How do people not always make big deals about health problems?

[TraumaRN]

I'll just say as an ER nurse in inner city Detroit, most people are person B. Even the people we get in from the suburbs(which is plenty when a sporting event is downtown) It is the path of least resistance to them. And they don't care til they are so sick that they're in the ER with me, and we have to hammer them with catapres, hydralazine, esmolol or nitro drips etc just to even make a dent in their blood pressure....because their blood pressure is 250/150. Or they come in with a massive heart attack or stroke.

Seriously I wish more people were like person A. Then again....it might make my job a little more boring if more people were like that But it certainly would take alot of the strain OFF hospitals...

 

[Skacer]

Fear can cause a person to freeze in place or run faster than they've ever run in their entire life. Both Person A and Person B probably feared the news they heard, the reality of their situation. But Person A ran faster than he'd ever run, while Person B froze. Eventually, Person B will have convinced them self that it is already too late for changes and submit to their fate. I've seen far, far more Person B's than I've ever seen of Person A's. So while both scenarios are problematic, I'd take a Person A over a Person B any day. Sure, several spiteful people in this thread may think Person A would die first, but I would bet that to be the exception more than the rule where as the rule for all Person Bs is going to be a painful road until complete failure. Person B will eventually suffer multiple heart attacks and most likely still resist change. Even before that happens, Person B has already committed them self to a lowered quality of living.

 

[dullard]

Some people aren't ready to face the truth. This includes people in Group A and Group B.

People in Group A are too afraid to face reality that they will die. They think incorrectly that they can somehow avoid death and/or significantly delay it. But studies don't match that belief. No matter how "healthy" you eat, excercise, or behave, you will still die. On average, no matter how "healthy" you eat, excercise, or behave, you won't drastically lengthen your life. That is the biggest myth out there. You will lengthen it a bit, on average, but there is a significant penalty for that increased length. Lets look at exercise for example.

Many studies have been done on life longevity when it comes to exercise. They all have similar to this study. "Life expectancy at age 50 for the medium activity group was 1.5 years longer than for the low activity group." Bingo! Doesn't Group A now feel better! They are increasing the length of their life. But wait, lets look at it more closely. That study (and many others I could link) define moderate exercise as ~90 minutes per week. Lets say we follow a typical schedule of 3 days of exercise a week at 30 minutes each. Sounds like common advice, for example, "at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise three days a week". Ok, lets say for each time you exercise, you need 30 more minutes to drive to/from the gym, change clothes, and/or to shower afterwards. So that becomes 60 minutes of your time gone per day * 3 days = 3 hours per week gone. Over 70 years of exercise, following that advice, you spent nearly 11,000 hours dedicated to exercise, or 1.3 years. Thus, to elongate your life by 1.5 years, you have to waste 1.3 years exercising. You spent 1.3 years of the prime of your life gone to add 1.5 years when you are elderly. Net gain: basically nothing.

So, yes, exercising does add to the length of your life. But to do so, you have to waste basically the same amount of your life exercising. People in Group A can't ever seem to understand the cost associated with their gains. They hold on to the belief that somehow they will beat the odds and add far more than that to the length of their life. It may happen. Or you may be hit by a bus at the age of 30. It is a gamble that they want to take.

People in Group B are too afraid to face reality that they may die early. They think incorectly that they will still live a long life even while being "unhealthy". But studies don't match that belief. If you have health problems, you must face them otherwise you risk dying quite early. I could go on about this side, but I suspect the OP already can make good arguments against group B.

The key is moderation. Exercise because you like it. Exercise in moderation because it may make you feel better while you are alive. Exercise because it makes you look better. But don't exercise to extreme levels in mistaken belief that it'll add more leisure time to your life. Eat because you like it. Eat "bad" foods in moderation because it makes you feel better. Eat "healthy" foods because they may make you look better. But don't pig out on fatty foods and ignore your health. Moderation goes both ways.

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: Skacer
Fear can cause a person to freeze in place or run faster than they've ever run in their entire life. Both Person A and Person B probably feared the news they heard, the reality of their situation. But Person A ran faster than he'd ever run, while Person B froze. Eventually, Person B will have convinced them self that it is already too late for changes and submit to their fate. I've seen far, far more Person B's than I've ever seen of Person A's. So while both scenarios are problematic, I'd take a Person A over a Person B any day. Sure, several spiteful people in this thread may think Person A would die first, but I would bet that to be the exception more than the rule where as the rule for all Person Bs is going to be a painful road until complete failure. Person B will eventually suffer multiple heart attacks and most likely still resist change. Even before that happens, Person B has already committed them self to a lowered quality of living.

