Healthy - lifestyle changes or a pill for the symptoms

[MRC01]

I'm walking proof that diet and exercise is no match for actual disease. I was an athlete, bicycle racer, quite fit and very careful organic eater. Epstein Barr virus put me in the hospital at age 33
I love that people promote healthy living. I know it's not a cure for serious disease, genetic mutations and inherited disasters.
I'm off to do a bicycle ride. Wish me luck. Some days my muscles fail.

There are diseases, and there are diseases. Some forms of heart & cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, are called lifestyle diseases because they have such strong correlation to unhealthy diet and insufficient exercise. Healthy living definitely improves one's chances here, and those who get these diseases can often reverse them through lifestyle changes.

Other diseases, not so much. Your chances are unaffected by lifestyle factors.

So healthy living definitely helps, you won't get A, B or C but you might still get X, Y or Z.

The thing is, the lifestyle diseases are so common and affect so many people, millions would enjoy better health if they found the motivation to eat a healthier diet and engage in meaningful exercise.

Doctors are in a bind. Even if they know that a disease was caused by lifestyle factors, and lifestyle factors can entirely reverse it, they also know that few people find the motivation to make long-term meaningful lifestyle changes. So they can nag the patient about lifestyle which will do nothing, or they can prescribe medication that will reduce the symptoms while the patient continues the root causes. I don't think it's the doctors' fault, they're not necessarily "pushing pills" but could be doing what they think can help a given patient.

 

[Passport1]

My Rx for longevity;

choose your ancestry carefully for health and wealth/sarc
have a belief in a prime mover
live beneath your means
establish stable personal relationships
eat well, not excessively. Lots of fruits and veggies
exercise more, worry less
get eight hours/night beauty sleep, nine if you are aren't beautiful
get yourself a CPAP and

change your oil on schedule

 

[Astro14]

Looks like I’m going to need about 11 hours a night, then…

 

[Skippy722]

I take Lexapro for anxiety…. Can’t really make a lifestyle change to fix messed up brain chemistry.

I am down to 255lbs from 305lbs however, my blood pressure is now perfect and my resting heart rate is now 70 instead of 90-100.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

I think many doctors are faced with suggesting lifestyle changes or a pill for the symptoms. High blood pressure for example.. loose weight and get in shape or take blood pressure pills. I think doctors have figured out most people won't make the lifestyle changes significant enough to not need any Rx.

If you have a symptom that could be fixed by lifestyle change will you go for lifestyle changes or a pill for the symptom

Well sometimes genetics just screws you, think cholesterol and HBP, obesity.

Also there are plenty of MDs who do live well either.

 

[CKN]

This thread is worse than the "Social Security" thread..that was self serving.....and ego driven.

 

[doitmyself]

I take Lexapro for anxiety…. Can’t really make a lifestyle change to fix messed up brain chemistry.

I am down to 255lbs from 305lbs however, my blood pressure is now perfect and my resting heart rate is now 70 instead of 90-100.

I know about this. You are correct. BUT, in some instances you can "relearn" your brain to better manage mental challenges. Mental challenges are often addressed with a combination of counseling and medications. Cognitive therapy (especially) and mindfulness training are two examples of retraining your brain how you process and deal with information. As always, this is achieved by consulting excellent psychiatrists/psychologists. Not something a general practitioner, self-help books, etc. can achieve. Again, you are correct that the brain "wiring" cannot simply be willed away or changed by pulling up on the bootstraps.

Congratulations on your progress. I, too have been adjusting my lifestyle more healthy. Baby steps.

 

[doitmyself]

This thread is worse than the "Social Security" thread..that was self serving.....and ego driven.

Hey, that's my cue to show the chest beater video. Although, this thread has a good dose of counter point to the all-knowers, LOL.
"Pay with cash only" is another chest beater topic that raises it's ugly head on occasion. Responsible management of car payments, etc. NOT allowed.

 

[Dave Hess]

I take high blood pressure medication and I’m not overweight.

Untreated high BP is known as a silent killer cause it will destroy your kidneys.

 

[ripcord]

I take high blood pressure medication and I’m not overweight.

Untreated high BP is known as a silent killer cause it will destroy your kidneys.

That's what did in Tina Turner.

 

[MolaKule]

Dispensing Medical Device on a Public forum is not a good idea and we have recommended not doing this here so this thread is closed.