Not everyone is strong enough or knowledgeable enough to do everything absolutely right to ensure good health.

My dad started smoking a pipe at 11 years old, courtesy of his grandfather. This was back when nobody thought smoking was dangerous. And of course he became addicted to it. And died of lung cancer. So yes, he was responsible for a bad life habit that contributed to his death. But something as addictive as nicotine is hard to beat. And not everyone is tough enough to do it. I was lucky that I knew how bad smoking was before I ever was able to try it. And I never did. Luck.

People are complex beings, with stresses and miseries and failings we both can and cannot see. Just like their strengths. But their strengths may not always be enough. Be gentle. Be kind.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work in a hospital. This last week the ICU was filled with critical patients who were there either because of lifestyle choices or because their choices exacerbated their condition. (alcoholic withdrawal, OD, DKA, endocarditis, COPD, AIDS, etc). Furthermore, all were Medicaid or Obamacare subsidized, every single one. At a tune of $300,000 plus per patient. Some of them on their third or fourth hospitalization for the same self inflicted crap. You can't fool healthcare workers with excuses when your a1c is 17% and you swear you've been following doctors orders. Or your blood alcohol is 0.25 and you swear you haven't been drinking. People say a lot of stuff. Now, there are poor unfortunate souls who were dealt a bad hand through no fault of their own and everyone probably knows one or two like the ones mentioned above. You know what? That's not what is filling the ER and ICU in the real world of paying for everyone's healthcare. it's really making the hospitals a lot of money. Healthcare should not have a profit motive. And bad choices shouldn't be rescued for the THIRD or FOURTH time.

+1. Most people I see in the ER cause their own darn problems.

Excuse me for breathing asshole.

Anonymous wrote:I work in a hospital. This last week the ICU was filled with critical patients who were there either because of lifestyle choices or because their choices exacerbated their condition. (alcoholic withdrawal, OD, DKA, endocarditis, COPD, AIDS, etc). Furthermore, all were Medicaid or Obamacare subsidized, every single one. At a tune of $300,000 plus per patient. Some of them on their third or fourth hospitalization for the same self inflicted crap. You can't fool healthcare workers with excuses when your a1c is 17% and you swear you've been following doctors orders. Or your blood alcohol is 0.25 and you swear you haven't been drinking. People say a lot of stuff. Now, there are poor unfortunate souls who were dealt a bad hand through no fault of their own and everyone probably knows one or two like the ones mentioned above. You know what? That's not what is filling the ER and ICU in the real world of paying for everyone's healthcare. it's really making the hospitals a lot of money. Healthcare should not have a profit motive. And bad choices shouldn't be rescued for the THIRD or FOURTH time.

+1. Most people I see in the ER cause their own darn problems.

I have a friend who is 65. He weighs over 300 lbs, eats whatever he wants, and is healthy.

I am 52. My BMI is not optimal, but 27 is not terrible. I am diabetic, but controlled (A1C 6.2). I also have genetic high cholesterol...at 10, it was 380. I have been on statins for almost 30 years, and my cholesterol is about 230 now. But, my good (HDL) is only 19. Oh, I have 4 stents, and am having chest pain again (medical tests scheduled). I also have metastatic cancer, but am currently No Evidence of Disease; the cancer was probably the result of the BRCA1 mutation I carry.

The latter two issues were my destiny once my my father's sperm met my mom's egg. The diabetes may be a side effect of the statins.

So when people go on about how everyone is bringing it on them selves, etc., they can F*** OFF.

Oh, I have insurance. Out of pocket I pay 10K/year or so. It is subsidized, by my employer.

My annual medical costs were something like (from memory):

2012: 120K
2013: 140K
2014: 155K
2015: 22K
2016: >20K

So apparently, according to 4:09, I am a taker.

Obamacare -- which I am not on -- is a godsend. If something happens to my job, I can get insurance. In the old days, I would not be able to get insurance (that I could afford) on the open market. And I could not afford 100K+ in health care. So, I would die if I lost my job.

Anonymous wrote:I work in a hospital. This last week the ICU was filled with critical patients who were there either because of lifestyle choices or because their choices exacerbated their condition. (alcoholic withdrawal, OD, DKA, endocarditis, COPD, AIDS, etc). Furthermore, all were Medicaid or Obamacare subsidized, every single one. At a tune of $300,000 plus per patient. Some of them on their third or fourth hospitalization for the same self inflicted crap. You can't fool healthcare workers with excuses when your a1c is 17% and you swear you've been following doctors orders. Or your blood alcohol is 0.25 and you swear you haven't been drinking. People say a lot of stuff. Now, there are poor unfortunate souls who were dealt a bad hand through no fault of their own and everyone probably knows one or two like the ones mentioned above. You know what? That's not what is filling the ER and ICU in the real world of paying for everyone's healthcare. it's really making the hospitals a lot of money. Healthcare should not have a profit motive. And bad choices shouldn't be rescued for the THIRD or FOURTH time.

