Star Trek had it right
Okay, remember how in Star Trek Dr. McCoy could wave that scanner over someone and just know what was wrong?
Well, back then things like MRI's and CT scans and other imaging tools that can visually dissect the body into paper thin slices didn't exist. And, I love that the CyberKnife inventor says Star Trek inspired him. No, I'm not a trekkie but I do think that's pretty sweet.
Here's a link that explains MRI:
http://www.howstuffworks.com/mri.htm
And here's a link that explains CT scans:
http://www.webmd.com/hw/health_guide_atoz/hw233596.asp
Don't forget the PET scan:
http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/3400/3462.asp?index=10123
What else am I missing? I know there are more but I'm just drawing a blank.
By the way my favorite episodes were always the ones where they beamed down to an alien planet. The planet always seemed to look the same. The aliens were almost always sinister. The rocks that would inevitably tumble down on them would always have the bouncy quality of styrofoam.. but I loved it. You?? Shoot me an email: sstricklen@kgw.com
Response time ((I love this part. On second read, apparently I love everything today: CyberKnife, Star Trek, bouncy boulders.. you name it, I love it.))
Joanne writes about the BMI story: These BMI scales and similar methods infuriate me. It is NOT an accurate judge or indicator of anyone's health and can be very misleading.
According to the BMI and waist measurements I am boarderline obese but look completely balanced and normal. If you would like a picture I can send you one - real photo or digital. I constantly work out, have good muscle definition, KMOW my family history and body type (large frame, heavy boned) and continue to have very low B.P. and cholesterol.
Due to this BMI index I am considered overweight and am charged more per month on my life insurance even though my health is EXCELLENT. It is considered a risk.
Sally writes about choleserol: Congratulations on your overall cholesterol number of 110. However, as my cardiologist says, “What makes up that number is more important than the overall number.”
As my birth family has heart disease, I see a cardiologist regularly. My number is 200 and it’s great. My LDL and triglycerides are in the mid-normal range. The reason it’s so high is my HDL is 112. (My brother’s and sister’s are about 35 - 40.) I have scrubbing bubbles in my veins! Steph's note: Yeah, my HDL to LDL ratio is about a 2. It's still low, but everything on me is low..... Sally's ratio is really amazing.
Tonya wrote me about the warming hospital gowns. She works for the company that we featured in our report: Since I am a Temperature Management consultant for hospitals, I have to add that warming patients before surgery is not only comforting .... it reduces the patient's chance for getting a surgical site infection. Reducing infection is the 1# reason hospitals warm patients during and after surgery. New studies show great clinical benefit from warming them before their surgery - so that the patient doesn't lose body heat while under anesthesia and while they are lying there in the cold OR room. Steph's note: But what I think is really important is the fact that it hides your butt. I'm kidding, kidding!! This is a great extra tidbit!
Email me: sstricklen@kgw.com
I'm anchoring the morning show this week and the next, so forgive me if I seem a little punchy. I'm pooped! :-)
