Up and Coming

Hello Redwood's Fans!

How was your Thanksgiving? Mine? Good. It was simple. My family and my parents. It was a joy to get to spend the day with them and not have to worry about going anywhere else.

Any Black Friday shoppers out there? Honestly, you will never see me get up early to go shopping. Even if offered a large sum of money. I. Don't. Do. Mornings. Plus, I really hate crowds and mall parking lots give me hives. This year I've done most of my shopping on-line. 

We're back to the medical mayhem this week!

Tuesday: What is the difference between the NICU and PICU? 

Thursday: Author question-- what's the best radiology study for a character experiencing headaches and blurred vision? Think you know the answer?

Have a great week and stay safe out there!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello Redwood's Fans!

A simple post, a simple smile, and a hope that your Thanksgiving is full of blessings and no medical mayhem.

Happy Thanksgiving Week!

Taking a short blog break this week for Thanksgiving celebrations. I know this time of year can be stressful because of the following cartoon. Most law enforcement officers and healthcare providers know that violence increases over the holidays because people come together who normally don't and there is alcohol and financial pressure on top of it.

That is a powder keg.

So, I'd like to offer the following suggestions if you're feeling like you'd rather take that carving knife to a family member rather than the turkey on the table.

1. Join the Polar Bears and take a swim in freezing water. This will definitely cool you off.

2. Volunteer to feed the homeless. This puts things in perspective.

3. Go to Alaska and feed the bears-- it's far away, stunning scenery and you'll be so thankful if you live through the experience.

If those aren't an option-- watch a funny video and remember-- it's only a day. Or a few days.

Most importantly-- don't do anything that will land you in jail.

Blessings, Jordyn

P.S.-- There is some mild language in this video. You've been forewarned.

Author Beware: Arteries vs. Veins

Do any of you watch the chef Gordon Ramsey? He's a well-known British chef with a serious temper. It's been well displayed on many of his shows. At times, he just begins to bang his head on the counter at the incompetence of some of his chefs.

That's how I felt when I read this sentence in a manuscript.

"Her vein began to throb at her temple."

Perhaps, I shouldn't be so harsh. This person doesn't have a medical background and perhaps it isn't common knowledge that there is a big difference between arteries and veins.

There is.

Arteries carry blood away from your heart where it has just been oxygenated by your lungs. In order to carry the blood forward, the heart beats to propel it. Therefore, when an artery is severed, the blood spurts out with each heart beat in a fairly dramatic fashion. There is no question from the medical staff-- "Do you think he got an artery?" It more like, "We've got a bleeder!" The blood is a brighter red because it is loaded with oxygen.

Only arteries throb. That's how we feel your pulse-- at an artery.

Veins carry blood to your heart to get reoxygenated. They don't pulsate. The blood is darker in color and tends to ooze though if enough veins are severed-- the bleeding can be quite brisk.

The correct way to phrase the above sentence would have been:

"The artery at her temple began to throb."

And remember, all bleeding can lead to death if not controlled-- whether is be venous or arterial.