Risk Factors

The council president and one of my newfound friends always tell me that I have an Alpha personality. Also known as Type-A personality. And from our Pathology lecture last week, it seems that people like me have higher incidences of having atherosclerosis. And lately, I haven't been sleeping well because of those accursed long exams. The list goes on. And to top it all, I found a new way of coping with stress -- eating. Well, it's not really uncommon, but I have been steadily gaining weight since the semester began. I seriously need to lose weight.

As the CoM's official representative to the APMCSN-NCR, I am more than required to attend this year's med student summit, this year's theme is about healthy lifestyle and the paradox of health that a medical student lives. To add insult to injury, though I am not yet board-certified (haven't taken the national licensure exams yet), I am a Dietitian. Only goes to show that my former mentor (and now, colleague) Prof. Tiangson-Bayaga was right -- being fit is easier said than done. Especially now that I always reach for those curly fries or chocolate fudge sundaes when I feel the pressure and demands of medical training.

Two weeks ago, I assessed my body's risk factors for CVD and DM and well... I don't think I need to say more. With the type of personality and body I have, I would have an express ticket to the cardiologist if I don't get my dietary habits to turn a healthy direction. Even my pulmonologist -- who I always run to when I have a cold for more than three days -- told me to lose weight. Like I said, it's easier said than done.

Yet here I am again, staying up late to revive this old blog, sitting on a stack of medical books (Robbins, Harrisons 1 and 2 and Williams to be exact), and craving for that huge slice of double chocolate cake in my ref, longing for the day when things in med school will normalize.

But then again, I guess this, together with risk factors of lifestyle diseases, is what is normal.