Ten Minute Medic

Everyone has heard of the Frank-Starling Mechanism, but far too many paramedic students memorize it without ever understanding why it matters. In this episode, we'll ditch the textbook definitions and explain one of the most important concepts in cardiovascular physiology using real-world EMS scenarios, memorable analogies, and practical field applications. By the end, you'll understand why the sa...

Adenosine isn’t just a drug — it’s a cardiac truth serum. In this episode, we break down how it interrupts SVT circuits, exposes fake ventricular tachycardia, and helps paramedics think instead of memorize. From street-level pharmacology to real case application, learn why that momentary asystole might actually mean you saved a life

This episode dives straight into one of the sneakiest, deadliest postpartum emergencies out there: pulmonary embolism. It’s a fast-paced ride through the six-week hypercoagulable chaos zone where new moms are walking clot factories, subtle signs matter, and tachycardia is the quiet villain hiding in plain sight. We unpack why these clots form, how to spot the red flags hiding behind clear lung sou...

This episode opens with a seemingly routine flu call that unravels into a life-threatening respiratory crisis. Through the story of a COPD patient in distress, it explores how influenza can trigger cascading airway inflammation, gas-exchange failure, and sepsis. The script challenges medics to rethink “just the flu” as a high-stakes emergency demanding sharp assessment and timely intervention.

Despite frequent reports of severe pain, many trauma patients receive little or no analgesia from paramedics. This gap often stems from a mix of cultural and clinical factors — fear of masking injuries or altering mental status, concern about hypotension or respiratory depression, limited drug options, and restrictive protocols that demand physician approval. Some medics also hesitate due to ingra...

In Running on Empty: Circulating on Fumes, The Ten Minute Medic trades sirens for subtlety—reminding us that not all emergencies come screaming. Our unlucky protagonist is a pregnant patient whose body has turned “morning sickness” into an Olympic event, leaving her so dehydrated her cardiovascular system is basically running on fumes. This episode turns a quiet case of hyperemesis gravidarum into...

Ever had a patient swear it’s their lungs—but the problem’s really their heart? In this episode, we dig into cardiac dyspnea, the kind of shortness of breath that starts in the left ventricle, not the bronchi. You’ll learn how pressure backs up into the pulmonary circuit, why patients can’t lie flat without gasping, and what separates heart failure breathlessness from COPD or asthma. Perfect for p...

Welcome to my classroom!  Bladder infections in geriatric patients can lead to sepsis due to weakened immune systems, anatomical changes, and decreased antibody production, allowing bacteria to spread rapidly from urinary tract to bloodstream.  In this short podcast, listen in on part of the reason as to why urinary tract infections can lead to sepsis in the older patient thus becoming deadly.

This series explores the importance of toxidrome recognition for paramedic students. Listeners will gain a clear understanding of how identifying toxidromes supports accurate assessments, guides treatment decisions, and improves patient outcomes in poisoning and overdose scenarios.

Join us in this episode of The Ten-Minute Medic Podcast, where we look a fascinating topic suggested by his former student, now ER physician Dr. Caleb Morris: When VT is Not VT. In this multi-episode series, Dr. Young explores how a common condition—Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT) with Aberrancy—can mimic the dangerous appearance of Ventricular Tachycardia (VT). Learn about the key differences...

In this  episode of 'The Ten Minute Medic,' host Dr. Bill Young takes us on a  journey into the world of end-tidal CO2 monitoring - a critical but often misunderstood tool in emergency medicine. From cardiac arrests to traumatic brain injuries, Dr. Young breaks down how this simple measurement of exhaled breath can tell us everything from whether chest compressions are effective to when a patient...

Today, we're delving into a critical topic that you'll undoubtedly encounter in the field: hemorrhagic shock. By the end of this podcast, you'll have a comprehensive understanding of what hemorrhagic shock is, why it's so dangerous, and why rapid recognition and treatment are crucial. This knowledge will be fundamental to your ability to save lives in emergency situations.

