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Someone Asked Medical Professionals What Everyday Things Make Us Sick, And These 35 Are Scary
Interview
"Never trust the Internet with health advice," people say. When I think of how many times a visit to WebMD has given me a cancer scare, I'd agree. 54% of American consumers say they see food and nutrition content on their feeds regularly.
Yet Baby-Boomers are the most skeptical: only 59% trust the food and nutrition content on social media, compared to 71% of Gen X, 68% of Millennials, and 76% of Gen Z.
One netizen wanted to hear from true medical experts on the internet about the everyday things we need to look out for if we want to stay healthy. So, they decided to ask: "Medical professionals, what are some of the most mundane reasons most people are unaware of that make them sick?"
And the medical professionals of Reddit delivered, reminding us why such simple habits like brushing our teeth, washing our hands, and taking our meds are so important.
Bored Panda got in touch with the netizen who addressed the medical professionals of Reddit. r/chickencaesar8 kindly agreed to share his thoughts on healthy living with us. Read our short conversation below!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Psych nurse here. Don’t stop your meds because you’re “feeling better”. Why do you think you feel better.
Nikole 8 months ago
I wanted to see who I was without them because I thought I wasn’t me anymore. Bad idea.
Ace 8 months ago
Sometimes patients can feel that the negative effects of anti-depressants outweigh the positive ones. The answer is to work with your physician to find other treatments that work better with fewer negative consequences, but it can take a lot of trial and error in some cases.
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BeKind&Rewind 8 months ago
Unfortunately, this is a common thing with bipolar. People feel better, quit taking meds and then back around again.
Tom De Paul 7 months ago
With medical supervision you might want to see if a lower dosage would give you the same result.
Silberwolf 8 months ago
I take Promethazin for many years now and my panic attacks became way more rare since then. Also it helps against symptoms of pollen allergy, so a double win. :)
In the age of the internet, lots of people look for health advice online. The CDC reports that 58.5% of Americans admitted looking for medical information online in 2022. R/chickencaesar8 tells Bored Panda that one of the reasons he started this thread was because of his partner's recent health issues.
"Lately, my partner has been getting these itchy rashes all over his body and we don't know where they're coming from," the Redditor shared. He says that he often turn to Reddit to find out the answers to random questions or ideas when there's no one else who could answer them.
"I also think that medical professionals will have better knowledge in answering the question through their expertise/experiences in their field," r/chickencaesar8 says in regard to this particular thread.
RELATED:
#2
Finishing antibiotics.
Always finish the full course you are prescribed. You think k you are better. But the bacteria may not be dead and it’s gonna come back stronger.
Snazzy Smurf 8 months ago
Not completing full courses or taking them improperly can lead to resistance.
and_a_touch_of_the_’tism 8 months ago
There was a simulation I did in biomed, it involved adjusting how long and how regularly you took antibiotics and how the germs responded. Very interesting, also very spooky.
Becky Samuel 8 months ago
Sort of. Studies have shown that in some cases, especially for more minor ailments, it is not at all necessary to finish the course and would have better outcomes for the patient if they stopped when they felt better. However, in terms of messaging, this is just too nuanced for the general public, and so the advice is still maintained to take the whole course because the consequences for some people of stopping treatment for serious conditions are very dire.
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Brazen 8 months ago
When I went in for a root canal the dentist gave me antibiotics to fix the infection before doing the work. Half way through taking them, I felt really bad...bad enough that I stopped taking them and three days later ended up in the hospital. Turns out he gave me a prescription that was too strong, and if I had gone against my gut feelings, it would have been worse for me. A day spent in isolation with the doctors trying to figure out what was wrong, only for them to learn it was that. The fix...another round of antibiotics to correct the damage done by the first prescription. That one I did finish, and I am thankful it worked. I don't know if I would always follow this advice, and I'm glad I followed my instincts.
Silberwolf 8 months ago
To my shame I made exactly that mistake some years ago. The symptoms reoccured and I likely helped certain bacteria to develop resistances a bit faster.
sock man 8 months ago
Yes, this is exactly how that works. Please share your thoughts with Becky.
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#3
People don’t realize how their partners make them mentally sick.
Michelle C 8 months ago
Yup; being with someone who only cares about themselves can and does cause unnecessary stress I have seen way too many people end up in relationships like this because they don’t have good boundaries, have unresolved childhood trauma, and/or tend towards selfishness themselves.
Flavia Slag 8 months ago
Had to take Psych in nursing school. Many of the women in the ward were there b/c of a man telling them how worthless they were.
Tom De Paul 7 months ago
To expand on this: I am always astounded when an adult woman will report, "my mother said I looked fat in that outfit and I developed an ED that nearly killed me." I don't doubt it happens, BUT what made mom the expert? Why should you care about her opinion to the exclusion of the other 8 billion inhabitants of the Earth? Does she have her own emotional baggage that prompts her to say such hurtful things? It's about ego strength, and a sense of agency and self-efficacy. Read anything by John Bradshaw (if you prefer legacy self-help) or Brene Brown, who is contemporary. Take care of yourself.
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LakotaWolf (she/her) 8 months ago
So you're saying that me being depressed from being in an abus!ve, controlling relationship that I felt like I couldn't escape for 24 years is a "cop out" and I should own up to my own issues? What issues are those? That I was afraid for my life and for the life of my pet if I tried to leave? Seriously? You're saying that someone experiencing PTSD or mental illness from being in an abus!ve relationship is a "cop out" and is somehow the victim's fault and they should "own up" to their own issues... that were caused by ANOTHER PERSON and not themselves? If your username reflects you in real life, I genuinely hope none of your children ever experience an abus!ve relationship, because clearly you're just going to tell them to "own up" to their "own issues" and it's a "cop out" when they say that their abus!ve partners are making them sad/depressed/su!cidal.
Load More Replies...With so much information available to us, we might think that we're more health-conscious than ever. For example, when it comes to nutrition, 77% of Americans claim they would like to be eating healthier.
r/chickencaesar8 doesn't spend that much time thinking about his health. "I have never considered myself health-conscious as I enjoy eating all kinds of food though I always know when to stop," he shares.
"I guess I consider myself a sensible eater. I also do not smoke, I drink enough water and sleep around eight hours a day."
#4
Ok so this is not related to sickness but injury - after a certain age (different for everyone) you should get rid of every slippery pair of socks, uneven area rug, or any other tripping hazard in your house. It's very easy to trip and fall in the dark trying to get to the bathroom and a lot of people have major complications trying to recover from a broken hip or other leg injury. Small trip hazards in your house may not seem like a big deal, but they could lead to an injury that you never recover from and it's a very common problem.
Silberwolf 8 months ago
Also a firm(!) handle in the shower is useful. My mother slipped a few months ago and broke her hip. And the recovery at a certain age can be long.
OneHappyPuppy 8 months ago
My dad broke his hip. He was operated on but never stood up again, he's bed bound
Stephanie Did It 8 months ago
I bought lighter-colored floor mats because my house panther kept laying on the dark ones and I kept stepping and tripping on him.
Brian Droste 8 months ago
As you get older, it is harder or longer to recover from a injury. So take preventive measures.
Judy Reynolds 7 months ago
The two greatest tripping hazards in my house are the cat and the dog, and I am not getting rid of them.
