Adrenaline- Saving Lives Since Men Took Wives

As you might guess, the Island of St. Martin does not recognize Memorial day so yesterday was business as usual. A complete day of classes topped off by a Medical Psychology Lab in which we observed several children undergo developmental assessment. The ages ranged from 10 months to 8 years and although the children were quite cute and it was amusing to observe them for a while, I must say I left with a feeling of having watched paint dry for 2 hours. Don't get me wrong, despite my previous attacks on psychology as a discipline I do see a value in learning this material, I just think that I would have been better served reviewing Pharmacology for those 2 hours. We learned about the assessments in class and even saw film clips of children undergoing the testing. All I am saying is that it wasn't crucial to our education to witness it firsthand- at least in this stage of school. Someone in our class pointed out that we are scheduled for more hours per week in Med. Psych. than for pharmacology. This strikes me as odd since for 99% of us our practice of medicine will include gobs more of the latter than the former.

Speaking of pharmacology, that is what I have been holed-up doing today studying all about the drugs that effect the autonomic nervous system (all the stuff your body is busy doing behind the scenes for you because you are too busy watching "What's Happening?" reruns to pay it any mind). For example imagine the following scenario:

You have been out late drinking with the boys, you stumble home way later than you wife expected you, there may even be the slight aroma of a cheap perfume intermixed with even cheaper beer about your person. You slowly fumble to fit your key in the door gently turn the knob as not to disturb your lovely bride. Upon entering the house you immediately remove your shoes so that your footfalls will be silent. Ever so slowly and quietly you sneak down the hall and enter the kitchen. Having developed a powerful thirst on the way home, you decide for one last drink before turning in (on the couch. thinking to yourself you will tell her "not too late but I didn't want to wake you" when she asks in the morning what time you got home). As you go to reach for the refrigerator door suddenly the kitchen light explodes on and and a shrill, almost deafening sound erupts, seemingly from all directions at once, "WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN MISTER?", followed by some inaudible screaming (Astute listeners may even make out some very descriptive profanity and threats to certain anatomical structures you have grown very fond of.) Now at this very moment you would invariably be standing there slack jawed, dumbstruck, and with a glazed look about you. Enter your Autonomic Nervous System. With lightning speed your brain senses danger (married men have a highly evolved Spousal Danger Detection Center) and at once triggers your adrenal glands to release a cocktail of hormones, Epinephrine(also known as Adrenaline -pictured above) and Norepinephrine, into your bloodstream. These hormones have been evolved to transform your stunned and languid self into a highly revved-up, broom ducking, plate dodging, kick avoiding, balcony leaping, and into the safety of the night, running machine! These hormones have the added benefit of dialing down some of the routine physiologic functions such as urination and defecation- sparing you further embarrassment during your avoidance of certain death.

Ain't Pharmacology fun!