The Choice is Mine to Make

I couldn't help but notice the mirror overhead displaying the converging intersection with an obvious "Check Out" sign. The exit always seems to be the easiest choice, because the others lead to more work, challenges and upward climb.

Uphill Both Ways

No, I'm not "checking out" of medical school, but I cannot deny the difficulty of making progress...all the time. The ascent to the finish line is steep and unrelenting. Just when you think there might be a nice little plateau ahead to cure the fatigue, you reach the bend and see the next peak in the distance. Emotionally it becomes hard to keep pace and trudge along.

This month's Internal Medicine rotation has been interesting but demanding: early morning paperwork and patient interviews to prepare for rounds, in-house nights on call, and weekend shifts. I'm still trying to squeeze in enough time to study every day and maintain some essence of normalcy. The long and early hours keep me exhausted and always looking for an opportunity to recharge before facing the next big hurdle. Driving to the hospital in the dark, rounding while the sun is out, and driving home in the dark somehow makes the days seem longer than they really are. Somewhere between sunset and sunrise, I find the needed rest to start all over the next day. Fortunately, my back continues to face the exit and my feet lead me forward despite the challenges ahead.

Question of the Week

A 58 year old man with a past medical history of hypertension presents with a cough. The medical team suspects that the cough is due to one of his anti-hypertensive medications. Which of the following is a characteristic of the best alternative drug for this patient?

A. Interference with binding of Angiotensin I
B. Interference with binding of Angiotensin II
C. Reduction of serum Angiotensin II levels
D. Decreased production of a key enzyme produced in the lungs
E. None of the above

Answer & Explanation