Tom De Paul 7 months ago (edited)
This is HUGE. One place that is often overlooked is when people place Oriental-type carpets and runners over wall-to-wall carpeting. Don't do this!
Margaret Clarke 7 months ago
After a couple weird falls, I got one of those fall detectors. I live alone.
#5
Not brushing your teeeeeth, mouth bacteria can lead to a hundred different head to toe issues and can even k**l you.
Snazzy Smurf 8 months ago
Dental healthcare is just as important as medical healthcare and should be treated as such when possible.
Linda Lee 8 months ago
I hate having special parts of my body that's not covered under my healthcare policy. I can't afford another plan for my teeth and another for my vision.
Emilu 8 months ago
Judging by the amount of people with disgusting teeth I see around there are at least some. I assume I’m not the only unfortunate that notices them.
Load More Replies... #6
If you have sudden unexplained weight loss PLEASE go get checked out. I can not begin to count how many people (especially middle aged and older) I've triaged for some other symptoms drop a random 'oh yeah and I've lost xx amount of lbs in a month' and more often than not it turns out to be CANCER. You're not turning into a skinny legend, it's cachexia 😭.
Emilu 8 months ago (edited)
And so many people congratulate you! I had people at work do that when I lost a lot of weight initially (severe liver disease and not being able to keep food down) and it took all I had to not be all "thanks, I'm probably dying, but I appreciate the thought".
Lazy Panda 2 8 months ago
And THIS is why I don't comment when people's weight changes!
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Mel in Georgia 8 months ago
I was on a boat with friend who had just come out of cancer treatment. She changed into a bikini, came out, posed, and joked, "Body by cancer!" Definitely the worst diet ever.
Tom De Paul 7 months ago
In the early days of HIV/AIDS men unknowingly celebrated their new svelte bodies.
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Kathy Richardson 8 months ago
I was dropping pounds like crazy (in my 40's) and it turned out to be diabetes.
Child of the Stars 8 months ago
Ok, it's true that unexpected weight loss MIGHT be cancer, but there could also be other medical causes that aren't lethal and are easier to treat, like a thyroid condition. Those also need a doctor's attention, but let's stop throwing around cancer scares like they're the only thing that can cause problems.
Clown fish 8 months ago
I think what they are saying is an weight loss get it checked because the worse it can be is cancer and it's better to get checked out
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Kat 8 months ago (edited)
Tell this to my d**n doctor who, when informed that I had unintentionally dropped 30 pounds in a month, asked me to journal my eating habits... I've been eating basically the same way for my whole adult life.
"My partner and I love going for walks, play badminton occasionally and play board games. I would say we have a relationship that's full of laughter, nice conversations, adventures with a bit of drama every now and then," r/chickencaesar8 adds.
If you think the habits the Redditor listed don't count as a healthy lifestyle, think again! A 2023 study of lifestyle behaviors identified the healthy habits that can prolong our lives by 24 years.
And what are those magical tips? Mostly things we've all probably heard before: a healthy diet, regular exercise, less stress, getting enough sleep, and positive social relationships.
#7
Listening to influencers who are not medically trained.
I’ve watched ads on TikTok where an influencer will pour two packs of liquid iv into a cup to make a new flavor. Or whatever the hell the raw milk and unpasteurized nonsense is. You can’t lemon and cayenne water your way out of hyperlipidemia, but you can erode your gastric lining.
Breadcrumb. 8 months ago (edited)
When there is no universal health care and people have no trust in health care or government. TikTok doctors are a symptom of a sick country.
Nils Skirnir 8 months ago
USians are trained from an early age to treat ourselves and self-medicate. Can be part of the reason USA has one of the highest a*******n rates in the world
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Tonyah Mcanelly 8 months ago
If you haven't seen Apple Cider Vinnegar on Net Flix it a good watch about this very topic
Lee Gilliland 8 months ago
Listening to influencers period, no dependant clause is called for.
Cydney Golden 8 months ago
Latest surgeon general nom is an influencer with no medical license.
anonymous 8 months ago
One that always make me facepalm is lemon and baking soda, they cancel out, so you are just left with a weird tasting drink.
Sue User 8 months ago
Or baking soda and vinegar. That is mostly just a pretty show. Vinegar works well, baking soda does too . When you mix, there goes the benefit.
Load More Replies... #8
NOT a medical professional but so far there's been three entirely unrelated people in my life who have casually gone Pants On Head Crazy and then found out they had black mold in their homes.
For the love of god, if you start noticing somebody's lost the plot, lovingly convince them to do black mold testing. If it's not that, their thyroid may have gathered its little coat and hat and suitcase and headed out the door.
Papa 8 months ago
If it's an older person who is behaving erratically it could be a urinary tract infection. They can cause hallucinations.
r9tj7wv985 8 months ago
Delirium is very common in elderly people with untreated infections.
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Jan Feline 8 months ago
Good friend's mother was such a b.tch for years. Then she got on thyroid meds, and now she's a completely different person, kind and friendly.
Emilu 8 months ago
I did not know that. I’m off to look at my windows and walls etc more closely now.
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Rianna Lewis 7 months ago
Sadly someone I love super close to me lost her mind years ago.. we all knew what it was that was sending her loopy, she couldn’t afford to leave and we’ve all tried to de-mold the house but it keeps coming back.. like I said she’s never been financially able to just up and leave like that, there’s nowhere else to go, and the prices of living and expenses today are legit through the roof.. so now she lays on her d****bed surrounded by mold and unable to leave her bed, which will 💀 quicker.. even though we’ve tried even more times since her diagnosis there’s absolutely NOTHING we can do.. and I can’t explain how upsetting and distraught this whole situation is for everyone 😢
#9
Leaving a tooth infection without treatment. It can cause so many bad things.
Snazzy Smurf 8 months ago
Tooth infections are more serious than many realize. They can't always be resolved by only pulling the infected tooth.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 8 months ago
And it's important to remember how close your teeth are to your brain (so to speak.) It's rare, but infections can spread from your teeth/gums through your bloodstream or through your maxillary sinus into your brain.
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winterwidow87 8 months ago
Some teeth problems can cause heart conditions. Take care of your teeth.
Tom De Paul 7 months ago
Find a dental school. If you're elderly/disabled enroll in Innovage.
Load More Replies... Lowrider 56 8 months ago
It can be deadly too. I had serious problems with my teeth and had them all pulled. Dentist showed me x-rays of my teeth and you could see the infection that I didn't know I had!
Nikole 8 months ago
What if you have a bump on the inside of your upper lip that’s been there for like three months? Errrrrr
Pandapoo 8 months ago
My sibling died from oral cancer (non-smoker). Get it checked.
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R/chickencaesar8's thread did reveal some things some of us do that may cost us our health in the long run. For the Redditor, the answer about men not wiping was the one that stood out the most.
This may surprise you, but even a quite recent YouGov poll showed that not all people wipe with toilet paper after a bowel movement. 86% of the respondents said they always use toilet paper. 14% claimed they go for wet wipes. Let's just hope everyone uses one or the other every time!
#10
Not drinking water. So many people feel like s**t but only drink coffee, Coke, and Corona. People like this live live on a onife edge of minor dehydration where the tiniest bit of exertion feels impossible. If you actually drink the water your body needs, it fixes all sorts of minor issues.
