and still, i am laughing.  it is an odd thing, tickling.  and i think i will be ticklish for the duration...

orgasmic birth

in recent history, women in the united states have been taught to fear the birthing process.  they have been advised to labor in the hospital for their own safety and for the safety of their child.  they have been encouraged to take advantage of the many drugs available to them to numb the pain.  and they have become increasingly comfortable with elective cesarean sections, a major surgery.  also, insurance has been stepping in to control options and expenses for pregnant women.

have we forgotten?  pregnancy is a gift.  it is not a disease.  it is not a condition.   it is a beautiful, natural, transformative, age-old gift.

women had been giving birth successfully for more than a few years before obstetric surgeons.  they used doulas and midwifes who were fully capable of meeting all of their basic needs before, during and after labor.  traditional labor can offer exceptional joy, connection and usually an elated feeling of orgasm from the loads of oxytocin pumping through the woman's body.  and of course, some intense pain is to be expected.

it's true, obstetric surgeons have been integral to helping many women and babies survive labor, and that is priceless, but most births don't require their level of intervention.  furthermore, most interventions in obstetric practices do not have a sufficient history of long-term effects.  already, many drugs and practices that were developed to facilitate labor have been discontinued because they were found to harm women and their babies.  for example, women took scopolamine for almost 40 years which was found to cause twilight sleep; women screamed, scratched at doctors, tried to climb walls and spat at people.  this drug took away memory, self-awareness and self-control so, as a result, women were tied to their beds, sometimes for days.  also, pregnant women had systematic x-rays of their bellies until this practice was linked to cancer in babies.  next, thalidomide was used, which caused babies to be born without arms and legs.  then cytotec was given to induce labor in women; those with previous cesarean sections incurred ruptured uteruses and thus dead babies.  the point is that obstetric interventions are being taken very lightly although they may cause serious, permanent damage to mothers and babies.

an ob/gyn and researcher, michel odent, depicts a metaphor comparing current obstetric practice to a traveler lost on the wrong path.  once the traveler realizes that (s)he is lost, (s)he turns back, starts over and finds a different, previously trodden path.  he implies that our society has gotten off the time-tested path, that we should start over and reconsider the midwife as our best option.

in the 1960's there was a resurgence of home births.  today, more and more women are exercising their right to decide what kind of experience and treatment they would like during labor.

below is an excerpt from a friend's blog who is training to be a midwife in peru; she is sorting out some of the differences between pregnancy in a first world country versus a third world country.

As a pregnant woman who lives in a developed nation in the 21^st century, I do not worry that I will not survive childbirth. I do not worry that my child will not survive her passage into this world or make it her first year. I enter into pregnancy and labor fraught with my own fears that are based on 21^stcentury realities, likely that I will not be able to bear the pain of childbirth, that it will be too much for me. I have no reason to call into question the formal health system – my midwife’s or physician’s training, the quality of the hospital or birth center where I will deliver, the medical interventions that will be performed upon my body, or prompt access to necessary treatment, facilities or medication that will ensure the survival of me and my baby. I also do not question that I will be treated with respect and dignity, that I will have a voice and a role in my own labor, childbirth and newborn care. As a first world citizen, I also have implicit faith in my health system and the personnel caring for me. It is a privilege to feel safe in my pregnancy and upcoming childbirth, and to be able to concentrate on the celebration and joy of my new role as mother, my changing body, and the knowledge I am creating new life.

This is one of the true marvels of being a citizen of a developed, politically stable, and wealthy nation.

ballerina

i spent much of my early childhood dreaming about becoming a ballerina. i would train and rehearse; i would break in pointe shoes, wear leg warmers and tutus; i would eventually become a prima ballerina! today i watched a documentary about five young russian ballerinas in the kirov ballet. each young woman was very interesting and brilliantly talented, and it was fascinating get their perspective about their lives as dancers. and i confirmed why i am not one!

the anatomy of a ballerina is specific. she should have a small head, long neck and long legs. she should be slender and strong. she will start training when she is just ten years old so it will be hard to tell whether she will have a dancer's body after puberty. she will progress from slippers to pointe shoes when she has adequate foot and ankle plantar flexion, technique, training, alignment and strength.

