Goal #2 Medical Topic of the day:
Today's Topic: On this day in history Himmler committed suicide by taking a cyanide capsule, avoiding any justice at Nuremberg. Today we are going to look at cyanide poisoning.
Off the top of my head: I know cyanide is a common industrial chemical and that some polyurethane foams release cyanide gas when they cure. I also know that cyanide used in capsules has an expiration date and is only effective during that time. Many people over history have screwed up poisoning themselves with cyanide making themselves very sick instead. Many other people have accidentally killed themselves in a lab or factory mixing stuff that released cyanide gas into the air and cyanide gas smells like almonds. As for the mechanism of action, how it actually kills you; I got no idea.
My research today: Cyanide poisoning kills you by making it so your body cannot utilize oxygen by screwing up part of the Krebs Cycle. It essentially causes the adenosine triphosphate to form incorrectly resulting in a weakened chemical structure thereby vastly reducing the effectiveness of the enzyme. Since you need oxygen for pretty much all tissue function this causes a problem. Symptoms are similar to suffocation and can be gradual in chronic poisoning or immediate in acute poisoning.
Tolerance for cyanide varies but shit starts to get real for most humans at an inhalation of approximately 100ppm. 300ppm is generally fatal within minutes. Unlike some poisons cyanide exposure can be fatal swallowed, through inhalation, or even topically.
Symptoms include skin turning pinkish, difficulty breathing, headache, seizure, confusion, and pretty much anything else that could happen to you without oxygen. Without treatment an acute poisoning is almost always fatal. Factory workers in certain areas of industry can experience gradual poisoning over days or even weeks.
Cyanide poisoning can be treated three ways. You can use a sulfur compound to make sulfur more prevalent in the bloodstream which apparently fixes the fucked up part of the Krebs Cycle. Methaemoglobin formation agents can be used to make a large amount of ferric iron available which counteracts how the cyanide messes up the ATP molecular structure. You can also bind the cyanide to Cobalt reducing it's effectiveness. However, I would imagine since Cobalt is a heavy metal it is going to give you heavy metal poisoning. Lemme check. Yep, it does, that sucks.
Welp, I have learned more than I wanted to and that was WAY more complicated than I thought it would be. I will try to pick a simpler subject tomorrow.
Goal #1 Quest to 180:
Current Weight: 226
Activity Today: Walking two miles. Jogging two miles
Diet today: Mostly vegetables except for a one gigantic beer and a huge dinner.
Comments: Feeling pretty good today.
Goal#3 The MAN:
Confidence Level: Good
Social Engineering Tactics: Direct Eye Contact
Comments: Celebrated my b-day today with a bunch of friends from where I used to work. It was really nice of them to come out. Big shout out to all my CGH peeps.
Random:
Listening to: La Roux but only because it sounds like MegaMan stage music.
Watching: Team America World Police. I don't have a good reason.
Reading: Whipping Star by Frank Hurbert
Something fun: Play-Doh Cologne - Unlike real Play-Doh, it probably doesn't taste like salt.
Anne Boelyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII was born with Polydactyly, having 6 fingers on her right hand.
Questions or comments can be submitted to dudaday@gmail.com
Disclaimer: I am not a health care provider, any information presented in this blog should not be considered advice it is mealy an outlet to slake my curiosity. You should always consult your primary medical provider for any concerns or illness. Unlike Tylenol, I am not approved by the FDA or American Medical Association to treat or provide relief for any ailment.
No comments:
Post a Comment