Breadcrumb. 8 months ago (edited)
I drink so much water I might as well be a cucumber. I think it's the only thing keeping me alive. 😆
Verena 8 months ago
Be careful, too much water is not healthy. You loose lots of electrolytes and minerals your body needs, and too much water can poison you.
Load More Replies... Verena 8 months ago
Note that too much water isn't good, either. One, too much will wash out electrolytes and minerals, second, a thing like water poisoning exists. If you eat healthy and regularly with fruits and vegetables, 2 litres per day are totally sufficient. If you sweat due to heat, sport or sickness, drink more. Any fluid counts, no alcohol and no sugar/sugar substitutes are best. Fruit juice contains a lot of natural sugar, which is not better than any other sugar.
Jan Feline 8 months ago
I can vouch for this. I used to always be a little dehydrated, and tired all the time. Now, when I first wake up, I drink a full glass of water, and it really does make a difference!
Gen X Feral 8 months ago
I didn't drink water and poof I have kidney failure. My kidneys were 47 percent functioning when it came up in a random blood test. I chug a bottle of water 4 to 5 times a days when I know I'll be near a bathroom. I swear it's like I have a trap door or something.
Load More Replies... Snazzy Smurf 8 months ago (edited)
Drinking enough water has always been my issue. IMO water has a taste and that causes problems for me.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 8 months ago
Have you tried different types of water? Not trying to sh!t on you; my mom has a similar issue - she says "normal water" makes her sick. She installed a filtration system to her kitchen sink and she says it tastes so much better than "normal water" and doesn't make her sick. I can't tell the difference myself (tap water, filtered water, and hose water all basically taste the same to me) but I believe that other people can be more sensitive to it. Maybe try super-filtered water? Or, alternatively, get those water flavoring drops to ADD a flavor to your water so that you are more inclined to consume it :D
Load More Replies... JK 8 months ago
Its water and electrolytes. About seven years ago I was an inch from death, as the nurses told me. I arrived at the ER with green skin. Three days and six IV bags later, I was released. No alcohol involved, but it was cyclical vomiting. I now use electrolyte packets in moderation. Still have the hospital wrist band as a reminder.
Tom De Paul 7 months ago
Coffee, Coke, and Corona are almost all water. I don't drink water; fish f*ck in it. (W.C. Fields) I stay hydrated with diet soda, black/green tea with artificial sweeteners, and low-cal sports drinks.
Tom De Paul 8 months ago
Tea, no sugar added soda, and high water content vegetables like watermelon and cucumbers are all excellent sources of hydration.
Load More Replies... #11
If your toes start turning black from untreated diabetes, it’s not going to get better on its own, it will only continue to get worse, and lead to irreparable damage including the loss of the foot entirely.
idk if people also realize that aspirating things (something “going down the wrong tube” as most people say) causes pneumonia.
also idk if this counts but i can say that after multiple months doing xray at an inner city level 1 trauma hospital, i will never ever get on a motorcycle, four wheeler, atv, dirtbike, none of that. nope no thanks im good.
Ejteh 8 months ago
Well, surprisingly it does. In my job (aspiring nurse) I've seen plenty people with amputations of toes, feet or leg, because they waited too long to see a doctor, or thought the coloring and/or festering wound would go away eventually. A diabetic foot is no joke, and fairly common.
Load More Replies... Ace 8 months ago (edited)
There really should not be any such thing as "untreated diabetes" at this level. Access to healthcare without financial pressure should be available to everybody. I know (knew) several people with T1 who eventually died from it, after multiple amputations, but this was due to less effective testing and treatment options of 50+ years ago, not lack of treatment per se.
Ge Po 8 months ago
There is a lot of bad regulated diabetes, regrettably. Some people don't fully understand their diagnosis and are too stubborn to accept help, some just don't care enough.
Load More Replies... winterwidow87 8 months ago
Yep that's called "aspiration pneumonia" and can be fatal especially for elderly people.
Mikaya 8 months ago
My grandpa had diabetic neuropathy and he had trouble feeling pain in his feet. One day he was cold and decided to his feet directly on a heating. It was too hot and it caused him blisters. Because of bad circulation in his legs, they got necrotic, and he ended up in a hospital with high fever. Despite immediate treatment it developed into pneumonia and heart failiure followed. Diabetes is no joke. Take care of yourselves.
Hiram's Friend 8 months ago
The ER I worked in had a sign: Buy your child a three wheeler for his last birthday.
Huddo's sister 8 months ago
My grandma had both her legs amputated because of diabetes complications. It wasn't because she wasn't getting treatment or thought it would get better, it was because her dementia got worse and she forgot to mention sores etc. She was in a nursing home and medication was regulated and she saw a podiatrist regularly but it was still missed as it changed suddenly enough. Ultimately she died from it, as she was no longer active as she had been and then got pneumonia a few weeks later.
Tom De Paul 7 months ago
The 2 Stanford-educated engineers that founded Failure Analysis Associates would add helicopters and hot air balloons to your list.
#12
Pharmacy technician here. Don't stop taking your blood pressure meds. If your blood pressure is good, now is not the time to stop your meds. They are working.
Michael Largey 8 months ago
The moderators try to control BP with censorship.
Load More Replies... BeKind&Rewind 8 months ago
Lost a friend in Sept who had the flu and didn't feel like taking his BP meds. He's 6' underground now.
Gen X Feral 8 months ago
Yup. Brain bleeds will killl you quick and heart failure will killl you slowly. It's been 5 years since I went into heart failure and now I have 10 percent heart function. Wondering every day if today's the day isn't something you want to live with.
So, Pandas, let's all wash our hands, brush our teeth, floss, finish our meds, and wipe after going to the toilet! That way, we can live healthier and, hopefully, longer lives.
If we have any medical professionals here among our fellow Pandas, be sure to share any mundane things that make people sick in the comments, too!
#13
1. Drinking. Cirrhosis is very very mean.
2. Wash. Your. Hands. I don’t mean a little squirt of soap and then immediately rinse it off, I mean the whole 20 seconds. Noro/sapovirus, C. Diff, trust me, you don’t want it.
Emilu 8 months ago (edited)
Weak! I don't get pain from my cirrhosis so everyone shouldn't. /s Seriously, don't drink to excess and especially not cirrhosis point. I need to get fluid drained every month or so because my liver doesn't function correctly, so that's about 3-5 days in the hospital per month. Plus the aching in my sides and walking around looking like I'm pregnant. I normally can get about 3-5kg worth of fluids drained and because I don't eat when I drink (because of feeling sick etc) I've dropped about 20kgs overall. Please, value yourself more than I value myself.
Cosmos in your eyes 8 months ago
I've trained my whole family to wash their hands every time they enter the house. Home from school? Wash your hands. Home from playing outside? Wash your hands. Home from grocery shopping? Wash your hands. I swear it is how we stayed mostly sick free over the winter.
Billo66 8 months ago (edited)
It's attacking my little bro's pancreas. He goes to ER spends a few days in hospital and buys a quart on the way home. The worse part is there is nothing I can do, besides tell him I love him no matter what. He says he wants to stop, he drinks about a gallon of bourbon a week.
Brian Droste 8 months ago
About no. 2. I see so many people use a public rest room and after they get done, they either don't wash their hands or barely get them wet and then just shake their hands off. Don't even use soap at all. It is so disgusting.
