A Year of Being a Hypochondriac
To preface: I’m not actually a hypochondriac. But after spending a year in healthcare, it’s hard not to notice every health problem and overthink it. As a Clinical Scientist Trainee, I get to see unique medical cases, and I have come to appreciate the medical world and proper self care.
I started my new role late 2023 and since then, I’ve had the privilege of rotating through a variety clinical departments, each offering a unique perspective on healthcare and the human body. From Neurophysiology to Rehabilitation Engineering, every placement has been an enlightening experience, packed with lessons that extend far beyond the workplace.
A Crash Course in Human Physiology
Each rotation has been like opening a new chapter in a textbook — except the ‘lessons’ are real people with real stories. Here’s a quick walkthrough of the departments I’ve rotated through:
Audiology: It’s incredible how much we take our hearing for granted. Seeing the magic of restoring hearing in the form of Cochlear Implants. Every time I get a ‘Noise Level' warning on my Apple Watch, I take it just that more seriously.
Neurophysiology: Our nervous system controls our body so amazingly. Anything could happen from a little knock on the head or using your computer mice for too much for too long, it’s fascinating and slightly terrifying all at once. This department made me feel like a higher being, I could see when someone was falling asleep from their Echocardiogram (EEG) or make their arms and fingers twitch with a Nerve Conduction Study (NCS).
Sleep and Respiratory Sciences: If you’ve ever been proud of pulling an all-nighter, whether it’s for work or for fun, you’ll question yourself after a day here. A night of poor sleep can make you drive almost as poorly as if you’re drunk!
Medical Physics:
Radiotherapy Physics: Watching Linear Accelerators to kill cancer cells was incredible. It was like watching something out of science-fiction.
Radiation Protection: I tried ‘collecting the high score’ on the radiation safety badges, that joke didn’t go well with the Radiation Safety Officer. This was great to understand the impacts of radiation and how strictly it is governed.
Non-Ionising Radiation: Ultrasound and Ultraviolet are the cornerstone of this. Using Ultrasound to investigate vascular conditions and Ultraviolet to treat dermatological conditions.
Rehabilitation Engineering: Using technology to restore independence and mobility is just inspiring. Seeing how a piece of equipment can help someone leave their house or feed themselves again is amazing!
Through each placement, two recurring themes kept popping up: prevention is better than cure and the human body is both incredibly resilient and surprisingly fragile.
Health Lessons I’ll Never Forget
It’s hard to spend time around healthcare professionals and patients without picking up some essential life lessons. Here are a few that have stuck with me:
Sleep isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity.
Sleep isn’t just about feeling rested; it’s about allowing your body and brain to repair themselves. Chronic sleep deprivation isn’t something to be proud of — it’s a fast track to health problems.Your body isn’t indestructible.
We live in a culture that sometimes glorifies pushing our bodies to the limit. But seeing the consequences of preventable conditions has reminded me that health isn’t something to take lightly.Listen to the experts.
In a world filled with health ‘hacks’ and questionable advice online, trained healthcare professionals are your best source of information.
Looking Ahead
It’s been an incredible year of learning about the human body, what it can do and what can happen to it. It’s given me an appreciation of healthcare science and the amazing advancements in technology.
Here’s to another year of learning, growing, and less moments of hypochondriac-level anxiety.