My breathing slightly picks up. Another morning-- and just like every other morning, I race to catch the bus to school. Luckily, I am learning about the pulmonary system, and have a novice understanding of what just occurred in my body. The amount of carbon dioxide in my body increased, and therefore my brain causes my respiratory rate to increase to get rid of the carbon dioxide. Of course all of this happens subconsciously. Actually, at the moment, I am preoccupied reading about the pulmonary system. Though, my attention wanes as I notice snowflakes falling outside. They say this will be one of the worst snowstorms ever to hit Chicago.
Before I know it I am at school. But today is not the typical day of class. Instead of staying in the lecture hall, we head to the pulmonary function lab in the hospital. Here, there is a number of space-shuttle like contraptions to basically test how well your lungs and cardiovascular system works. One of the most popular tests in the lab is the pulmonary stress test. In this test, you pedal a bike against increasing resistance until you cannot pedal any longer. It measures your VO2, which is basically how efficiently your body consumes oxygen. Some of my classmates compete against each other for the best score. The average person has a maximum VO2 of 40. Someone like Lance Armstrong, an elite bicyclist, has a maximum VO2 slightly above 80. Of course intense training helps improve VO2, but genes play a big role. Even before we are born, our bodies are different.
Before I know it I am at school. But today is not the typical day of class. Instead of staying in the lecture hall, we head to the pulmonary function lab in the hospital. Here, there is a number of space-shuttle like contraptions to basically test how well your lungs and cardiovascular system works. One of the most popular tests in the lab is the pulmonary stress test. In this test, you pedal a bike against increasing resistance until you cannot pedal any longer. It measures your VO2, which is basically how efficiently your body consumes oxygen. Some of my classmates compete against each other for the best score. The average person has a maximum VO2 of 40. Someone like Lance Armstrong, an elite bicyclist, has a maximum VO2 slightly above 80. Of course intense training helps improve VO2, but genes play a big role. Even before we are born, our bodies are different.
A classmate of mine volunteers for one of these tests called spirometry. His result: slightly abnormal. Next, it is my turn. My result: slightly abnormal. One of the things you learn in medicine is that there are always exceptions to the rule. Across the board, no human body exactly matches what would be considered “normal”. The human body is very intricate, and perhaps, the only thing medicine can say with 100% certainty is that there is much uncertainty.
Yes, the field of medicine itself is not perfect. As one of my professors quotes Edward Livingston Trudeau later in my medical ethics class, “The goals of medicine are to cure sometimes, relieve usually, and comfort always.” The topic of the discussion on this particular day is the role of religion/spirituality in medicine. For some people religion picks up where the bounds of medicine end, for others religion and medicine are intertwined, and others only one believe in one of these entities. I feel fortunate to hear some of the foremost medical ethics scholars debate this issue. These scholars are doctors. And I cannot help but admire their intellect. I hope, one day, I too will reach this level of knowledge.
Unfortunately, our discussions are cut short as the weather worsens. I catch the bus back home. As I walk back to my apartment from the bus stop, I am entangled in the windy storm. My headphones fly out of my ears, my hat blows off my head and into oblivion. My body is also being pushed back. It is a bit unsettling. Every step is difficult, but I trudge on. One step at a time, one day at a time. The invisible tally marks another day on my journey to become a doctor. It just so happens that classes are canceled for the first time in a decade because of the weather. Crazier things have happened. I will weather the storm for another day: a snow day.
My advice: Weather whatever storms are in your life, never and look for the silver lining.
Yes, the field of medicine itself is not perfect. As one of my professors quotes Edward Livingston Trudeau later in my medical ethics class, “The goals of medicine are to cure sometimes, relieve usually, and comfort always.” The topic of the discussion on this particular day is the role of religion/spirituality in medicine. For some people religion picks up where the bounds of medicine end, for others religion and medicine are intertwined, and others only one believe in one of these entities. I feel fortunate to hear some of the foremost medical ethics scholars debate this issue. These scholars are doctors. And I cannot help but admire their intellect. I hope, one day, I too will reach this level of knowledge.
Unfortunately, our discussions are cut short as the weather worsens. I catch the bus back home. As I walk back to my apartment from the bus stop, I am entangled in the windy storm. My headphones fly out of my ears, my hat blows off my head and into oblivion. My body is also being pushed back. It is a bit unsettling. Every step is difficult, but I trudge on. One step at a time, one day at a time. The invisible tally marks another day on my journey to become a doctor. It just so happens that classes are canceled for the first time in a decade because of the weather. Crazier things have happened. I will weather the storm for another day: a snow day.
My advice: Weather whatever storms are in your life, never and look for the silver lining.