#14
I’ve had so many male patients with rectal problems because they will not wipe after using the bathroom. One guy told me it’s gay to touch your butt. Another said he just don’t do that wipe thing. Another said he didn’t care. Totally preventable disease state.
Linda Lee 8 months ago
Imagine if we taught school children things about hygiene and diet and how to know if it's allergies or a cold, how to file taxes, how to write a resume, interviewing skills, how to find out what benefits you may qualify for if you're unable to work, FMLA, workers rights. But at least I passed a test on the War of 1812!
Load More Replies... Kat Alison 8 months ago
GROSS. Those guys are disgusting. They’re less clean than the chimps at the zoo!
Emilu 8 months ago
So dating straight men = dating poopy butts? That is why I generally prefer nothing (or women).
XenoMurph 8 months ago
Most straight men have clean bottoms. Well, this one does, I do not have proof of the others though....
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#15
Derm PA here- please moisturize your skin. Wearing lotion is not only a “girly” thing to do. Dry skin can lead to itchy skin, which can lead to chronically itchy skin, which can lead to intense scratching and can leave open wounds and sores.
Itchy skin can drive a person bonkers. I see it everyday. The easiest way to prevent this is to wear lotion.
Vincent Bevort 8 months ago
Sorry to inform you all “Knowing better” commenters, Dry skin IS an issue when you grow older. Better prevent it before it is too late! It has nothing to do with now mush soap you use, Most soaps contain some fat to re-moister your skin during washing.
BeKind&Rewind 8 months ago
And for goodness sake, stay out of the d**n sun!!! Not just skin cancer, the wrinkles and sun spots and leather skin are so hard to overcome!
Load More Replies... Ace 8 months ago
This is ridiculous. IF you have dry skin, and IF it then gets itchy, and then IF you keep scratching it and IF it then gets infected. So many easy ways to prevent all of those IFs combining. Oh, and IF you're prone to eczema, which could genuinely cause this, then simple 'lotion' will not usually be enough anyway.
TheRightToArmBears 8 months ago
Living in Colorado it is always funny how quickly visiting friends will ask for lotion.
Stephanie Did It 8 months ago
After moving to Alaska, my skin turned into lizard hide until I learned to moisturize. Alaska's climate is so dry that the snow doesn't melt; it evaporates!
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superfluous 8 months ago
I agree with Forrest Grump and Ace on this and am appalled that they are being downvoted for being honest. Also, moisturizing is not preventative - it won't keep your skin from being dry when you are old if you do it when you're young! I think OP has investments in Big Moisturizer!
#16
I could go to a doctor with an axe in my head and the first things he would tell me are: Don't smoke, exercise more, eat healthier.
Whats often overlooked is I think is: Sleep more, work less.
Auntriarch 8 months ago
Dr didn't mention you should lose weight? How irresponsible of them
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Linda van A. 8 months ago
I could go to the doctor with an axe in my head and he would say it's between my ears.
Just me... 8 months ago
Actually, lasting world peace could be achieved if I would just stop smoking and lose weight.
ILoveMySon 8 months ago
I literally discussed prescribed sleep aids with my oncologist YESTERDAY. They are only supposed to work for four hours. I was disappointed but four is better than one hour increments.
#17
Not. Enough. Fiber.
Uncle Schmickle 8 months ago
Very important for gut health. Gut microbiome, in turn is absolutely important for general health.
Emilu 8 months ago
Also important for the morons above. Don’t eat fibre, don’t get a poopy b******e.
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Serena Myers 8 months ago
I can recognise the bananas and blueberries, and the gloop on the other side of the bowl is presumably some sort of cereal, but what is the stuff that looks like ground black pepper, and the gunpowder next to it?
Wyrdwoman 8 months ago
The ground black pepper is chia seeds. The other might be linseed or black sesame seeds. Not sure.
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Marsha Hultberg 8 months ago
Looks like a favorite breakfast. Quinoa or oatmeal + blueberries or bananas. Oh, mustn't forget rice milk. DEE-lish.
Brian Droste 8 months ago
A few years ago I had a colonoscopy done. After talking to the doctor, I found out I was fiber definition. He recommend Metamucil. Been taking it ever since.
#18
Vaping. I have pts that repeatedly see allergists/pulmonary bc they “don’t know why i’m wheezy all the time and it feels like i can’t breathe.” Nasal sprays, antihistamines, allergy pills, 3-4 different nebs…all while denying they vape. It’s gross.
Michelle C 8 months ago (edited)
Vaping can actually cause popcorn lungs - just the start of a whole host of issues, not to mention the obvious a*******n to vaping! It’s heartbreaking how many people want to quit smoking and think vaping is the solution to help them. It may work for some, but not all. BP staff, I understand how the word can be triggering for some people, but a*******n is legitimate issue that needs to be addressed with compassion and truth also.
#19
Not following a doctor's advice to cut something from your diet. For example, people who say, 'Doc told me to stop eating gluten and dairy. So I had pizza for dinner, but it’s ok because i took a lactaid.' Just..no. That’s not how that works. That’s not how any of that works.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 8 months ago
My mother is like this. She had an ulcer and the doctor told her to cut acidic foods from her diet. She will still chow down on tomatoes, lemons (literally, she eats the lemon flesh whole), and she drinks watermelon juice. Watermelons are surprisingly acidic and they were up towards the top of the list the doctor gave her of "foods to avoid". But she claims that since she hates coffee and alcohol (also near the top of the list), she's "fine" because she "doesn't" consume those. Sigh. It's honestly only a matter of time before the ulcer perforates again (or she gets a new one.)
Nils Skirnir 8 months ago
Did doctor give antibiotics? Ulcers caused by bacteria
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D.G. LeBlanc 8 months ago
My mom would drink sugared colas and say, "I don't have THAT kind of diabetes, it's fine!" She ended up getting her lower leg amputated, and ultimately died of end stage renal failure, both of which were caused by poorly controlled blood sugar. Listen to your doctor. They're trying to keep you from a very, very gruesome end.
Huddo's sister 8 months ago (edited)
There is an ad for Gluteguard in Australia at the moment and it makes me mad because it says 'I don't have to worry about cross contamination or cooks who don't understand gluten anymore' with no mention of the fact it treats the symptoms but doesn't stop the risk of damage to people who are coeliac. It's like they think only gluten intolerance exists. I had dinner with colleagues and one of them said 'why don't you just take that' and I had to explain it doesn't work that way for coeliacs.
Emilu 8 months ago
Gluten intolerant/people who are trying no gluten for the heck of it are certainly louder about it, so maybe that’s why. (I really hate that this could be true but you know what they say about the squeaky wheel.)
Load More Replies... #20
I had a Type 1 diabetic patient in medical school who stopped taking her insulin because it would help her lose weight quickly.
Her chronic high blood sugars instead shut her kidneys down and blinded her in one eye. .
Drema Dixon 8 months ago
As a type 1 diabetic all I can say is what in the actual f?! I was only diagnosed a year ago and while I'm not fond of the 20lb weight gain (even with me working out 5 days a week under care of an Endocrinologist who is also a Sports Medicine doctor). You know what I am fudging fond of?! My limbs, kidneys, liver, eyesight, heart, etc. I don't think people understand how serious Diabetes of either kind is, but when you're a Type 1 and insulin dependent, take your d**n insulin!
