How come?

[RWilson2526]

Re: How come?

I think the problem with this whole issue is a lack of perspective.

If you smoke every day for 60 years will you definitely get lung cancer? NO
Are your chances of getting lung cancer increased? DEFINITELY

If you eat tons of greasy food will you have a heart attack: NO
Are your chances of having a heart attack increased? DEFINITELY

Will riding around in the back of a pickup kill you? NO
If you have an accident while in the back of a pickup will you die? COULD BE


At 41 years old I'm starting to find myself starting the old "it never hurt me" routine. But will I let my 4 year old ride out of his car seat. NO WAY. Will you let your child go out on your boat without his PFD? Why not? You didnt have to wear one when you were a kid. Did I quit smoking because I was afraid of increasing my chances of dying early and leaving my family without me, you bet ya. Over time we have learned as a society statistically some things can result in injury or death that 40 years ago we just did not know. The problem is the way this information is put to us and rammed down our throats and taken out of PERSPECTIVE.

Lets take the information that is provided to us and use it how WE see fit.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: How come?

I think its a combination of a lot of stuff. There are always exceptions to the rules. There will always be lifelong smokers who live into their 80s and 90s. There will always be fat people who live a long time. But by far, if you smoke, you increase your risk of tons of diseases. If you are fat, the same holds true. Does it mean that you WILL die from it? No. You can safely jump from airplanes for 50 years, or your 1st jump could kill you. It's all in the stats.

Do I think overzealous drug companies try to sell us crap we don't need? Of course, heck, it's their job.

Like one doctor told me not long ago, a third of what he learned in med school in the 70's has since been proven untrue. We are constantly learning about new remedies, new drugs, new things to kill us. Seatbelts and airbags statistically will help in an accident, but neither guarantee that you will survive any accident.

We have a sedentary lifestyle now. That's why we are having all these health issues and why doctors and the like are pushing for us to exercise. 100 years ago our exercise was our daily ritual on the farm, nowadays, if we break a mild sweat once in a week it's a lot.

Like the country music song says, "It was a different time, when we were boys and girls."

 

[JB]

Re: How come?

I am very happy with my primary care physician.

She is under 35 and drop dead gorgeous. She teases me that my blood pressure and pulse go up when she takes them rather than her nurse.

She respects the fact that two of my daughters and both sons in law are nurses and that my third daughter and the love of my life are both physical therapists. She asks me what they think about this or that and takes their input seriously.

She is also anti-prescription drug. If she knows of a supplement that will do the job she tells me to use it. She tells me to have a few snorts of my preferred adult beverage plus a glass of red wine every day. She tells me that the latest fad drug would do me no good. She even respects my right to take informed risk by smoking in moderation, 5 or 6 miniature cigars a day.

I wish I could adopt her.