Something You Should Know: How the Human Body Works & Stories Your Doctor Won’t Tell You

Release Date: January 20, 2025

In this compelling episode of "Something You Should Know," host Mike Carruthers delves deep into the intricate workings of the human body with Dr. Jonathan Reisman and explores extraordinary, unspoken stories from the medical field with Dr. Scott Kolbaba. This episode is a treasure trove of fascinating facts, expert insights, and astonishing anecdotes that reveal both the marvels of human anatomy and the mysterious experiences that even seasoned doctors encounter.

1. Understanding How the Human Body Works

Guest: Dr. Jonathan Reisman, Doctor of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics
Book: The Unseen: A Doctor's Journey through the Hidden Wonders of Human Anatomy

Dr. Reisman offers an enlightening tour of the human body, uncovering the complexities and marvels that keep us functioning every day. His explanations transform common anatomical knowledge into captivating stories that highlight the body's resilience and intricate design.

The Throat: A Delicate Balance

• Quote: “The job of our throats is kind of to deal with everything that we inhale that we swallow... one small slip up, if some of that goes in the windpipe, you could, you know, pretty much choke and die.”
  [07:08]

Dr. Reisman explains the throat's critical role in ensuring that air and food take their correct paths, emphasizing the thin margin that separates the esophagus from the trachea. This delicate balance is why choking hazards are a constant risk during everyday activities like eating and drinking.

The Liver: A Multifunctional Powerhouse

• Quote: “The liver is almost like 100 organs packed into one... it checks out what we just took into our body... packages up all the protein, all the fat, all the cholesterol, sends it to its appropriate organ.”
  [08:14]

Describing the liver's vast array of functions, Dr. Reisman likens it to a complex sorting and packaging center. From detoxifying harmful substances to regulating metabolism, the liver plays a pivotal role in maintaining our overall health.

The Skin: More Than Meets the Eye

• Quote: “Skin is smart enough to want to become tan... it's building this wall in front of all of its DNA, knowing that more sun might be coming in the future.”
  [11:08]

The skin, the body's largest organ, is highlighted for its adaptive and protective capabilities. Dr. Reisman discusses how the skin responds to environmental stimuli, such as UV radiation, by producing pigments like melanin to safeguard our DNA.

The Eyes: Windows to the Brain

• Quote: “The eyes are actually a very useful window to the brain and can tell me what's going on.”
  [12:55]

Eyes serve not only as sensory organs but also as diagnostic tools in medicine. Dr. Reisman shares how changes in the eyes can indicate underlying neurological conditions, making them invaluable in emergency assessments.

The Heart: The Lifeline of the Body

• Quote: “When the heart stops beating and stops pushing any blood forward, the whole body is sort of dead at that moment.”
  [16:51]

Exploring the heart's fundamental role, Dr. Reisman describes it as a simple yet essential pump that sustains life by circulating blood, delivering oxygen and nutrients to every cell, and removing waste products.

2. Miraculous Experiences in Medicine

Guest: Dr. Scott Kolbaba, Internal Medicine Specialist
Book: Physicians' Untold Stories: Miraculous Experiences Doctors Are Hesitant to Share

Dr. Kolbaba opens a window into the extraordinary and often unspoken experiences that doctors encounter, blending medical expertise with tales of unexplained phenomena and divine interventions.

Divine Intervention on the Slopes

• Quote: “This was divine intervention... I don't know what you believe in.”
  [35:12]

Dr. Kolbaba recounts the story of Dr. Steve Heim, an orthopedic surgeon who, while skiing, experienced a profound sense of foreboding that led him to rescue a seemingly lifeless individual. The man later recovered fully, an event Steve deemed as divine intervention.

Messages from Beyond

• Quote: “He realized then that he had indeed accomplished the major goal of his life to show her that something did exist after death.”
  [40:21]

Another poignant tale involves Dr. Noemi Sigiloff, who encountered a deceased patient’s spirit urging her to perform a life-saving surgery. Just days later, she received the news of the patient's miraculous recovery, affirming the ethereal experience as a guiding force.

Forewarnings in Dreams

• Quote: “He had emergency bypass surgery. Saved his life.”
  [46:06]

Dr. Kolbaba shares the story of Rich Jorgensen, a surgeon who dreamt of his friend Mike Lasso's death. Following the dream, Rich took additional medical precautions that ultimately saved Mike's life, suggesting a mysterious premonition at play.

Acts of Fate and Purpose

• Quote: “There’s something that loves us, that love is a powerful force in the universe... something that is looking out for us and helping us on a daily basis.”
  [46:31]

Through various narratives, Dr. Kolbaba emphasizes a common theme of higher powers or purposeful forces intervening in critical moments, hinting at a benevolent presence guiding individuals through life-threatening situations.

3. Insights on Mental Health: The Cost of Worrying

Interwoven with the main interviews, Mike Carruthers touches on the detrimental effects of chronic worrying. Referencing Dr. Martin Rossman's work, he highlights that:

• 85% of worries never materialize.
• In 80% of cases where worries do occur, people manage them better than anticipated.

Quote: “Doing something will usually lessen the worry, and that is something you should know.”
[55:34]

Carruthers offers practical advice on managing worry by categorizing concerns and taking actionable steps to address those within one's control, thereby reducing unnecessary stress.

Conclusion

This episode seamlessly blends scientific exploration with heartwarming and inexplicable medical stories, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the human body and the enigmatic experiences that transcend conventional medicine. Whether you're intrigued by anatomical insights or captivated by miraculous accounts from the medical field, this episode offers valuable knowledge and inspiring narratives to enrich your understanding of life and health.

Notable Quotes:

• Dr. Jonathan Reisman on the throat's function: “The job of our throats is kind of to deal with everything that we inhale that we swallow...” [07:08]
• Dr. Scott Kolbaba on divine intervention: “This was divine intervention... I don't know what you believe in.” [35:12]
• Dr. Scott Kolbaba on higher forces: “There’s something that loves us, that love is a powerful force in the universe...” [46:31]

Connect with the Guests:

• Dr. Jonathan Reisman: Link to Book
• Dr. Scott Kolbaba: Link to Book

Stay tuned to "Something You Should Know" for more enlightening episodes that aim to provide you with the knowledge and wisdom to enhance your life today.