I'm person A, by FAR.

Here's what goes through MY head on a daily basis, and it drives me crazy:

Diagnosed with high blood pressure when I was 19, and continued to gain weight. Doc shows me pictures of my heart when I'm 20, and how its thickening. I lose weight, get in shape. Mean while, I'm going to doctors left and right (ALL referrals!) and hearing "You're too young to be here!" 100 times. Makes me even more worried and paranoid.

I buy blood pressure machines. Then I buy another one. Then, before I know it, I have a blood pressure machine in my car, my work, and two at my house. I check it 5 times a day. Cause gosh forbid its higher than 120/80 for an hour or two, I'm paranoid I'm going to have problems when I'm older, and not be able to have kids and/or get married, which is what I've always wanted.

I turn vegetarian and eat right. I self-diagnose - I take classes on how to read EKG's (My friend is a nurse, and she gets freaked out when she can't see something on an EKG that I can).

I become afraid of closed corners. Because what if I'm in a plane, or on a train, and I have a heart attack, or my blood pressure spikes really high? How can I get to a hospital in time?

This is the way I was up until a year ago. Yes, I'm bad now, but I've very much improved. I will always be a "type A" as described above - MY problem is realizing that I work out 5 times per day, eat a vegetarian diet, eat VERY healthy, try to relax as much as I can, and I need to realize that I'm doing everything I possibly can.

I sit here now making one of the most important decisions in my life, and the only debate I have in my mind is my health. No matter what opportunity arises, no matter what options arise in my life, my decision is never about money, or friends, or fate: its about what will be best for my health, so that I can live as long as possible and be in shape as long as possible. Its turned into a passion.

Paranoid? Sure. My doctors don't think so though. They think its great. But deep down, I wish this hadn't happened so young. I've gone through a lot to get past my major paranoia of a year ago, but I still have a long way to go.

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: mjuszczak
Enter person A:

Unhealthy person, diagnosed with high blood pressure. Told by his doctor to lose weight. Immediately loses weight, gets in shape, works out, and his/her health becomes his number one priority, sometimes unfortunately obsessively (I speak from personal experience here, but also through the light of friends).

Enter person B:

Unhealthy person, diagnosed with high blood pressure. Told by his doctor to lose weight. Doesn't really care, eats fatty/fried foods still, makes work their #1 priority, and forgets all about the problem, and/or denies the problem even exists.


Please, enlighten me as to why person A must become so obsessive, and to why person B doesn't seem to care at all. Surely it'd be great to find a happy medium.

Thoughts?

I'm in the middle...

 

[Platypus]

Originally posted by: mjuszczak

Originally posted by: Skacer
Fear can cause a person to freeze in place or run faster than they've ever run in their entire life. Both Person A and Person B probably feared the news they heard, the reality of their situation. But Person A ran faster than he'd ever run, while Person B froze. Eventually, Person B will have convinced them self that it is already too late for changes and submit to their fate. I've seen far, far more Person B's than I've ever seen of Person A's. So while both scenarios are problematic, I'd take a Person A over a Person B any day. Sure, several spiteful people in this thread may think Person A would die first, but I would bet that to be the exception more than the rule where as the rule for all Person Bs is going to be a painful road until complete failure. Person B will eventually suffer multiple heart attacks and most likely still resist change. Even before that happens, Person B has already committed them self to a lowered quality of living.

I'm person A, by FAR.

Here's what goes through MY head on a daily basis, and it drives me crazy:

Diagnosed with high blood pressure when I was 19, and continued to gain weight. Doc shows me pictures of my heart when I'm 20, and how its thickening. I lose weight, get in shape. Mean while, I'm going to doctors left and right (ALL referrals!) and hearing "You're too young to be here!" 100 times. Makes me even more worried and paranoid.

I buy blood pressure machines. Then I buy another one. Then, before I know it, I have a blood pressure machine in my car, my work, and two at my house. I check it 5 times a day. Cause gosh forbid its higher than 120/80 for an hour or two, I'm paranoid I'm going to have problems when I'm older, and not be able to have kids and/or get married, which is what I've always wanted.