she will benefit from developing strong muscles, gaining balance and coordination and forming bonds with other ballerinas and teachers, and she will build confidence in her performance on the stage. these are healthy, direct effects of her studying.

but even a ballerina is bound by gravity.

her body will undergo severe stresses that can cause temporary or permanent damages to her body. for example, if, like many students, she breaks a toe when she starts "en pointe" and does not allow it to heal properly, she will have crooked toes. if she is undernourished, endures regular, hard physical exercise, or has a lower than average fat/lean ratio, she will likely start menstruation later than her peers. she is at a higher risk to experiment with calorie deficits and develop an eating disorder. and, finally, she may experience psychological distress from physical and technical perfectionism.

prima ballerinas personify one of the most internationally recognized fairy tale endings. every little girl has dreamt of picking up handfuls of flowers and smelling them for hours after a brilliant performance. 

but few have the audacity and the fortitude... nor will their bodies allow it.

and yet, even though ballet is not for all of us, there remain exciting challenges for the non-professional athletes.   the amazing thing about our bodies is that they can be stretched to amazing lengths, if only we apply ourselves...

the "feel good" hormone

i hate running.  i have never enjoyed the burning in my lungs, the jolting of my joints, and the achingly repetitive motion.  but saturday morning i rallied some motivation from my inner depths, and i ran.  i biked one mile for a quick warm-up, ran six miles, and biked one mile home to cool-down.

much to my dismay, i had fun.  the sun was out, the trail was busy, birds were chirping... it was beautiful.  and i think i've learned that i never liked running, not because of the physical stress, but because i was bored.  my lungs didn't burn that bad, and my joints were fine...  and i felt great for the rest of the day.  was it the fresh air?  or the vitamin d?  or the endorphins?!

endorphins are endogenous morphine.  or, literally, "morphine produced naturally in the body."  except that there is no chance of addiction or dependence!

who wouldn't want an endorphin rush?!

endorphins are produced by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus during exercise, excitement, pain, consumption of spicy food, love and orgasm.  they resemble opiates in their abilities to produce analgesia and a feeling of well-being.  and we can all trigger endorphin release.  we can participate in strenuous exercise, meditate, receive acupuncture or massage therapy, or make babies!  seriously, sex is a potent trigger for endorphin release and placental tissue, formed during pregnancy, excretes beta-endorphins into the maternal body system from the third month of pregnancy.

whether it was the beautiful day or the endorphins, i was inspired.  i ran again this morning and enjoyed myself, again.  have i found a new hobby?

sustaining joint health

i had an initial assessment with my physical therapist, teresa, last week.  after i had described the traction injury i incurred while climbing, she tested my strength (right versus left arm), she watched my neck and shoulders anteriorly as i articulated my head up, down, left, and right, and she watched my scapula posteriorly as i articulated my arms up and down.  after these brief assessments, teresa determined that i had most likely stretched my shoulder ligaments as well as the nerve running through my armpit.  all of these fibers have plausibly regenerated and are prepared to perform routine shoulder movement, but they are not functioning in synchrony.  for ten days i have "retrained" my arm to work as it should.  

i pull my scapula down and back so it is flat against my back and close to my spine.  then i row, extend to hip, and extend out to side.  i do these exercises without weights; i am simply training my arm to operate in the proper sequence to function efficiently.  after this sequence training, i will start to weight train the muscles so they will support the joint, even at rest.  even though i am not using weights, my muscles are sore after i articulate them intentionally for 20 minutes.  imagine the flashing neon red or lightning bolts you see on indigestion commercials...

this morning i had my second appointment with teresa.  she saw an improvement in my scapula rotation; it was no longer "winging out" when i lift my arms above my head.  but there is still some instability, so i will start to strengthen the rotator cuff muscles.  for the next three weeks, i will lift light weights and perform several weight bearing, balance exercises.  as i practiced each exercise in her office, she pointed out which muscles were being targeted - the subscapularis, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, serratus anterior, and trapezius.  i should try not to use my deltoids and latissimus dorsi.  it is easier to understand the basis of my physical therapy now that i understand the intricacies of the joints and muscles in the shoulder.

