What Nurses Know About the Human Body
We’ve been to nursing school.
We’ve passed chemistry and biology.
We made it through anatomy and physiology.
We know the nursing process inside out.
Here’s what else we know . . .
1. Why our fingers and toes wrinkle in water.
When soaking in a bath or going swimming, water seeps into the top layers of skin making them swell. The blood vessels below constrict, pulling on the top layers of skin causing them to collapse. The wrinkles we see come from the pattern caused by the swelling and pulling of skin.
2. Why our stomachs growl when we’re hungry.
There are receptors in the lining of the stomach that sense the absence of food. When they sense emptiness, they send out electrical messages that cause the stomach wall to squeeze and release, called contractions. This rumbling sound can be quite loud at times.
3. Why we get muscle cramps.
A common place for a “Charley horse” is the calf. But it can happen in other muscles. Science has shown that the nerves inside of muscle can fire up to 150 electrical charges per second when they’re cramping. This causes the muscle to squeeze tight and cause pain. Common causes are dehydration, overexertion, or sometimes certain medications such as diuretics (which cause dehydration).
4. Why we get random eyelid twitching.
As annoying as they are, most random eyelid twitching is harmless. The twitching can last minutes to days but don’t affect vision at all. Although scientists don’t really know why this happens, they consider caffeine, fatigue, or stress as potential causes. Recommend a warm compress and a gentle lid massage to relax the twitchy eyelid.
5. Why we need to drink to keep our bones healthy.
The human body is mostly water: about 55% for women and 60% for men. All of the fluid isn’t just in your skin, muscles, and organs. Water makes up almost one third of your bone mass. Drink water for skeletal health.
6. Why we get a side stitch from running.
When we start a new exercise routine, such as running, it can cause pressure to build up below the abdomen putting pressure on the diaphragm or cause pressure to build up from the lungs which push down on the diaphragm. These forces restrict the blood vessels in the diaphragm, causing it to spasm. They typically stop after your body gets used to the routine exertion.
7. Why we get goosebumps.
A surge of adrenaline, from being chilled or scared, is what causes the teeny skin muscles at the base of hair follicles to contract. When these tiny muscles contract, the skin prickles and hair stands on end. As individual hairs stand tall, it helps trap air close to the body to keep us warm. It also helped our ancestors by making them look hairy and fierce in the face of danger.
Fun facts to share with patients never get old. Leave a comment and let me know your favorite fun fact that impresses your patients.
Cheers!
