Who's Louise?

We had our final this morning, and I've got to say I'm disappointed. I'm glad that's over. Not the final - I meant this whole semester. Jeez Louise.

Germy little kids

I must have caught something from one of them - I've been snuffling and snorking since Friday. Due to the reading I've been working on I can, however, tell you that since I don't have serious muscle aches, fever, or cough, I probably don't have the flu. I do have a theory to share with you, though. I remember when I was a kid and folks would say that if you get cold, you'll catch a cold - vividly do I remember learning about bacteria and viruses, and easily dismissing those old wives' tales. I've come to a realization, though - those bacteria and viruses that cause colds (most commonly rhinoviruses) are everywhere, all the time. You can't get away from them, but your body normally does a good job of fighting them off. Until, that is, something happens to slightly depress your normally hearty immune system - something like not getting enough sleep, or being cold and lowering your body's temperature, or, as we med students are familiar with, too much stress. (I could go into how cortisol inhibits the immune system and how steroids similar to cortisol are used to treat inflammation and other auto-immune disease, but I digress).

I'm trying to focus on the past few weeks' worth of lectures - we've got our final on Friday, and it feels like my head is too small for my sinuses.