prostate or prostrate

as i sat waiting for a dear friend to meet me for a delicious, refreshing trippel at the equinox brewery, i overheard three gentlemen very openly discussing prostatitis.  now, of course i thought i had misheard them, so i began to listen more intently.  sure enough, "i had prostatitis, too!" was clearly sung above the ambient music cascading through the speakers.

according to mayoclinic.com:
"Prostatitis, a disease of the prostate gland, can cause pain in the groin, painful urination, difficulty urinating and related symptoms. The prostate gland produces components of semen, the fluid that helps support and transport sperm. The gland, about the size and shape of a walnut, sits directly below the bladder and surrounds the urethra, the tube that transports both semen and urine to the penis."

these men, two of which had kids in tow, were complaining of these exact symptoms.  they relayed tales of pain when sitting, pain when urinating, and difficulty ejaculating.  i had to wonder if they meant to speak this openly with the whole bar audience.  the thing i found interesting was that they were not complaining of inflammation because i have learned that "-itis" is a suffix denoting diseases characterized by inflammation.

but then according to urbandictionary.com:
"Itis is the drowsy or sleepy effect linked to digesting large meals, usually high in fat or salt content."

so i didn't know what to think because urban dictionary is so accurate and reliable.

further research unveiled that the reason prostatitis is painful and causes difficulty with nether functions is because of inflammation of the prostate gland.  below is an image that shows how the urethra passes through the prostate, and how any swelling of the prostate can affect urination.

as quickly as the conversation started, it stopped.  and they moved onto man's best friend.  sadly, one of their dogs has stage 4 interstitial fasciitis.  clearly, the inflammation of fascia.  perhaps the topic for another blog...

shared values

when i study at night i teach my partner about how our bodies work in beautiful synchrony: the complementarity of structure and function, synergistic skin layers, the "fluidity" of bone.... when he studies at night, he teaches me about socioeconomic presuppositions, therapy techniques and a variety of case studies about social discontinuities. so i got to thinking about the intersect of our course work; rob is studying the social structure and i am studying the human structure. and they are not so different. both vocations focus on care of the whole person using creative, individualized therapy. both "ologies" have basic knowledge available to anyone with access to wikipedia and both have intensely deep philosophies for those curious enough to ask. both afflict rich and the poor, black and the white, gay and straight.

specifically, public health nurses must make moral decisions regarding practice in complex situations fraught with competing moral claims. nurses have practiced within a context of ethics since the beginning of professional nursing in the 19th century. the impetus for the professionalization of nursing found expression in the nightingale pledge in 1893 and the subsequently suggested ethical codes that led to the first formally adopted code in 1950. ethical codes, in nursing as in other professions, serve not only to define such groups as professional as opposed to occupational, but also to outline primary duties, responsibilities, and obligations. the most recent revision of the american nurses association's ethical code include provisions and standards that address human rights duties and obligations.

public health has been defined as what we, as a society, do collectively to assure the conditions for people to be healthy. this definition, which stresses the societal responsibility for the health promotion of the population as a whole, raises an important question about the scope of public health. is public health responsibility confined to the prevention of the immediate causes of injury and disease, or should public health be more concerned with the alleviation of the larger social and economic problems that have an impact on health and disease, such as poverty, violence, and inadequate housing?

(A Critical Intersection: Human Rights, Public Health Nursing, and Nursing Ethics; Advances in Nursing Science: October/December 2007 - Volume 30 - Issue 3)

a professional opinion. or two.

i visited an orthopedic surgeon on monday afternoon. after one year of discomfort, pain, and instability in my shoulder i gave in to the subjectivity of a professional. after we talked about how we both like to climb and cycle (and how those play into my injury), we began testing the joint in question. none of the positions were uncomfortable or painful, none of the resistance exercises illustrated a difference in my right versus left shoulder strength, and neither of us could hear or feel the crackling i have frequently felt. classic, isn't it? as soon as we are ready to talk to someone about an issue, it eludes us.