#21
Physician:
1. Alcohol
2. Obesity
3. Indiscriminate over the counter supplement use
4. Motorcycles
5. Not wearing a helmet
6. Not treating your high blood pressure because “you feel fine.”
7. Not taking care of your teeth
8. Poverty.
Snazzy Smurf 8 months ago
Some things are out of people's control. Being poor and/or living in poverty is hazardous to one's being.
Emilu 8 months ago
Poverty also affects some of the other points. Eg: Dentist bills are f*****g expensive if you have an average income. You can't afford them/would need to go on some sort of loan/Afterpay etc thing to afford treatment if you had a lower income than that. Fatty food is generally cheaper (though maybe not so much nowadays) which in turn will have an effect on blood pressure, but you can't afford to see a doctor. F**k poverty.
Billo66 8 months ago
2016 Doc: You have cancer. Me: I'm scared to die can I have xanax? Doc: Sure thing buddy, I understand. Now: Doc: You take xanax? thats horrible we need you to go to psych and talk to people. Me: But Doc, the Cancer is here to stay, so is the anxiety, why change whats working? Doc: "paraphrasing" For no other reason than we are tired of writing for xanax and we want you take these new ones. ..... I have maybe 2 years left, already hopelessly addicted to xanax, which is not a problem unless I don't take it. The cancer will come knocking before the meds do. Just let me die in peace man. Im not gonna magically be cured of Multiple Myeloma. F*****K!
Jen D. 8 months ago
I really wish doctors would talk more openly about obesity. I know I'm overweight, but none of my doctors will mention anything about it. They dance around the topic like its taboo to discuss weight issues. I'd probably do more to lose weight if my doctor actually told me I need to do it, otherwise the depression just takes hold and my drive to do anything about it dies. We truly need to stop supporting obesity and start discussing the health issues it causes
Tom De Paul 7 months ago
If you are morbidly obese, consider bariatric surgery. I was 310 and had the Sleeve. It changed my life. Medicaid pays for weight loss surgery because it adds 3-5 years to your life. There are no old fat people.
Load More Replies... #22
Untreated sleep apnea is absolutely terrible for you. Over time it can lead to heart problems, diabetes, stroke, and even shorten your lifespan, to say nothing of what chronic lack of quality sleep can do for your immediate mental and psychological health. Snoring all night every night is not normal. Get over yourself and use the CPAP.
Forrest Grump 8 months ago (edited)
I somewhat disagree. Get good medical advice and don't assume you need a CPAP (although some people might need it). I effectively treated my sleep apnea by sleeping in an adjustable bed (with the head end up a little). Then over time I was able to lose my belly fat, and that ended my sleep apnea.
Michael Largey 8 months ago
I couldn't get to sleep with a CPAP mask on. So my doctor said "Losing 50 pounds might do it." I lost 75, and yes it did.
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Joshua Proffit 8 months ago
I never realized I had severe hypoxic sleep apnea until I retired from the military. When I got used to my machine, I have never slept better, deeper, and with such long dreaming. I feel much better now.
Metalhead Turtle 🇺🇦 🇵🇸 8 months ago
I've commented on similar posts before (at least I think it was on BP. I could be remembering wrong) and I just want to put it out there that not everyone is able to use a CPAP. I use a Herbst appliance for sleep apnea.
Tom De Paul 7 months ago
Although rarely talked about, there is a surgical treatment for sleep apnea.
Sven Grammersdorf 8 months ago
My wife snores like a dragon all night long. It's really annoying.
#23
Swimming with contacts in. Every time I dispense fortified vancomycin and gentamicin (compounded by our IV room, strong antibiotic) eyedrops, in the chart it turns out that the patient was swimming with contacts in. They get super nasty infections.
Fire Singer 8 months ago
I've never heard this, so I'm legit asking and not being snarky, what's the reason for this? I've worn contact most my life and shower with them in all the time so I don't want to have complications from not knowing! Thank you. :)
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Fire Singer 8 months ago
Is this just a matter of like opening your eyes in the water that causes the problem? I'm 41, wearing contacts since 16, I've never had a problem with swimming with them in. I don't open my eyes underwater though and I rarely get into like splash fights. Just curious to avoid future problems! Maybe I've just been lucky so far!
Billo66 8 months ago
I used to wear the 30 day lenses but leave them in for months. Luckily no permanent damage but don't do that.
Kalikima 8 months ago (edited)
I used to wear dailies (you're supposed to take them out every night and throw them away) and I'd wear them for days at a time, including sleeping in them and just using eye drops to unglue my eyes in the morning. I'm shocked that nothing bad happened.
Load More Replies... ILoveMySon 8 months ago
I am simply too inattentive and therefore, I will continue wearing my glasses.
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#24
Not being especially cautious as you get older. About 15 years ago, when I became a nurse's assistant, the nurse teaching the course told us that for many elderly people, a fall was the beginning of the end. Small falls that younger people deal with constantly can break a bone in an older person, and their body has to fight harder to heal when they're older, which overdrives the immune system and makes it easier to get sick in other ways.
Emilu 8 months ago
My grandfather (RIP Pup!) died from a fall. My aunt found him; he'd obviously just slipped and tripped, which sounds miniscule, but due to his age, he needed to be put into a coma from which he never woke.
Nils Skirnir 8 months ago
A lot of of these falls and slips (maybe most) are caused by other issues too like TIA, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, stroke, etc. The falls are symptoms
Papa 8 months ago
This is true. We often hear of older people falling and breaking their hip, but the reverse is often true. They fall because their hip broke.
Load More Replies... Ge Po 8 months ago
When you get older, especially women who have passed meno pause, do what you can to keep your muscle strength and balance at an optimal level. This prevents falling or dampens the impact if you do fall, and then gives a faster recovery if you did get hurt.
Zaach 8 months ago
Yeah! I am 76 and began falling last year; had to move into senior living. I used to compete in karate, ballroom dance, et c. This is so effing difficult to deal with; I just can't see myself using a walker so I started using trekking poles. I suppose I will get over it but I just know that the guy in the mirror will be the death of me
Ge Po 7 months ago
Yes, loss of physical capabilities is a kind of sorrow as well.
Load More Replies... Neb 7 months ago
My grandma died several months after the fall. She also did not walk anymore after the fall, so it is not exactly clear if she felt because she could no longer walk (e.g. mini stroke), or she could no longer walk before of fall. Found on the floor in the morning. Still, 90+ still quite a long life.
#25
Do NOT let your dog lick an open wound! Their mouth is full of bacteria, they don't have "clean mouths" like we were told when we were kids. Also, please take your meds before coming to the hospital. Just let us know what you took. No reason to skip your BP meds... Bathroom injuries yall... I cannot tell you how many people come to the ER because they vasovagaled
on the toilet pushing too hard. ALSO make sure your toys have flared bases :D.
The Abe 8 months ago
If you choose to put something in your rear, make sure the base is wide enough to not accidentally follow it. If nothing is left on the outside, you will NOT be able to remove it on your own.
Load More Replies... Ladedah 8 months ago
There are a few caveats to the "take your meds before you come to the hospital" thing... especially, if you are having symptoms of a stroke. In that particular case, it's definitely best to have your swallowing function assessed before stuffing a handful of pills in your mouth. Aspiration pneumonia is a b***h.