I turn vegetarian and eat right. I self-diagnose - I take classes on how to read EKG's (My friend is a nurse, and she gets freaked out when she can't see something on an EKG that I can).

I become afraid of closed corners. Because what if I'm in a plane, or on a train, and I have a heart attack, or my blood pressure spikes really high? How can I get to a hospital in time?

This is the way I was up until a year ago. Yes, I'm bad now, but I've very much improved. I will always be a "type A" as described above - MY problem is realizing that I work out 5 times per day, eat a vegetarian diet, eat VERY healthy, try to relax as much as I can, and I need to realize that I'm doing everything I possibly can.

I sit here now making one of the most important decisions in my life, and the only debate I have in my mind is my health. No matter what opportunity arises, no matter what options arise in my life, my decision is never about money, or friends, or fate: its about what will be best for my health, so that I can live as long as possible and be in shape as long as possible. Its turned into a passion.

Paranoid? Sure. My doctors don't think so though. They think its great. But deep down, I wish this hadn't happened so young. I've gone through a lot to get past my major paranoia of a year ago, but I still have a long way to go.

[img-mind_explode.gif]

I take it back, you're not gonna make it to 30.

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: DangerAardvark
How are there so many people here defending people who ignore health problems? Apparently positive thinking prevents congestive heart failure. Who knew.

What do you mean by this?

Positive thinking as in "trying to make yourself better", or positive thinking as in "laying back and not caring"?

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: Platypus

Originally posted by: mjuszczak

Originally posted by: Skacer
Fear can cause a person to freeze in place or run faster than they've ever run in their entire life. Both Person A and Person B probably feared the news they heard, the reality of their situation. But Person A ran faster than he'd ever run, while Person B froze. Eventually, Person B will have convinced them self that it is already too late for changes and submit to their fate. I've seen far, far more Person B's than I've ever seen of Person A's. So while both scenarios are problematic, I'd take a Person A over a Person B any day. Sure, several spiteful people in this thread may think Person A would die first, but I would bet that to be the exception more than the rule where as the rule for all Person Bs is going to be a painful road until complete failure. Person B will eventually suffer multiple heart attacks and most likely still resist change. Even before that happens, Person B has already committed them self to a lowered quality of living.

I'm person A, by FAR.

Here's what goes through MY head on a daily basis, and it drives me crazy:

Diagnosed with high blood pressure when I was 19, and continued to gain weight. Doc shows me pictures of my heart when I'm 20, and how its thickening. I lose weight, get in shape. Mean while, I'm going to doctors left and right (ALL referrals!) and hearing "You're too young to be here!" 100 times. Makes me even more worried and paranoid.

I buy blood pressure machines. Then I buy another one. Then, before I know it, I have a blood pressure machine in my car, my work, and two at my house. I check it 5 times a day. Cause gosh forbid its higher than 120/80 for an hour or two, I'm paranoid I'm going to have problems when I'm older, and not be able to have kids and/or get married, which is what I've always wanted.

I turn vegetarian and eat right. I self-diagnose - I take classes on how to read EKG's (My friend is a nurse, and she gets freaked out when she can't see something on an EKG that I can).

I become afraid of closed corners. Because what if I'm in a plane, or on a train, and I have a heart attack, or my blood pressure spikes really high? How can I get to a hospital in time?

This is the way I was up until a year ago. Yes, I'm bad now, but I've very much improved. I will always be a "type A" as described above - MY problem is realizing that I work out 5 times per day, eat a vegetarian diet, eat VERY healthy, try to relax as much as I can, and I need to realize that I'm doing everything I possibly can.

I sit here now making one of the most important decisions in my life, and the only debate I have in my mind is my health. No matter what opportunity arises, no matter what options arise in my life, my decision is never about money, or friends, or fate: its about what will be best for my health, so that I can live as long as possible and be in shape as long as possible. Its turned into a passion.

Paranoid? Sure. My doctors don't think so though. They think its great. But deep down, I wish this hadn't happened so young. I've gone through a lot to get past my major paranoia of a year ago, but I still have a long way to go.

[img-mind_explode.gif]

I take it back, you're not gonna make it to 30.

Actually, I think I will.

