Tuesday, August 09, 2011

panacea

he's only 48 years old. yet, he's had diabetes & hypertension for over 10 years! last year, he had chest pain & an angiogram showed he has 4-vessel heart disease. he subsequently had angioplasty with stenting to the diseased vessels. now, he's on a total of 7 different tablets - 2 each for diabetes, hypertension & blood-thinning & 1 for cholesterol.

but i don't think he's duly worried because since the angioplasty last year, he's put on another 20kg!! after minor surgery today, he was panting & gasping for breath - symptoms pointing to poor cardiorespiratory health.

i dread to think what might happen after MAJOR surgery. but if he's not careful, he might not live long enough for another surgery. i suspect part of his indiscretion is that his employer is footing his medical bills & he probably has the misconception that as long as he faithfully takes his pills, all will be well irrespective of his undisciplined lifestyle. like a panacea.

in the brief period of time that i spoke with him, i explained that his diabetes, hypertension & obesity all add to the risks to his life & outcomes include a heart attack, stroke or even sudden death. how he deals with this information is entirely up to him.

if i meet him again, i'll post an update.

14 comments:

wenn said...

it's indeed a misery to live such unhealthy lifestyle.

SOO [¥] said...

he's a single with no wife and kids to worry I guess? piling on 20kg after angioplasty just one yr ago is unforgiveable!

Unknown said...

Most of the times,most of us just don't care, we don't care in almost every areas of our lives,, our family, we neglect. our health, we let it rot, our finance,we cry suddenly we know that it is too late...........

LX said...

they don't know that the prognosis for heart failure is worse than most cancers!

doc said...

Wenn,

but this guy seemed oblivious to the potential dangers of an unhealthy lifestyle.

doc said...

Soo,

he's married with kids - he just doesn't know his own condition.

doc said...

Eugene,

you are so right! there's just too many regrets & tears in our lives.

doc said...

LX,

he will find out to his peril in time.

Jo said...

I'm so afraid of being ill, and I'm afraid of death. So.. I can never get it, how people can be so careless with their life.

Bengbeng said...

sometimes i dare not even think of my own condition. this Wednesday I am going for an echogram n previous medical issues not yet even settled. sigh sigh... n yet i control my diet religiously total vegetarian n w/out eggs.

doc said...

Jo,

perhaps others are not afraid of being ill - think smokers & alcoholics.

doc said...

Beng,

hope your echo is normal. it takes years of being a vegetarian before the benefits, if any, are obvious.

Unicorn Girl said...

this fella is obviously a walking time-bomb ! High risk of dropping dead any time anywhere ........

doc said...

UG,

true, only he doesn't realise it, or if he did, he couldn't care less!