You should find a new career. You must be the most uncaring person in the world.

I work in a hospital. This last week the ICU was filled with critical patients who were there either because of lifestyle choices or because their choices exacerbated their condition. (alcoholic withdrawal, OD, DKA, endocarditis, COPD, AIDS, etc). Furthermore, all were Medicaid or Obamacare subsidized, every single one. At a tune of $300,000 plus per patient. Some of them on their third or fourth hospitalization for the same self inflicted crap. You can't fool healthcare workers with excuses when your a1c is 17% and you swear you've been following doctors orders. Or your blood alcohol is 0.25 and you swear you haven't been drinking. People say a lot of stuff. Now, there are poor unfortunate souls who were dealt a bad hand through no fault of their own and everyone probably knows one or two like the ones mentioned above. You know what? That's not what is filling the ER and ICU in the real world of paying for everyone's healthcare. it's really making the hospitals a lot of money. Healthcare should not have a profit motive. And bad choices shouldn't be rescued for the THIRD or FOURTH time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I firmly believe that if you know better, you do better. I took it upon myself to learn about diet and nutrition from a young age, and as a result eat better than my parents. I also chose not to smoke, or drink and use drugs. That doesn't mean I think I'm better than anyone else, I was just able to choose differently. It's quite a luxury, actually!

My aunt spent a good 20 years trying to avoid her health history. Taking part in studies (so she had access to new research and whatever else) never drank much or smoked. Exercised, ate right etc.

She now has a stent in her heart and is diabetic, and has had two cancer scares so far.

PP of post you responded to. I'm thirty so have NO idea what the future holds, and I know that there are no guarantees in life. Diabetes, cancer, and heart disease are in my family. God help me!

My mother never smoked a cigarette or drank an alcoholic beverage in her life. She never touched a drug. She ate healthy and exercised over an hour daily. In bed at 8:30pm nightly.

Dead at 63 from cancer.

Eff off, OP. Seriously.

Anonymous wrote:I firmly believe that if you know better, you do better. I took it upon myself to learn about diet and nutrition from a young age, and as a result eat better than my parents. I also chose not to smoke, or drink and use drugs. That doesn't mean I think I'm better than anyone else, I was just able to choose differently. It's quite a luxury, actually!

My aunt spent a good 20 years trying to avoid her health history. Taking part in studies (so she had access to new research and whatever else) never drank much or smoked. Exercised, ate right etc.

She now has a stent in her heart and is diabetic, and has had two cancer scares so far.

I firmly believe that if you know better, you do better. I took it upon myself to learn about diet and nutrition from a young age, and as a result eat better than my parents. I also chose not to smoke, or drink and use drugs. That doesn't mean I think I'm better than anyone else, I was just able to choose differently. It's quite a luxury, actually!

Amazin wrote:There are a bunch of topics on being middle age....feeling old...bad health etc. There is no doubt that genetics plays a big role in ones health. Some of us are simply dealt bad cards and others good cards. (Blame our parents!). But there are a ton of people who have brought bad health upon themselves from smoking, excessive drinking, overeating etc. They then ask...why me? A good friend of mine who has always been extremely health conscious has suddenly come down with severe kidney problems and cancer. He has every right to ask why me? Another friend who smoked, drank too much and never took care of himself has also come down with cancer and heart problems. I have great sympathy for both but it's hard for me to feel the same compassion when one never cared about taking care of himself and the other did. Am I wrong to not feel the same?

Well, you're not a good friend. Your friend is suffering, and you can't muster compassion for him because he what, had it coming? I feel bad for my friends when they are sick or hurt--the pain is the same no matter what the cause.

My mother never smoked a day in her life and never drank more than a glass of wine at the occasional wedding.

She's had about 12 operations including 4 different instances of cancer.

How could you possibly know if she had taken care of herself (as she did) or not? You cannot know.

I would feel double sympathy for the people who caused their own illnesses. Most people have heard the warnings but struggle to comply with recommendations. Then they not only have to live with their own regret over what they've done to themselves, but they have to suffer the judgment of people like you.

I feel bad when my friends are in pain and are ill.

I do not judge.

There are a bunch of topics on being middle age....feeling old...bad health etc. There is no doubt that genetics plays a big role in ones health. Some of us are simply dealt bad cards and others good cards. (Blame our parents!). But there are a ton of people who have brought bad health upon themselves from smoking, excessive drinking, overeating etc. They then ask...why me? A good friend of mine who has always been extremely health conscious has suddenly come down with severe kidney problems and cancer. He has every right to ask why me? Another friend who smoked, drank too much and never took care of himself has also come down with cancer and heart problems. I have great sympathy for both but it's hard for me to feel the same compassion when one never cared about taking care of himself and the other did. Am I wrong to not feel the same?