My Essential Question: Interpret how excessive stress levels affect one's heart health, and explore ways to treat high levels of stress.
I selected this question due to the applicability of this question to my life. As a high school student, I am constantly under stress, and I know that I am not alone. I constantly hear about other people's stress and their complains, and I wonder how their mental state impacts their physical state. I do begin to notice that many of them are constantly under the weather. This begs the question if their stress can result in unhealthy hearts. Since I am at a cardiac office, I see many patients that come in complaining about angina, chest pain. After thorough examination, the doctors often conclude that their pain originates from anxiety. A certain common abnormality that is present with stress is Premature-ventricular contraction (PVC). This condition is the presence of an extra abnormal heart contraction. It is often observed that the number of PVCs a patient may have decreases when a patient is exercising when compared to sitting still. When patients are under lots of stress they may have many of these PVCs, but when they are exercising, their stress levels decrease and they have less PVC's or their PVCs stop. Coming upon this realization was an awakening moment for me. I realized that stress may potentially impact the heart in negative ways, and I want to learn exactly how it does. Discovering the answer to my question will not only help me with my stress, I can educate many of my peers to cope with stress and expose the severity of excessive stress. Many of my peers claim that stress will not do anything to them, and that it is all psychological. My answer can help clear up their thought process and help them lead a life where they can cope with the stress. This question is only the tip of the iceberg of what I wish to discover about the heart and mental health. Although, this is the only feasible question that I can research, so I must start here and pursue greater heights one step at a time.
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How has my internship been a “Partner in education”
I am so fortunate that I have chosen an internship location that directly relates with one of my classes at school. At Lambert High School, I am currently in a phlebotomy class where we will be able to become certified phlebotomists by the end of our senior year or when we turn 18 years of age. Since phlebotomy consists of learning of many heart conditions, anatomical structures, and procedures, I can relate to what I learn in class to what I observe at my mentorship. It was a coincidence that at school, I was researching Aortic Valve stenosis, and the following week at my internship, I was able to practically apply the knowledge I gained and was able to identify Aortic Valve stenosis in an echocardiogram. Additionally, at my internship, I learned lots about EKGs and what each node and segment represents. This will allow me to grasp a better understanding when we discuss EKGs at school. My internship has allowed me to make practical use of the knowledge I gain at school, and I will be able to extend what I learn at school and gain more than what I would gain in my traditional classroom. What Goals Have I Met so far? I have had some goals to be able to understand tests done in the cardiac clinic. The two tests I primarily observe are Walking Stress Tests and Echocardiograms. Through repetition and asking questions, I am able to now understand each test better than I could upon starting my internship. I now am able to understand when stress tests turn to be abnormal, and I am able to comprehend the pictures in an echocardiogram. Moreover, I have learned how to take blood pressure, and I am beginning to become more accurate upon each reading. I do not want to settle after I achieve a goal. I want to set new, harder goals to improve myself as a person. Have you learned about new jobs or careers while at your internship? If so, what are they and what are your thoughts about them? Apart from cardiology, I have learned about becoming an Army medic through the green to gold program. I had a very in depth conversation with a veteran who left the army to start a business, and he explained to me how amazing of a program the green to gold program is. I will be able to serve my country while extending my education about health care. This will allow me to go to a regular job at a hospital when or If i return from service. This will help with financial aid, and I have always been interested in being a doctor for the army. I may seriously consider it after my undergraduate schooling. My Profile: My name is Jay, and I am a runner. I run miles upon miles, in the heat, cold, dry, and wet. Running is known as a healthy pastime to keep heart healthy, and live a long life. Only recently I have discovered the effects that running has on the heart; what I once thought was a harmless activity, is now a chore that eats years off of my life expectancy. If I continue to run the long miles at great speeds, I will be no healthier than a man who lives a sedentary life. I found this love for health care when I joined a student run, career technical student organization called HOSA Future Health Professionals. I began to invest all of my time into HOSA and other health care opportunities, so I can be prepared to be the best candidate as a future cardiothoracic surgeon. My Mentorship: I have been so fortunate to be able to shadow Dr. Khetpal and various other cardiovascular technicians and learn about the heart. I view stress tests and echocardiograms, and I follow the doctor on his patient visits. I am able to learn all about the heart and various diseases that impact it. Hopefully one day I will be able to pursue my love for the heart and become a cardiothoracic surgeon. My Future: In the next year, I look forward to being a part of Lambert High School’s Clinical internship program where, if I am accepted into the program, I will be able to intern at Northside Forsyth in various departments of the hospital. I will be able to further expand my knowledge of healthcare. Currently I am in a phlebotomy certification course, and next year, I will be a certified phlebotomist. I hope to go to an undergraduate college and then to a medical school. Afterwards, I hope to complete residency, specialize, and become a cardiothoracic surgeon. |
AuthorJay Parimi Archives
April 2018
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