Affects of Alcohol on the Eyes!

This last weekend was my 25th Birthday!!! Of course to celebrate, I went out with my best friends and had a few too many alcoholic beverages. For the normal person my age, this might be a normal occasion, but  for a non-drinker, like myself, I could tell the affects on my eyes the next day in photos...UNDER EYE BAGS! I have never had them in any other pictures before and to see them as awful as they were, was pretty incredible how the body reacts to alcohol.

I was interested to see if alcohol played a role in my under eye bags, so I did some research and found that...

Besides lack of sleep, alcohol plays a part in under eye bags and circles. The reason for this is due to sodium changes.  Alcohol is a diuretic. When your body is exposed to diuretics, it quickly snaps up what moisture it can and stores it for later use. This is why you always have puffy eyes in the morning after you drink!

Interesting fact I learned associated with cells and how the body stores moisture and creates "moisture pockets" under the eyes!

Diabetes

Being a nurse, I have learned a lot about different disease, but Diabetes is something that touches close to my heart, since my Grandpa passed away from this diease at the age of 79. Understanding the importance of glucose levels in diabetic patients is something that is crucial for a healthy lifestyle as a diabetic. In humans a normal insulin level is between 70-110. Anywhere below or above this level can lead to severe effects on the body, and even death.

I have seen a patient with a glucose level as low as 34, and they appeared in a comatose state, most likely near death. In a case this extreme an immediate dose of intramuscular glucose is administered as a fast acting way to increase the glucose level in the blood and 911 is always called to come and evaluate. The patient is usually then transferred to the E.R. for monitoring, because levels this low can affect other vital organs, such as the pancreas and kidneys,which can lead to long term effects, such as kidney failure, which in time will lead to death.

Learning more about glucose and insulin is something that is extremely useful in every day life!

-Unity in the diversity if life-

Something I learned this week, that I thought was interesting, was the theme, "Unity in the Diversity of Life, " and how biologists base this on three key aspects...

1.) DNA being the univeral genetic language common to all organisms
2.) Cells - basic unit
3.) Common features

This particular topic caught my attention, because I can relate to it so many ways outside of the classroom, with friends and family and life in general. Each individual that surrounds one another are all so diverse, yet we are all unified in some way in life, rather it be through DNA, cells and/or common features. Having diversity in a unified life is what makes life exciting. I couldn't imagine how "Homo sapiens" would be, if we were all the exact same, and all had the same characteristics! We'd live in a world of unanimity.

Think about this...

Introductory About Me

My name is Caitlin, but typically go by Kate. This month I am going to be 25!!! I've worked as an LPN for 3 years in March, and am currently in the process of taking prerequisites for my RN...My advice for any others who have the same goal, do not take any time off and continue with classes after you get your LPN and know you're trying to be an RN. Otherwise it seems like a forever process!

I just moved in with my boyfriend in Spanaway, from an amazing place on lake tapps, but feel like you have to take chances in life and 2011 is my year to start a new life with someone who is pretty dang amazing.

Photography is my passion, and if it paid as well as nursing did, I'd be a professional. Check out my page on facebook at Eye4Images Photography, to see some of my favorite photos...

Hoping for the best with Biology this quarter. Looking forward to learning about the scientific study of life!