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[…] Reflections That’s not really the message of this World Health Care Blog post on Cardiology Risk Factors, but it does make me reflect on how maybe, despite our cleverness, human beings are just not very […]

Nick,

This is disappointing. The behavior described in your post may contribute to the low ratings many healthcare providers get on their ability to coach patients to rid themselves of unhealthy behaviors. Your post also recalls two events from my week—one personal and one professional. My 73-year-old mother, who had a quadruple bypass five years ago, was hospitalized with chest pains this week. The blockage they found will be treated with medication for now. However, on leaving the hospital ward I noticed a bulletin board devoted to discharge instructions. Every flyer on the board was related to the danger of smoking for heart patients. Secondly, in my professional life (as an editor in the healthcare industry), I am finalizing a book on Successful Management of Heart Failure Patients, which describes the effort behind the dedicated heart failure unit at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey. I am impressed by the dedication of the two cardiac nurses who head this effort. They have done similar work at other hospitals and are doing a phenomenal job at reducing hospital readmissions among that population.

[…] Jacobs at the World Health Care blog describes the unhealthy behavior of attendees at a world cardiology conference. Happily, the […]

Just thinking as a type. I’m not a physician or involved in the healthcare industry in any way, but I do feel like that at times. You see, I have two chronic illnesses. Both are auto-immune diseases: insulin dependent, type 1, diabetes and Graves’ disease (a thyroid disorder).

I was a healthy kid, came down with chicken pox in college and shortly thereafter my pancreas gave out. I took care of myself, did what I was told, but decided to go to law school and lost my health insurance. Those years were stressful beyond measure, so much so that I’m abroad with decent healthcare now and it’s one big reason I’m very apprehensive about moving back to the States. It seems Graves’ is brought on by stress and a big part of stress for me is my health. Oh, how ironic is that? It’s disappointing to know that no matter what I do, how healthy I eat, how much I exercise, that I’ll still have these diseases. In terms of motivation. It’s a momentum killer. What’s also a momentum killer is knowing that I’m at risk for another auto immune disorder.

Anyway, I think there is a certain amount of live and let live as time goes on. Maybe for a lot of these people you talked about the momentum killer is due to seeing sickness up close on daily basis.

It’s not as excuse, but merely a reason they might choose to behave so recklessly.

My comment is coming from the wife of a 45 year old who had a heart attack in 2006. He had smoked for 30 years but had been quit, completely smoke free, for two years before the attack. He had two stents place and three more blockages treated by medication for, of course, the rest of his life. He is a self employed, successful business man. Not successful enough to keep up the health insurance for our family and the medication, which of course was not covered by the basic plan that self employed people can afford. I had always worked with him, keeping the books, raising the kids, and running errands for him, some days working with him out in the field. After two months of cardiac rehab, he was ready to go back to work. I also got a new full time job at our hospital 30 miles from home. It provides the insurance we need and I have a $15 co pay for all his medications, so $60 now covers what was just over $500 per month.

Well, recently, I found out that he had started smoking again. Live and let live is just not an option I can live with. His philosophy is that he could be killed in a car accident today, so why not enjoy every day. I can see that to a point, but what about my quality of life later on when his health fails again. You see, he has promised me a partner and best friend for the duration of our lives. I do everything in my power to stay healthy and I really expect that he should do the same. He does well with his diet, ok with the exercise, great with the medication and is keeping his cholesterol under control. So why go back to smoking now? He says he enjoys it….to that I say, “Who cares?” I enjoy eating chocolate and wonderful greasy comfort foods, but I don’t allow myself to do it whenever I please or I would certainly not remain healthy. Live and let live could only be appropriate when it does not directly affect anyone else’s life or future. I think he owes it to me to consider the quality of life for both of us down the road, as well as setting a good example for our teenage daughters. My life changed drastically after his heart attack.

I’m simply amazed that Doctors haven’t heeded their own medical advice. I also find it amazing that when you go to these conferences throughout the world, they still pretty much condone bad behavior by providing ashtrays…etc… Great post.

Singling out a link between heart disease and bad teeth or gum disease is difficult because patients who suffer from heart disease have signs of other contributing factors, such as high cholesterol and a poo

That is scary when you see a cemetary marketing with shirts like that. Gives me the hibbie jibbies.

Filtafry

Nothing worse than being at a convention with pounds of unhealthy tasty objects set in front of you. Like many I can abstain from buying brownie mix cookie it and downing the tray, but when it is put in front me without effort…. Trouble.

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