#1
- neurologist, sent while doomscrolling reddit hypocritically.
#2
you don't understand how important sun exposure accumulation is until you experience the results years later. now, i apply sunscreen even when i'm going out to have an ordinary day, specifically on my face, neck, and hands.
younger me believed that sunscreen was to prevent a sunburn.
older me knew that the sun keeps its receipts.
#3
CALL UR FAMILY. HANG OUT WITH FRIENDS. GO ON THAT TRIP!
Every single human is shaped by their choices, experiences, and learnings, and medical staff isn't any different. Despite knowing more than the average person about the best ways to maintain their health, some things aren't really that obvious until they're actually in the field, watching things unfold.
Surprisingly, some of these replies were actually about food — which, granted, should be an obvious one for doctors and the common folk alike. After all, you are what you eat. But, of course, deep-fried and ultra-processed food isn't just something to avoid because of weight concerns, but because it is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and even mortality in adults, and some healthcare providers actually ignore this. Oof.
#4
#5
I'm not saying everybody should be a hedonist and not take care of their health at all - but living healthy is no guarantee for a long healthy life. Take it easy sometimes and drink that beer you craved on the first warm day of summer. It's okay.
#6
I used to go occasionally in college when my neck felt stiff from studying at weird angles. Then during residency you see your first 20-something having a massive stroke from a vertebral artery dissection because someone gave their neck a high-velocity twist.
People treat routine neck manipulation like harmless wellness maintenance, but tearing the inner lining of an artery in your neck is a real risk when you forcefully wrench it. Once you watch a completely healthy person come in with a devastating brainstem stroke over minor tension that could have been resolved with a hot shower and some gentle physical therapy, you never let anyone touch your cervical spine again.
Some of the lifestyle changes included in the list were things we couldn't necessarily predict. Like, let's say, riding motorcycles. Now, we've all probably heard about how dangerous being on the road can be. But motorcycles actually have a fatality rate that's 28 times higher than that of your classic passenger car.
Which is why so many professionals, even morticians, will actively choose not to get on a motorcycle. They constantly see the effects and consequences of road accidents, and many have reported that motorcycle accidents are among the most shocking.
#7
For me, it’s got to be not exercising and allowing weight, limited mobility, and lack of strength to persist and worsen over time. So many patients just accept it as part of getting older. It doesn’t have to be an inevitability.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s important to address other medical issues obviously. That said, you absolutely should be doing something to stay strong and mobile. If you ever need to recover from a complex medical issue, surgery, or unforeseen setback, having physical capability vastly improves your ability to recover/maintain a high QOL.
If nothing else, I exercise to stay strong and able bodied. I slacked for a bit during college and early med school, but after seeing the writing on the wall if I continued that, my attitude completely changed. Use your body! (Safely and reasonably).
#8
The most recent study showed something like 215/235 of former NFL players’ brains showed signs of CTE. We’ve seen it in kids as young as 15 years old. It’s pretty much an observable fact at this point that football causes brain damage.
#9
#10
To one of the replies, we might call it a bit of professional friendly fire—if not for the fact that many medical doctors do not view chiropractic care as a branch of conventional medicine. They actually fall under complementary and alternative medicine, and specialists such as neurologists frequently warn against certain types of neck manipulation.
There are a number of reasons for this, but essentially, force applied to certain areas, such as the neck, can cause problems, including strokes, clots, and blockages, and can also affect breathing, balance, and motor control. This is because twisting certain areas of the body can ultimately end up causing serious, long-term injuries to otherwise healthy people.
#11
#12
#13
Hot tub lung is a thing. - think severe allergic reaction in your lungs. Skin infections. Soaking in others’ skin cells, funk, etc. Human soup? I’m good thanks.
Then comes work — which many healthcare professionals mentioned. Some claimed they'd never retire. After all, research suggests that having a daily routine with built-in opportunities for complex problem-solving and social interaction can actually be great for preventing cognitive decline. And work fits most, if not all, of those boxes, since it keeps your brain active as you grow older.
At the same time, other replies indicated that living to work can be incredibly detrimental to your mental health. Not having a healthy work-life balance can increase the risk of stroke and heart disease, as well as disrupt your metabolism. The risk of burnout also grows and, essentially, can cause people to socially isolate themselves at work.
#14
#15
I work in elderly care (think geriatrics, but not in the US) and I've yet to meet a patient who tells me they wish they worked more. I'm lucky to work somewhere where I earn a decent wage while working what's essentially a 9-5, so I can still focus on myself and my family. Sure, I'm not in what's considered an "exciting" field, but I'm happy with my little life and the genuine connection I still have with what makes me, me.
I could've picked a lot of other fields that would've made more money or prestige, but I'm not here for that. I would've had to give up the things that make me who I am, and the regret I see in my patient's eyes when they talk about how that happened to them is reminder enough that I should be very, very grateful.
#16
It’s not just about cervical cancer.
I saw a two young men around 19 years old. One with stage 4 lung cancer and another 3 head and neck cancer. This was before routine vaccination became a thing for everyone. Pathology came back positive for HPV both times. It can also cause penile cancer (although rare) as well as cancer the a**s and r****m.
And remember, even though it’s not technically intercourse, making out with strangers is a huge risk for transmission. Anywhere those damp tissues touch becomes a risk. .
#17
Bikes are fun, but I will never get on one again.
#18
#19
ETA: to tie it back to the question, it’s a pretty normal health habit to not bother getting the flu vaccine if you aren’t old or disabled, but you always should if you can!
Yet another recommendation that many doctors only truly understood after working in the field is exercise. Much like having a healthy diet, exercise is something you might assume doctors already knew plenty about. But it wasn't until they saw what a lack of exercise can do that some doctors decided to change their own habits.
And it isn't just a matter of reducing the risk of obesity; it's also about maintaining long-term mobility. Elderly falls and muscle loss, which can then lead to major physical decline, are often tied to mobility issues. Experts say one of the best ways to combat this is to incorporate a variety of activities, such as balance exercises, aerobics, and even weight training.