anyway, when he was sufficiently convinced i was going to be okay without surgery (perhaps to his chagrin?) he went next door to get a shoulder model. i suppose not all of his patients are in physiology and anatomy so he is practiced in presenting the human structure in a really simple manner; for example, he said, "this upper part can sometimes have some abnormal growth on the end (imagine lots of hand motions) and the tendon that runs under it (more hand motions) which attaches to the bicep (pointing to my right arm) 'right here' can sometimes get pinched" i said, "so, the acromion of the scapula develops a bone spur which can put pressure on, or even tear, the tendon of the biceps brachii?" he was surprised. and said that was the basic idea. it felt good to have a grasp on the details of my injury. i am excited to visit a physical therapist next week to hear a second opinion. i also look forward to weekly therapy sessions with a woman who is as excited about the body as i am!

pain

my shoulder hurts.
i went climbing on sunday and my shoulder still hurts. what i really want to do is research all of the possible ailments and then self-diagnose. then i will determine the best course of healing and be on my way.
but we aren't to joints and tendons yet.



so i will talk about the foot instead. my feet hurt on sunday because of the silly, miniature, sticky shoes that climbers insist on wearing. i am guilty. i have more confidence on the wall when i have an unbelievably 'too small' shoe on my foot. many women are guilty of a similar, unfortunate foot pain, compromising foot (and total body) comfort for sexy high heels. what a crude invention.

the aching foot.
anytime you wear shoes that are tight or constrict the natural shape of your foot, doctors say it's bound to cause foot pain.

high heels can lead to bunions (bony protrusions that usually pop up at the base of the big toe and distort the shape of the foot), corns and calluses (thickened layers of dead skin usually occuring on the toes or sides of the foot), and "hammertoe" (a condition that causes the bone of the affected toe to curl under, leaving the top to rub against the shoe). also, as we age, we lose some of the fatty deposits that normally protect the ball of the foot. and finally, women who have worn primarily high heels for most of their lives, may experience shrinkage of the achilles tendon (the area that runs from the back of the heel to the calf) which can result in pain when wearing a low-heel shoe or even the inability to walk barefoot.

and what about the climbing shoe? some climbers are affected by toe deformity (claw or hammer toes), splinter hemorrhage under nails (collection of blood under toe nails), bruised toes, cuts, corns, mycosis (fungal infections), nerve compression syndromes, hallux valgus (big toe angled towards other toes), disorders of the traversal arch structure in foot, and bunions. projecting beyond the obvious foot issues, climbers wearing tight fitting shoes essentially force their feet to become a solid unit that cannot absorb the shock of a significant fall in the normal way. this can negatively affect the ankles, knees, hips, and back.

all the above listed conditions occur when regularly wearing any tight or irregularly shaped shoes, including climbing shoes and high heels. resulting pain and deformity can go on to affect gait and even spinal mechanics. shoeless societies do not have such deformities. (if you are a visual person you just had a beautiful vision!)

let's all agree to go barefoot! and maybe wear mocassins in the winter...

cancer of the skin

melanoma has long been a part of my vocabulary. i have always watched my moles for the risk factors associated with the abcd's (the e for elevation is new to me), i always wear sunscreen or long-sleeved shirts, and i regularly visit a dermatologist. this is particularly important for me because my father passed away from melanoma in 1989, just before his 39th birthday and just before my 5th. melanoma has been a very real disease with very real consequences in my life.

the mayo clinic has this picture on their website which i think beautifully illustrates the dichotomy between sexy, romantic sun bathing and it's very serious consequences.




though i have long been convinced of the importance of protecting my skin, there was more to learn about the cellular processes: i was surprised to learn that everyone has the same number of melanocytes because there are so many different skin tones in the world. but i learned that melanocytes are just the beginning... melanocytes produce melanin in response to ultraviolet radiation. melanin is accumulated in melanosomes which are taken up by keratinocytes and accumulate on the superficial side of the keratinocyte nucleus. this forms a shield for the nucleus to avoid further sun damage. thus, the color of our skin is determined by the amount of sun exposure we have (or that our ancestors had). furthermore, and most importantly, the darker color is a defense mechanism to protect our own skin, but the damage has already been done. the idea that a healthy tan will help protect our skin is false.

