Right in the "Heart" of it: Cardio, Delicious Autumn Days

So, for the last 3 weeks, I have been learning all about the heart. Cardio is pretty awesome. Just had the midterm for it today -hopefully that went well. But I loved this first part of the second unit. I mean sure, it's just a pump -not a crazy, amorphous, mysterious brain or anything -but it is an amazing pump.

One of the coolest concepts, in my opinion, is the fact that venous return (which is the flow of blood from your veins back to your heart) is a stronger determinant of cardiac output (which is how much blood your heart pumps out and how fast) than almost any other factor. This is why if a patient has low blood pressure, giving them IV saline brings their blood pressure back up: you've increased blood volume in the veins, and thus increased venous return. Maybe this seems common-sensical to some of you, but I think it's amazing how learning about all this stuff teaches you to see medical "problems" and "solutions" in a completely different way. I mean, who would naturally think, "oh your heart is pumping too slowly/not hard enough, but if we give you fluid, we'll get it back up to normal". I'm telling you, these Frank-Starling people (the ones who said that cardiac output is equal to venous return, or put more simply, the heart will pump out what comes in)... geniuses.

Also, there are a ton of regulatory "reflexes" that we have, which really shows that our bodies are just really smart (most of the time). Like, why we don't faint everytime we stand up, or why atheletes have a lower heart rate than normal people, but this is okay, whereas if you're not an athlete and have a low heart rate, this could be very bad. Or what a heart murmur sounds like, and what it tells us, and when we should worry about it, and when it's okay. All those things we commonly "know", but don't really, really, really, fully, completely, understandingly know. And even the body's "stupidities" make sense, when you understand some of this crazy theory stuff (like venous return!) -I love medical school. And I am so happy that I am learning most of this for the first time now (rather than being "bored out of my tree", like some of the anatomy majors in my class).

This weekend is Canadian Thanksgiving. It is supposed to be a perfectly beautiful weekend and I am so excited for it -easy "hiking" at St. Bruno with my parents tomorrow, apple picking with some med school friends on Monday, catching up on sleep, movies, non-medical reading and writing. Even a couple of "chores". Met up with a dear friend after my midterm at this cute little place on Monkland, in N.D.G., called Gryphon D'Or. Tried it out a few weeks ago for high tea -Early Grey Cream tea, hot scones, Devon cream, lemon curd, fresh raspberry jam, cucumber and egg sandwiches, date squares, brownies, shortbread... delicious and non-pretentious -heavenly, really. So naturally, had to go back today, for Ginger Peach tea, scones, potato-leak soup and pleasant conversation. Today, I am in love with the world, the people in it, my city, and my life. I wish the same for you.