Becky Samuel 8 months ago
Cat's mouths are so dirty that it's strongly recommended that you seek medical treatment for any cat bite, no matter how small. How is an animal going to have a clean mouth when it's just been licking it's áss and munching on a dead rodent?
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#26
Pay attention when something changes or something new happens. Even minor issues that don’t go away or continue to get worse should always warrant a trip to the doctor.
I’m a medical student and I put off going to the doctor for embarrassing urinary symptoms for 6 months. I finally saw someone a couple weeks ago and they think I may have MS. I’m so mad at myself that, if I do have MS, I could’ve started treatment months ago and prevented ongoing nervous system damage.
Amy Bowser 8 months ago
The cost of medical care in the United States (even with medical insurance) is one reason people put off seeing a doctor.
Fire Singer 8 months ago
This and the fact some, not all of course, doctors tell you to just keep an eye on it and if it gets worse let them know. No tests, no diagnosis, nothing. I get it, it's hard when it's not a visible symptom but it's easy to ignore chronic pain when you're told it's nothing or to just let them know if it gets worse.
Load More Replies... Snazzy Smurf 8 months ago
Life or fear of the unknown can cause us to procrastinate at the worse times.
Becky Samuel 8 months ago
And then you get tagged in your notes as an attention seeker or hypochondriac and they dismiss even the serious symptoms. Heads they win, tails you lose.
Linda Lee 8 months ago
I have a PPO plan that has a $5,000 deductible and office visits apply to the deductible, no flat copay amount. One office visit cost me $500 to tell me I had the flu and kidney stones at the same time. Then there was another bill for lab work and another for radiology
RedMarbles 8 months ago
Several more doctor visits like that this year and your insurance will start to pay a percentage (if they can't figure out a way to deny it)! The American people are absolutely getting scr*wed.
Load More Replies... #27
I work at a dentist, people improperly taking or prematurely stopping antibiotics. When people start but don't finish antibiotics (usually because they feel better), the surviving infection grows resistant to those antibiotics, so future courses become inefficient or don't work at all.
#TAKE THE WHOLE COURSE.
Infections in your teeth and jaw have a short path to your brain, and leaving that infection untreated (especially if it's asymptomatic or not causing pain) can cause bone loss, which can very much detrimentally impact things like implants and even your jaw strength.
Lowrider 56 8 months ago
My infection led to a hole in my jawbone that required a bone graft to repair.
#28
Not necessarily sick but long car rides without breaks can absolutely cause blood clots, which can possibly lead to a pulmonary embolism if left untreated.
Snazzy Smurf 8 months ago
The same can be said for flying. Wearing compression socks is quite helpful.
Vincent Bevort 8 months ago
2 hours driving then 15 minutes rest, repeat until you arrive. Never failed me.
QueerAxolotls 8 months ago
You should rest for a bit (20 min) every 2 hours on a long drive. It prevents the clotting, but it also means you can use the bathroom (if you plan ahead, you won't drink less water out of fear and therefore no dehydration!) and get some fresh air.
Silberwolf 8 months ago
I had a pulmonary embolism ~ a year ago. I was panting for air after a 50 meter walk. Don't recommend. I take a blood thinner since then.
Hiram's Friend 8 months ago
Done that twice. After the first one, I had a second several years later and now I'm blood thinners
#29
People with Congestive Heart Failure not checking labels for sodium content, and here in Louisiana, going to multiple crawfish boils.
Snazzy Smurf 8 months ago
When crawfish are in season it can be hard to resist. There are other ways to get a crawfish fix without landing in the hospital or morgue.
Gen X Feral 8 months ago (edited)
You can go the opposite way though. Not enough salt will make you feel really funky as your brain starts swelling. Ignore it and you'll be explaining to Jesus why you didn't think it was worth going to the ER. I had to twist my husbands arm to take me in and yup, that dizzy weird feeling was my brain squishing up against my skull.
Malide 8 months ago
Having to "twist your husband's arm" to go to the ER to me seems like a potentially problematic situation to be in. I obviously don't know all of the backstory, but please stay safe out there folks.
Load More Replies... Emilu 8 months ago
Forgot to say if you have advanced liver disease you don’t want salt either. It helps ascites become a problem (retention of fluid, which as I mentioned above I personally need drained every month or so) because it absorbs liquids. Even if your doctor doesn’t actively mention it, it’s worth looking into. Helps with other stuff too.
Emilu 8 months ago (edited)
Second mention of crawfish! Edit: Unless they deleted the first? Either way, I’m curious now… 🤔 Do you guys just dump salt on them or something?
Stephanie Did It 8 months ago
It's the salty mixture of spices in the "crab boil" seasoning, plus the foods that go with it such as corn on the cob, etc.
Load More Replies... #30
Please stop drinking energy drinks.. they are terrible for you!
Uncle Schmickle 8 months ago
These should really be banned, as they're full of sugar and caffeine.
ILoveMySon 8 months ago
My friends laugh at me as I drink my milk with a dab of coffee because it is so light. Hey, it works.
Load More Replies... Robin DJW 8 months ago
Soft drinks are bad, too. Carbonated beverages are bad for the teeth. Most sodas are either ridiculously sugary or full of artificial sweeteners.
Fire Singer 8 months ago
My teenage nephew drinks these and I want to slap it out of his hand every time I see him with one.
Kakashisith 7 months ago
I hate them. First time I had one, I had terrible diarrhea. Never again.
#31
Poor social support and relationships. D**g misuse and abuse not thinking they’re abusing. Never opening their blinds or sitting in the sun.
Anne Bowman 7 months ago
Tha oncologist who treated my melanoma has told me to absolutely avoid sun exposure.
#32
Just because the health condition is common in your family, doesn’t make it “normal” to have that condition.
eg young woman from a family all living with type 2 diabetes, gets diagnosed with gestational diabetes and pretty much ignores it because it’s “normal” in her family.
She’s told over and over to monitor her BGLs and keep them under x level with the insulin etc she’s been prescribed, as high sugars are not only harmful to her but also to her fetus. Lots of education given on all of this and specifically told that her baby could die if she’s not vigilant.
Still does her own thing and to no one’s surprise: stillbirth.
So senseless and avoidable.
QueerAxolotls 8 months ago
This is a huge thing. For example, autism runs in my family apparently (it's not a serious condition but it works for this example). I did not get diagnosed until I was a teenager because my mother had never gotten any support/diagnosis, nor had her mother, so everyone thought it was just normal.
Sue User 8 months ago
So how do you know when it is not normal ? If you have if, and people you are growing up with have it, it skews your perspective. Oh, i oee every 20 minutes, I thought everyone does that.
Load More Replies... David Jeffery 8 months ago
This is incredibly sad but a little part of me can't help thinking - 'but on YouTube it said....'
Stephanie Did It 8 months ago
Gestational diabetes also results in abnormally large babies, thus causing way more birth risks to both mom and child.
#33
High humidity in a house causes mold. Not changing the air filter on your HVAC regularly causes mold/high energy bills.
ILoveMySon 8 months ago
Can confirm. I spray my hvac filter with Lysol in my weekly clean and change it about every six weeks.
