For some good advice on staying employed or finding employment, check out Thomas Friedman's "The World is Flat". It's not a short read but it's very interesting.
In summary, due to how fast information & technology changes and moves throughout the world, those that don't keep up will eventually be replaced. Those that continue to learn and make themselves valuable and versatile will always have a job.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Why Obesity Can Kill You Faster
There should be no one who does not understand that being overweight or obese is bad for your health. The ailments that go with obesity are numerous such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, back pain, etc. The list could go on. Many of those things can and will eventually kill you. However, based on the ever increasing size of individuals who require medical attention, those facts alone are apparently not enough to change behavior.
Let me shed some light on other ways that being overweight can kill you. It can kill you much faster than you may have thought possible. And if not kill you, at least make you more sick compared to another person in the same circumstances who is not obese.
Almost any form of trauma is worsened by being obese from the time of the injury until you are fully recovered. For example, falls have worse outcomes due to increased force acting on bones resulting in worse fractures, sprains, etc. Recovery takes longer and is more difficult.
Motor vehicle crashes are worse. Seat belts don't fit as well so they are less effective. EMS has more difficulty extricating you from a vehicle, moving you, stabilizing your neck & spine, and transferring you from the scene to the ambulance to the ER.
Doctors have a much more difficult time examining you. It's much more difficult to detect an injury in an obese abdomen because you can't actually feel much through the layers of fat. Even ultrasound probes don't work as well through all that fat to detect severe injuries.
Necks are often examined because the veins in the neck give some insight into cardiac function. Fat necks obscure those veins.
Lungs and heart sounds are hard to hear through layers of fat. Again, the ultrasound probe may not penetrate enough for a good assessment.
Swelling is obscured by fat so it's difficult to exam joints and extremities for fractures or injuries.
Even x-rays are not as clear through layers of fat. CT scanners and MRI machines have weight limits on them so you may not even be able to get the appropriate test done.
Performing rectal exams and pelvic exams are much more difficult and prone to be inaccurate.
The average person has a few minute window to be intubated before their oxygen level drops to dangerous levels. An obese patient has much less time because all that weight literally pushes down on your chest making it hard to breath.
Intubations are more difficult. Oxygen masks don't fit as well. Maintaining good oxygen levels on intubated obese patients is more difficult.
Infection risks are higher because sterile technique is more difficult during Foley catheter insertion, central lines, chest tubes, etc.
Normal anatomy is obscured so placement of lines and tubes is more difficult and prone to error.
Best case scenario: these things are an inconvenience for your doctor.
Worst case scenario: you die because of them.
Let me shed some light on other ways that being overweight can kill you. It can kill you much faster than you may have thought possible. And if not kill you, at least make you more sick compared to another person in the same circumstances who is not obese.
Almost any form of trauma is worsened by being obese from the time of the injury until you are fully recovered. For example, falls have worse outcomes due to increased force acting on bones resulting in worse fractures, sprains, etc. Recovery takes longer and is more difficult.
Motor vehicle crashes are worse. Seat belts don't fit as well so they are less effective. EMS has more difficulty extricating you from a vehicle, moving you, stabilizing your neck & spine, and transferring you from the scene to the ambulance to the ER.
Doctors have a much more difficult time examining you. It's much more difficult to detect an injury in an obese abdomen because you can't actually feel much through the layers of fat. Even ultrasound probes don't work as well through all that fat to detect severe injuries.
Necks are often examined because the veins in the neck give some insight into cardiac function. Fat necks obscure those veins.
Lungs and heart sounds are hard to hear through layers of fat. Again, the ultrasound probe may not penetrate enough for a good assessment.
Swelling is obscured by fat so it's difficult to exam joints and extremities for fractures or injuries.
Even x-rays are not as clear through layers of fat. CT scanners and MRI machines have weight limits on them so you may not even be able to get the appropriate test done.
Performing rectal exams and pelvic exams are much more difficult and prone to be inaccurate.
The average person has a few minute window to be intubated before their oxygen level drops to dangerous levels. An obese patient has much less time because all that weight literally pushes down on your chest making it hard to breath.
Intubations are more difficult. Oxygen masks don't fit as well. Maintaining good oxygen levels on intubated obese patients is more difficult.
Infection risks are higher because sterile technique is more difficult during Foley catheter insertion, central lines, chest tubes, etc.
Normal anatomy is obscured so placement of lines and tubes is more difficult and prone to error.
Best case scenario: these things are an inconvenience for your doctor.
Worst case scenario: you die because of them.
Preparing for the Storm
In the past week, I've had some friends suffer a miscarriage for the second time after IVF. I also have a friend who was just diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. He's a husband and father of a 1 year old. These are storms of life and maybe these won't be the same storms I ever face, but I will face storms regardless.
My life has been relatively storm free for the past 8 years. I'm married to a wonderful wife with 3 healthy kids and have a stable job in a market that is relatively immune to the economic crunch. I'm blessed far more than I deserve. The question I posed to myself today was, am I ready for the storm? It's only a matter of time.
"Si vis pacem, para bellum" is Latin for "if you wish for peace, prepare for war." Another favorite quote of mine is, "Are you ready for war? You should be."
How are storms and wars related? Because of Ephesians 6:12: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ephesians%206:12;&version=31
So, am I ready for the storm or the war that will inevitably come my way? In a broader sense, yes. My life has been redeemed by the blood of Christ so my eternity is secure. On a smaller scale, am I in the Word, talking with God, and growing my faith now so when the next storm/war comes, I will remain victorious? Maybe not... How about you? Are you ready for war?
My life has been relatively storm free for the past 8 years. I'm married to a wonderful wife with 3 healthy kids and have a stable job in a market that is relatively immune to the economic crunch. I'm blessed far more than I deserve. The question I posed to myself today was, am I ready for the storm? It's only a matter of time.
"Si vis pacem, para bellum" is Latin for "if you wish for peace, prepare for war." Another favorite quote of mine is, "Are you ready for war? You should be."
How are storms and wars related? Because of Ephesians 6:12: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ephesians%206:12;&version=31
So, am I ready for the storm or the war that will inevitably come my way? In a broader sense, yes. My life has been redeemed by the blood of Christ so my eternity is secure. On a smaller scale, am I in the Word, talking with God, and growing my faith now so when the next storm/war comes, I will remain victorious? Maybe not... How about you? Are you ready for war?
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