Welcome to "The Ten Minute Medic," your go-to podcast for concise, expert insights into emergency medicine. In our latest episode, we take a look at the critical topic of the pathophysiology of shock.   Join us as we explore how the heart, vasculature, and blood can fail during the shock process, leading to life-threatening consequences. We'll break down the mechanisms behind cardiac output reduct...

Thanks to Yusuf Ahady for his suggestion on this week's episode.  I'll be in touch with Yusuf to get his SWAG package headed his way. End-tidal CO2 (ETCO2) monitoring, a noninvasive technique measuring the concentration of carbon dioxide in exhaled air, is emerging as a valuable tool in the management of sepsis, a systemic response to infection with potentially life-threatening consequences. In se...

Eclampsia, a life-threatening condition occurring during pregnancy, involves seizures and is preceded by preeclampsia. Understanding eclampsia is crucial for paramedics as it requires immediate medical attention to prevent severe complications for both mother and baby, highlighting the need for prompt recognition and emergency management in pre-hospital settings.   In this episode, we look at the...

Pulmonary embolism is a condition where one or more blood clots travel from elsewhere in the body, commonly from deep veins in the legs (a condition known as deep vein thrombosis), and lodge in the arteries of the lungs. This blockage can critically reduce blood flow to the lung tissue, causing damage. The lack of perfusion leads to impaired gas exchange as the alveoli are not able to oxygenate th...

Understanding Sgarbossa's Criteria is important for paramedic students, similar to knowing that a defibrillator is not just a high-tech paperweight. These criteria are a set of electrocardiographic findings designed to sniff out myocardial infarction (MI) in the presence of a tricky accomplice—left bundle branch block (LBBB) or a paced rhythm. Understanding this, you can navigate through the confu...

In this episode of the Ten Minute Medic, we delve into the complex pathophysiology of cardiac arrest in pregnant patients, emphasizing why a deep understanding of these unique physiological changes is crucial for effective pre-hospital care and improved maternal and fetal outcomes.   After you have listened, visit the Ten Minute Medic Facebook page and let me know what topic you would like to hear...

 In this episode of The Ten Minute Medic, we dive into the essential aspects of asthma for paramedic students.  Like the song Hotel California, air checks into the alveoli, but doesn't (tend) to leave without help. Join us as we explore the pathophysiology behind this common respiratory condition, understanding the inflammation and bronchoconstriction that can lead to life-threatening situations....

Welcome to our podcast, where we dive into the critical world of cardiology and explore a topic that's of paramount importance for paramedic students. Today, we're shining a spotlight on the often subtle, sometimes deceptive, yet incredibly significant issue of STEMI (ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction) mimics. These impostors can lead to misdiagnoses and mistreatment, potentially with lif...

Picture insulin as a key that unlocks the doors of our cells, allowing glucose to enter and power our bodies. When this intricate dance falters, as in diabetes, it can lead to a terrible symphony of health issues. So, think of insulin as the ultimate conductor, directing the harmonious flow of energy that keeps us in tune with life's rhythms. In this week's episode of the Ten-Minute Medic, we look...

The assessment skills of the paramedic are the most important ones that she has.  Yet this area continues to be one of the weakest parts of paramedic education.  In this episode, we take a look at how to have an organized assessment routine of our pediatric patients.  A brand new episode will drop by the middle of the week.  During this new session, we will review the important work that insulin d...

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is not limited to pediatrics and can affect geriatric populations too. In older adults, RSV can lead to severe respiratory infections, causing symptoms like coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath, often requiring hospitalization. In this weeks podcast, we'll review the pathophysiology, symptomology and treatment of this dangerous respiratory disease.

Mechanism of injury is important for the paramedic student to learn as it takes you beyond the obvious.  You become a detective when you evaluate the clues found at the scene of a trauma...not to convict the perpetrator, but to ensure your assessment finds all of the injuries that could threaten your patient's life.

Having a basic understanding of the physical forces behind trauma will help you to begin to suspect injuries that may not always be obvious.  In this first podcast, of a three part series, we will look at how Newton (the scientist, not the fig guy!) is important to the paramedic as well as the role the multiple collisions that take place during trauma can increase the incidence of trauma.