Load More Replies... Kat Alison 8 months ago
I hate heat and humidity. If I ever get to choose where I want to live, I’m getting the hell out of Virginia and moving someplace with a cool, dry climate.
Hassel Davidhoff 8 months ago
I'm not in Virginia, but in the same conditions and I hate it.
Load More Replies... #34
Consistently getting less than 7 hours of sleep, even if it's 6.5 hours, is enough to suppress your immune system. This is because deep sleep is extremely important for T-cell function, the cells that seek out and destroy infected cells and cancer. Chronic short sleep leads to more frequent infections and it also takes longer to recover.
Ace 8 months ago
You need as much sleep as you need. It's not 7 hours for everybody, some may need more, and some less.
Sven Grammersdorf 8 months ago
I sleep 12 hours a day and I'm still pretty tired
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Bartlet for world domination 8 months ago
OK so when I hit perimenopause, a hot flash would wake me up every morning after 6.5 hours of sleep. Annoying, but doable. Then I bought a CBD vape (no nіcotine! no flavor!) for unrelated reasons and my hot flashes are COMPLETELY GONE.
Kat Alison 8 months ago
If I get enough sleep, then I don’t have time to do anything I WANT to do (after I’ve spent hours each day doing things other people want me to do.)
Lee Gilliland 8 months ago
This is something so common in DC it isn't funny. They BRAG about this. These are the people who make our laes.
Tom De Paul 8 months ago
That's because you don't need as much sleep as you grow older.
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Fluffy Cat Sleeps 8 months ago
I need 10-12 hours a day right now due to CFS and fibromyalgia or I pay and pay with pain and fatigue. Also there's a genetic condition that some people have that legit lets them need only 4 or 5 hours a night.
#35
Not washing hands before touching and eating food. Wanna grab those chips, wash your hands with soap and water or use a sanitizer.
Winnie the Moo 8 months ago
We already teach our children: before preparing or eating food: wash your hands
#36
FOOD. Society does not understand food and what absolute s**t we are sold to put in our bodies. Instead of being educated about it, we just accept chronic illness and pharmaceuticals as the norm.
#37
Don’t put off seeing a Dr for a new concern. Had a pt utilize their health insurance really well - managed to dodge SEVERAL cancers from going berserk and only traded it for a few scars on their skin. Pretty amazing when you can catch stuff early and only need a surgery with no chemo.
Had many others put off stuff that k****d them or will be their demise soon. Probably could’ve had a good +10 yrs before leaving spaceship earth but alas. Anxiety/fear can get the better of us.
#38
YOU are the important piece of your healthcare team, they cannot do it without you. Please be an active participant, it improves your overall health.
Take the entire antibiotic prescription.
Do the PT. Do the homework PT gives you.
Wash your hands. WASH YOUR HANDS. Don’t touch your face or open wounds without washing your hands.
It’s okay to use assistive devices. Making a basic life task easier for yourself is not a moral failing or a lack of toughness. There are also really neat libraries of these types of devices.
- medical masks — humans are gross and many don’t have paid leave to be sick. Or they might be sick. Or getting a little allergy relief.
Bonus: Bring a second person to take notes or ask assigned questions if you feel overwhelmed or like it made sense at the time but no longer does when you get to the car — bring a reliable note taker! And bring reminders that you will understand when stressed.
#39
Long-term, low-grade stress.
Everyone focuses on large stressors/traumas/etc, and while yes, those are bad, being consistently stressed over a long period of time is worse. The epigenetic changes alone can be horrific, not even including the direct health concerns.
(Registered social worker, as well as forensic psych/neuroscience student).
#40
Brush your teeth.
If you have a stomach bug or anything else that causes vomiting and diarrhea, try to keep up with fluids. Crackers or plain toast if you can, but especially water. You lose a lot more water through vomiting or diarrhea than you'd think. Broth, soup and tea are great ways to rehydrate your body. This goes doubly for children, people with illbesses and the elderly.
Check your b***s/testicles regularly for knots and lumps. If you are concerned check with your gp. Anybody can get breast cancer.
Same goes for moles. Any change in size/shape or sudden discharge? Get that checked out. And not just white folks. Anybody can get skin cancer, no matter the amount of melanin in your skin.
Animal bites and scratches should at least (!) rinsed under clean water, better yet apply disinfectant. If the area around it becomes red/warm/swollen go to urgent care. You don't want to lose a hand to a cat scratch.
Try to have some sort of sleep schedule and get around 7 to 8 hours of continuous sleep. Your future self will thank you.
#41
Stop changing your medications on your own. Please no.
The vast majority of the time, you’re just screwing yourself over. A small minority of the time, you’re putting yourself at serious risk of a devastating medical event.
Just don’t. For your own sake.
#42
Not following advice like reduce or cut out something in your diet or not exercising. Also, not keeping basic hygiene practices like washing your hands.
#43
Taking too much over-the-counter medication.
Taking more ibuprofen doesn't make the pain go away quicker, it kinda just destroys your kidneys over time. Dialysis is a life changing, expensive b***h of a treatment. You don't want it. If you find that you need to take ibuprofen consistently for 2 weeks, you need to see a doctor because ibuprofen isn't helping anymore and something could be wrong.
As for Tylenol, it's the most commonly overdosed medication. Tylenol breaks down into a byproduct that is toxic to your liver. This byproduct builds up when you take more than the prescribed dose. And this byproduct takes a LONG time to go away after it forms. Meaning more liver damage.
But wait, there's more. Unless you've been prescribed to do so by a doctor, you shouldn't need nexium/prilosec/omeprazole for more than a 2 week course. If your symptoms are still there after that, your doc should at least check you out and determine what is causing your heartburn symptoms.
Ace 8 months ago (edited)
Ibuprofen, in normal therapeutic levels, really doesn't cause kidney damage. There is a potential mechanism of action that can cause changes to liver enzyme levels, and some studies have found that it does do so to a small degree, so there's a theoretical small increase in risk of chronic liver illness with long term use (but not observed in population-level studies). Significant increased risk of acute liver injury starts to be evident at 4 or 5 times the maximum recommended dose; effects are almost immediately reversible once use is stopped. . . . So it's still regarded as one of the safest medications for long-term pain sufferers (myself included). . . . oh, and the comments about omeprazole are a little bizarre in this context, as it's used to reduce the likelihood of gastric problems caused by high doses of NSAIDS (like ibuprofen).
Mel in Georgia 8 months ago
A recent study shows that long-term use proton pump inhibitors like Prilosec is raises the risk of dementia. https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000207747
Load More Replies... #44
Not a doctor.
My mother kept getting itchy eyes, scratchy throat.
Mom, your drinking stevia. You have a ragweed allergy. Stop drinking that..
She stopped and it was that.
It keeps happening periodically.
Mom, f*****g echinacia. Stop taking that. You're making yourself sick.
Mom, did you look at the label, this has stevia.
Maaaaam whyyyy.
Huddo's sister 8 months ago
Why does echinacea have stevia? More of a rhetoric question I guess, since I know many natural remedies/vitamins seem to have a sugar-free additive. I can't have a lot of artificial sweeteners, but the only gluten free fibre gummies I can buy have xylitol in them which is frustrating. I don't see why they need to be sweetened.