maybe someday we'll revert to the beauty standard of the victorian era and people will think that voluptuous, pale women are the bees knees...

a spoonful of sugar

i have often wondered about the increase of sugar consumption in our society. we now eat an extraordinary amount of sugar in the forms of sucrose (table sugar), dextrose (corn sugar), and high-fructose corn syrup which are processed into foods such as bread, breakfast cereal, mayonnaise, peanut butter, ketchup, and spaghetti sauce. today, the average american consumes an astounding 2-3 pounds of these highly refined sugars each week!

what is the physiological impact of sugar consumption? one of sugar's major drawbacks is that it raises the insulin level, which inhibits the release of growth hormones, which in turn depresses the immune system. this is not something you want to take place if you want to avoid disease. and yet it is such an ubiquitous part of our daily diet that it is hard to avoid.

even though i have a massive garden and a community supported agriculture (csa) share this year, i still find myself eating foods high in sugar; i enjoy carrots and beets, i use salad dressings and spaghetti sauces from the super market, and i love to finish dinner with a cup of ice cream or a slice of brownie! at what point do the drawbacks outweigh the enjoyment of eating these sweet foods?

here is a list of ways sugar can affect human health:
* sugar can suppress the immune system.
* sugar can upset the body's mineral balance.
* sugar can contribute to hyperactivity, anxiety, depression, concentration difficulties, and crankiness in children.
* sugar can produce a significant rise in triglycerides.
* sugar can cause drowsiness and decreased activity in children.
* sugar can reduce helpful high density cholesterol (HDLs).
* sugar can promote an elevation of harmful cholesterol (LDLs).
* sugar can cause hypoglycemia.
* sugar contributes to a weakened defense against bacterial infection.
* sugar can cause kidney damage.
* sugar can increase the risk of coronary heart disease.
* sugar may lead to chromium deficiency.
* sugar can cause copper deficiency.
* sugar interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium.
* sugar can increase fasting levels of blood glucose.
* sugar can promote tooth decay.
* sugar can produce an acidic stomach.
* sugar can raise adrenaline levels in children.
* sugar can lead to periodontal disease.
* sugar can speed the aging process, causing wrinkles and grey hair.
* sugar can increase total cholesterol.
* sugar can contribute to weight gain and obesity.
* sugar in high doses increases the risk of crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
* sugar can contribute to diabetes.
* sugar can contribute to osteoporosis.
* sugar can cause a decrease in insulin sensitivity.
* sugar leads to decreased glucose tolerance.
* sugar can cause cardiovascular disease.
* sugar can increase systolic blood pressure.
* sugar causes food allergies.
* sugar can cause free radical formation in the bloodstream.
* sugar can cause toxemia during pregnancy.
* sugar can contribute to eczema in children.
* sugar can overstress the pancreas, causing damage.
* sugar can cause atherosclerosis.
* sugar can compromise the lining of the capillaries.
* sugar can cause liver cells to divide, increasing the size of the liver.
* sugar can increase the amount of fat in the liver.
* sugar can increase kidney size and produce pathological changes in the kidney.
* sugar can cause depression.
* sugar can increase the body's fluid retention.
* sugar can cause hormonal imbalance.
* sugar can cause hypertension.
* sugar can cause headaches, including migraines.
* sugar can cause an increase in delta, alpha and theta brain waves, which can alter the mind's ability to think clearly.
* sugar can increase blood platelet adhesiveness which increases risk of blood clots and strokes.
* sugar can increase insulin responses in those consuming high-sugar diets compared to low sugar diets.
* sugar increases bacterial fermentation in the colon.


our nation, as a whole, has a terrible reputation for being gluttonous and fat. how can we, instead, foster a healthy, sustainable relationship with food? in part, it needs to start with a decrease in sugar consumption which has many dramatic health implications and far too few benefits to justify its delectation. it also requires more local and fresh food, more exercise, more relaxation, and more compassion.

off to nurture a better, healthier future, for at least one family. i'm starting with mine!

