In an effort to procrastinate doing everything...okay, really simply to revise my material for next semester when I start working at hospitals (but the first one sounds less dorky D
...anyway...
In an effort to revise my material, I'm inviting each and every one of you to ask any questions you had on the human body (and mind). As long as it's medical, it can be pretty much anything- and I'll attempt to answer it as quickly as possible, hopefully off the top of my head.
Is Dysdiadochokinesia serious? I can clap my hands quickly together while turning one over and over but the definitions of it don't seem serious. Is it an indicator for anything else?
Dysdiadochokinesia is a contextual measurement of cerebellar function.
...that probably doesn't mean very much to you, so I'll break it down.
* The cerebellum is thought to be the brain's "motor error-correction" center. That is to say that it provides modulating input on a current state compared to an ideal state. An example would be when you want to point to something, you'll have to adjust your aim a bit when you're reaaching out. Normally this happens such that it's barely noticeable.
* As a sign by itself, dysdiadochokinesia doesn't have that much value. It should be considered along with other tests. These are- ability to stand straight with eyes closed, ability to rub one heel along the other shin, ability to point between one's own nose and examiner's finger alternating (to elicit overshoot and intentional tremor), and ability to speak properly (to elicit dysarthria, which is the motor disorder of speaking, rather than aphasia, which is a language-processing disorder).
* The things that the sign is relevant to are: Multiple Sclerosis, cerebellar ataxia (including Friedrich's ataxia, though I don't really know what that is) and Parkinson's dementia.
Alternatively if you simply can't rapidly alternate one hand on the other, you could merely lack the coordination required. This isn't at all uncommon- normally practice makes perfect. Unless there's something wrong with your cerebellum.
How much exposure to pure water is associated with adverse effects?
Fixed. Though not entirely because water is actually in equilibrium with trace concentrations of hydroxide and hydronium (OH- and H3O+) ions continusly forming and reforming in it. Drinking pure H20 is practically impossible. Eating ice is a moot point because if you're exposed to it, chances are it will melt...or you will freeze.
This depends on where you're putting the water. A little water in the wrong place, like in your lungs, could kill you pretty quickly. After all you're familiar with a term called drowning, yes? Similarly, non-communicating hydrocephalus (water in the brain) causing a trans-tentorial or even trans-magna foramina herniation would also kill you very quickly because your brainstem would be squished.
However I assume that you're talking about ingested water. Surprisingly (or not), anything can be toxic if taken in excessive quantities. Including oxygen, and water.
In this case, as far as I remember, if you suddenly ingest, like, 20L of (pure, deionised) water (about 5 gallons) as fast as you can, you'd start experiencing toxic effects. I assume this is to do with electrolyte loss due to osmotic buffers being overcome, which would throw your body processes out of whack.
Does drinking your own urine actually hydrate you?
It's not ideal. It's better than not drinking anything, as a last resort, but since it has all kinds of osmotically active stuff in it (particularly sodium ions and urea), it won't help your fluid balance as much as water.
That said, unless you have a urinary tract infection or some pyogenic kidney disease, urine is sterile, so technically isn't unsafe to drink. Probably rather unpleasant, though.
My friend said he was thirsty so I offered him some dihydrogen monoxide and he refused and told me not to be stipid he just wants water or something.
Sorry on topic...
What is the most dangerous place to get a Myocardial infarction? (obviously where in the heart) I can only assume some places will have a larger affect in heart tisue than others as far as the starvation of oxygen goes.
lol alt, I understand the need, it's like a one-time novelty wheeeeeee!
BUT NEVAR EVAR AGAIN! >
Can you get psychologically or physically addicted to caffeine?
Yes, both, if you're susceptible to addiction. Just like various other 'herbs and spices' you can become addicted, dependent and tolerant. And coming off it can cause withdrawal symptoms. Hence the stereotypical image of an office-worker in the morning having just switched to decaf.
What is the most dangerous place to get a Myocardial infarction
The place for an MI (at least acute MI, I assume you're talking about) would depend on the coronary vessel layout and which of them are blocked. It's possible for all of them to get blocked, so the best answer to your question would have to be "all over".