#45
Chronic reflux can cause cancer. Chronic throat clearing isn’t normal. Esp after eating
Snoring doesn’t =sleep apnea. It means you may stop breathing for periods when you sleep, which can cause heart enlargement, high blood pressure, clotting, stroke…..the list goes on. Wear the d**n CPAP
If your blood pressure is normal it doesn’t mean stop taking the BP meds. It means they are working.
A super high blood pressure isn’t just bc you are stressed/ anxious in the moment. That’s probably happening all the time off the monitor and it isn’t good.
A single EKG or a week long holter monitor that doesn’t show atrial fibrillation doesn’t mean you don’t have it- maybe it just didn’t catch it during that period.
These are just a few off the top.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 8 months ago
My ex snores horrifically badly and also does the "stops breathing for up to 15 seconds at a time" while asleep. I told him over and over about it. He says "I sleep just fine! I feel well-rested in the morning! I don't have a problem! It's not causing any issues because I'm not tired or exhausted or anything!" Okay, dudebro. Yet he routinely would lecture me on MY snoring and how I was keeping HIM awake. I went to do a sleep test and I have (somehow) both insomnia AND narcolepsy, along with mild sleep apnea. I have a CPAP machine. My ex still refuses to even acknowledge that his snoring/stopping breathing might be a health problem, even though he lectured me about MY snoring being a health problem.
Emilu 8 months ago
Welp, you tried. Not much you can do about stubbornness.
Load More Replies... Ladedah 8 months ago
And for those of you who DO wear your CPAP, clean the f*****g thing! Patients will often have their home CPAP brought in for use while staying in the hospital... and every now and then, you inspect one that's just filled with mold.... the reservoir, the tubing, etc. Who knows what all is trying to live in those dirty CPAPs! Do yourself a favor and make yourself a schedule for washing and sanitizing the d**n thing.
#46
Hand hygiene
Sleep hygiene
And don’t share clothing/ textiles, materials with people you don’t know.
I work in a jail and once had an entire unit get pinkeye.
When I asked if they shared anything someone said when they work out they all shared one towel to wipe away their sweat.
He was horrified and grossed when I explained how pink eye get transmitted - through poop.
#47
Stop touching your eyeballs.
Fire Singer 8 months ago
Without washing our hands should be added. Sometimes touching your eye is necessary, but wash your hands before and after.
#48
Move.
#49
Physician.
Diabetes man. It's such a difficult disease to manage for anyone but particularly when it afflicts lower socioeconomic status. Asking anyone to check their blood sugars 5x a day, manage multiple medications, take insulin, follow up with their physician every 3 months is difficult. Way worse when you don't have access to your medications, can't afford your medications, don't know what your medications do. On top of that.... most people don't feel their high blood sugars so surely "diabetes isn't causing it."
Leads to severe renal disease, blindness, diabetic foot ulcers (many people I see need amputations), severe neuropathy. But it's hard! and when life is hard on you, it makes diabetes even harder on you.
I wish I could say obesity because in my area of the United States, it affects dang near everyone. And it leads to so many untreated issues including obstructive sleep apnea leading to heart failure, obesity hypoventilation syndrome, pulmonary hypertension, metabolic syndromes, and even worse... inability to take care of yourself because you're so obese (think wounds that you are never able to clean). But no one wants to take accountability for their weight even when it does cause problems.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 8 months ago
Obesity and diabetes runs in my family. One of my cousins died aged 24 due to type 2 diabetes-caused kidney failure. One aunt had to have her feet amputated before dying of obesity/diabetes-related issues. Another aunt had an arm amputated due to diabetes-related gangrene. My little cousin, who is 38, has non-alcoholic fatty liver disease due to her obesity. Her mom, who is also obese, had a hernia-repair incision that DID NOT HEAL OR CLOSE for nearly 4 years due to the fact that layers of fat don't heal the same way skin/other tissue does. She eventually had to have a mesh implanted into the fat to hold the incision closed long enough for the external layers to heal. Best of all? She was an ER nurse for decades. Yet she is blinded to the damage that her obesity - and the "culture of food/obesity" that my culture/family has - is doing to her and her daughter. Her mother is the one who had the gangrenous arm amputated, so it's not like there is ignorance/inexperience going on.
#50
Ringing in your ears. Not always an elderly thing and not always from lack of ear protection. Intracranial hypertension could be at play. But also, wear that ear protection!
Regina Holt 8 months ago (edited)
I have had tinnitus for as long as I can remember. I was never told there was anything I could do about it.
Ace 8 months ago
Indeed. Once damage is done it's irreversible. The hypertension thing is not generally what causes it, only if it's sudden, severe and new is that something one should get investigated,
Load More Replies... #51
Not paying attention to your salt intake, in particular, people with congestive heart failure who don't check labels for sodium content. Here in Louisiana, I see people with CHF going to multiple crawfish boils.
Emilu 8 months ago
Second mention of salt intake; interesting. I didn't personally give a s**t about salt intake until I was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis (it's best to stick to reducing your salt intake as excess salt = increased fluid buildup). So many things you may not expect have so much salt in them. I feel sorry for people that don't like veggies/non red meat because you may well struggle.
#52
Not sleeping enough!! Sleep is so important. And as a nurse as well as a patient with sleep issues, sleep deprivation can really screw with you in many different ways.
#53
Check your basement for radon .
#54
Not a professional, but a med. pleb. Diet plays a huge factor in overall health both short and long term. Especially for those that are lactose intolerant and choose to ignore our body’s signs of displeasure.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 8 months ago
My mom is lactose intolerant and still eats ice cream, drinks milkshakes, has smoothies with milk in them, etc. and then goes "I don't know why I got so sick and have such bad diarrhea!" XD
Huddo's sister 8 months ago
I'm lactose intolerant and have people saying 'why don't you just take lactase' but I would rather try and cut it out than have to take another medication.
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What do you think ?
Lazy Panda 2 8 months ago
Not washing fruit and veg before eating them. Friend of mine worked in a testing lab, and the amount of incidents they tested for caused by unwashed salad items far outnumbered meat or fish causes.
Bob Jones 8 months ago
Or just visit a distribution place and see how dirty those places are with bugs and rodents everywhere
Load More Replies... Lee Gilliland 8 months ago
If you have pets, make sure their food area is clean, the cat box is emptied, and if you have reptiles, wash your hands afterwards. Pets are dirtier than many people realize.
Tom De Paul 7 months ago (edited)
"Social media" is too broad. I follow the NIH, the Harvard Medical School, and the Mayo Clinic on Facebook. I'm getting excellent medical advice. The key, like with a lot of other things, is to be discerning.
Lazy Panda 2 8 months ago
Not washing fruit and veg before eating them. Friend of mine worked in a testing lab, and the amount of incidents they tested for caused by unwashed salad items far outnumbered meat or fish causes.
Bob Jones 8 months ago
Or just visit a distribution place and see how dirty those places are with bugs and rodents everywhere
Load More Replies... Lee Gilliland 8 months ago
If you have pets, make sure their food area is clean, the cat box is emptied, and if you have reptiles, wash your hands afterwards. Pets are dirtier than many people realize.
Tom De Paul 7 months ago (edited)
"Social media" is too broad. I follow the NIH, the Harvard Medical School, and the Mayo Clinic on Facebook. I'm getting excellent medical advice. The key, like with a lot of other things, is to be discerning.
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