altitude... at the cellular level

over labor day weekend my beau and i went backpacking in the rawah wilderness. one morning we adventured to the top of clark peak at 12,951 feet. i have never climbed that high before and experienced some abnormal body functions. i was inspired to write about the physiological changes that take place in humans at altitude.

changes in altitude have a profound effect on the human body. the body attempts to maintain a state of homeostasis to ensure the optimal operating environment for its complex chemical systems. any change from this homeostasis is a change away from the optimal operating environment and the body attempts to correct this imbalance.

one such imbalance is the effect of increasing altitude on the body's ability to provide adequate oxygen to be utilized in cellular respiration. with an increase in
elevation, a typical occurrence when climbing mountains, the body is forced to respond in various ways to the changes in external environment. foremost of these changes
is the diminished ability to obtain oxygen from the atmosphere. if the adaptive responses to this stressor are inadequate the performance of body systems may decline dramatically. if prolonged, the results can be serious or even fatal.

if the body is responding properly to the elevation, normal symptoms such as decreased appetite, increased bladder activity, insomnia, slight swelling of hands, feet or knees, temporary breathlessness after exercising will occur. however, the effects on the human body in high altitudes that have not had time to acclimate can range from uncomfortable to life threatening.

life threatening conditions brought on from high altitude are:
* hace - high altitude cerebral edema (fluid build up in the brain)
* hape - high altitude pulmonary edema (high blood pressure in the lungs)
* harh - high altitude retinal hemorrhage (small areas of bleeding in the back of the eye)
* high altitude breathing & sleeping issues (central sleep apnea combined with periods of hyperventilation)
* hypoxemia (low blood oxygen)
* hypothermia (extreme cold where the body’s core temperature cannot be maintained)
* high hemoglobin count (cause stokes, heart attacks and pulmonary embolisms




i spent the majority of today studying and relaxing and was amazed at the ability of my body to perform both under high stress as well as complete relaxation. in both cases i am able to think, eat, sleep, etc. internal homeostasis is something i have surely taken for granted.

mucous, snot, phlegm, boogers

i live with my boyfriend and his son and the little man has been sick consistently since he started attending day care in january. this week i wondered, as i often do, about the amount of snot coming out of his nose. it seems to be an endless flow of sticky boogers. where does this come from? i did some research about mucous, in the nose in particular, and below is what i discovered.


this is how i will explain it to young people:
snot is slimy, gooey stuff that is technically known as mucous. mucous membranes
line the inside of our noses and sinuses and secrete snot to protect our bodies from invaders like germs, pollen and dust. snot traps the tiny particles of junk we breathe in so they don't make their way into our lungs and make us sick. if germs do sneak in, and we get sick, we'll probably get a runny nose because our bodies make extra snot to wash away the germs. boogers, on the other hand, are those hard, crusty globs that stick in our noses when dirty snot dries out.


so why are little kids always snotty-nosed? one possible reason why some children produce so much snot is because they haven't learned how to blow their noses yet. another reason is that young children get sick easier because they can't fight off infection as well. probably, it is some combination of the two.

here's to less snot!

anatomía y fisiología

my wayfaring continues. from student to teacher, wisconsin to france and back, then west to colorado, from nanny for two to bicycle enthusiast, and back to a student, my path has not been a linear one. these days i plan bicycle events, improve bicycle infrastructure, and enable community members to get involved with anything "bicycle." and as i engage in bicycle education and encouragement, another part of me prepares for my subsequent season in this life... as a nurse.

what propels me toward nursing? i love people, specifically caring for people, it draws on my strengths in both the humanities and the sciences, and it harmonizes with my love for travel, offering flexibility to live internationally and domestically. fortunately, i have an affinity for language and am excited to practice in english, french, and spanish. my biggest obstacle for this goal will be learning spanish; i will spend several months in south america during nursing school, thus the title of this blog!

i recently became a certified nursing assistant, i volunteer in the emergency room at poudre valley hospital, and i have completed several prerequisite courses. i am currently enrolled in anatomy and physiology, which requires i write a weekly journal to explore a&p in the real world.

here goes!