In our world today, technology has continued to grow and develop in many ways that will benefit society. Various technologies have helped us better understand the internal body systems, digestive, circulatory, and respiratory.
The electrocardiogram is a test measuring and recording the electrical activity of the heart. It helps to see how fast your heart is beating and if it beating normally. The information from the electrocardiogram can be used to find different types of heart disease, as well as how a patient is responding to treatment.
Endoscopes, creates by Philip Bozzini, in 1805, is a long, thin tube, that can be rigid or flexible, that has a light and video camera. It is used to enter a patient’s body so their insides can be displayed on a screen, as well as extracting small pieces of tissue for a biopsy. This allows doctors to examine the interiors of an organ or tissue to check for any conditions or illness, like stomach ulcers.
One of the most important medical contributions Canada made was discovering insulin; a hormone produced in the pancreas. The Canadians who discovered insulin were Sir Frederick Banting anf Charles Best. When there is little or no insulin in the blood, glucose cannot enter into the body’s cells and the body begins to use fat as a source of energy. Therefore, insulin can save and has saved millions of diabetic patients.
The pacemaker is another great Canadian medical contribution. A pacemaker helps regulate the heart’s rhythm and monitor the heart. This device is very useful and can save lives of those who have weaker hearts and an abnormal heart rhythm. There are two types of pacemakers: temporary or permanent. Temporary users only use the pacemaker when they have emergency or temporary heartbeat problems, like a slow heartbeat due to heart surgery, heart attack, or an overdose of medicine. Permanent pacemakers are used when a patient has long-term heart rhythm problems.
As you can see, all these technologies have helped us have a better understanding of our internal body systems. These inventions have given us to potentially save other people’s lives, as well as allowing us to live longer lives. As our medical technologies continue to grow and advance, we will be able to find more solutions and cures that are incurable.
Comments:
Valerie Szeto
Hey Valerie! Nice Blog!
Wayne Young
Hey Wayne!
I never heard of gastric surgery before until I read your blog. It seems like a very ineteresting concept. I agree with you that those who are overweight should not resort to gastric surgery in order to loose weight, but I also feel that those who are morbidly obese shouldn't either. In my opinion, I think it's dangerous to make someone's stomach smaller. I did some research and found that there was a study where 1 out of 50 people die within one month of having gastric bypass surgery according to the University of Washington. I think that it would be too risk-taking for those who are overweight and morbidly obese.
Anyways, I think that your Blog was very informative and it was great to learn something new!
Pictures:
http://www.shekharhospital.com/image/ecg%20machine.jpg http://www.patient.co.uk/pilsinl/130.gif
http://kidshealth.org/teen/diabetes_center/treatment/images_77980/1126294228691.injection1c.jpg
http://www.chrsonline.ca/images/pacemaker_figure.jpg
Sources:
“All About Diabetes: What is insulin?” MediLexicon International Ltd. Web. n.d. 28 May 2011.
< http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/diabetes/whatisinsulin.php >
< http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/diabetes/whatisinsulin.php >
Chiedozie, Anjus. "The History of Endoscopes” EHow.com. Web. n.d. 27 May 2011. <http://www.ehow.com/about_5454639_history-endoscopes.html>.
Davey, Parick. “ECG (electrocardiogram).” Netdoctor.co.uk. Web. 17 February 2011. 27 May 2011.
< http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/health_advice/examinations/ecg.htm >
< http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/health_advice/examinations/ecg.htm >
“Pacemaker”. MedicineNet.com. Web. n.d. 26 May 2011.