As paranoid as I used to be, my heart has shrunk dramatically since I lost the weight. As my blood pressure remains lower, I get more and more relaxed. I take it less and less often.

I'm significantly improving

 

[theprodigalrebel]

Dude, I don't know you personally or the details of your medical history but from what little I've read in your threads, you sound like you are absolutely paranoid about your health. There is nothing wrong with healthy living - that is a good thing - but you are downright phobic about your personal health.

You seem like the type of person who looks up a symptom on the Internet and won't rest until you find an article that suggests you have a rare incurable disorder that will cause you a life of immeasurable pain & misery, leading to a premature death. I remember you once had sore muscles and you thought you had Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Lighten up.

I am not trying to act smart or piss you off but that is how it appears to me. Once again, I don't know your medical history and it is possible that you have good reasons to worry so much about your health. In that case, I am sorry if I came off as insensitive. If not, you truly need to lighten up and enjoy life a little.

 

[Safeway]

Because some people are smart and some people are not.

 

[Platypus]

Originally posted by: mjuszczak

Originally posted by: Platypus

Originally posted by: mjuszczak

Originally posted by: Skacer
Fear can cause a person to freeze in place or run faster than they've ever run in their entire life. Both Person A and Person B probably feared the news they heard, the reality of their situation. But Person A ran faster than he'd ever run, while Person B froze. Eventually, Person B will have convinced them self that it is already too late for changes and submit to their fate. I've seen far, far more Person B's than I've ever seen of Person A's. So while both scenarios are problematic, I'd take a Person A over a Person B any day. Sure, several spiteful people in this thread may think Person A would die first, but I would bet that to be the exception more than the rule where as the rule for all Person Bs is going to be a painful road until complete failure. Person B will eventually suffer multiple heart attacks and most likely still resist change. Even before that happens, Person B has already committed them self to a lowered quality of living.

I'm person A, by FAR.

Here's what goes through MY head on a daily basis, and it drives me crazy:

Diagnosed with high blood pressure when I was 19, and continued to gain weight. Doc shows me pictures of my heart when I'm 20, and how its thickening. I lose weight, get in shape. Mean while, I'm going to doctors left and right (ALL referrals!) and hearing "You're too young to be here!" 100 times. Makes me even more worried and paranoid.

I buy blood pressure machines. Then I buy another one. Then, before I know it, I have a blood pressure machine in my car, my work, and two at my house. I check it 5 times a day. Cause gosh forbid its higher than 120/80 for an hour or two, I'm paranoid I'm going to have problems when I'm older, and not be able to have kids and/or get married, which is what I've always wanted.

I turn vegetarian and eat right. I self-diagnose - I take classes on how to read EKG's (My friend is a nurse, and she gets freaked out when she can't see something on an EKG that I can).

I become afraid of closed corners. Because what if I'm in a plane, or on a train, and I have a heart attack, or my blood pressure spikes really high? How can I get to a hospital in time?

This is the way I was up until a year ago. Yes, I'm bad now, but I've very much improved. I will always be a "type A" as described above - MY problem is realizing that I work out 5 times per day, eat a vegetarian diet, eat VERY healthy, try to relax as much as I can, and I need to realize that I'm doing everything I possibly can.

I sit here now making one of the most important decisions in my life, and the only debate I have in my mind is my health. No matter what opportunity arises, no matter what options arise in my life, my decision is never about money, or friends, or fate: its about what will be best for my health, so that I can live as long as possible and be in shape as long as possible. Its turned into a passion.

Paranoid? Sure. My doctors don't think so though. They think its great. But deep down, I wish this hadn't happened so young. I've gone through a lot to get past my major paranoia of a year ago, but I still have a long way to go.

[img-mind_explode.gif]

I take it back, you're not gonna make it to 30.

Actually, I think I will.

As paranoid as I used to be, my heart has shrunk dramatically since I lost the weight. As my blood pressure remains lower, I get more and more relaxed. I take it less and less often.

I'm significantly improving

Being an absolutely batshit insane hypocondriac is not going to turn out good for you, trust me.

 

[Mxylplyx]

Originally posted by: adairusmc

Originally posted by: Journer
your going to die anyways...

:thumbsup:

I excersise and whatnot, but I am not going to get obsessive about it. I have high blood pressure, but if that means giving up most of the food I enjoy, then it is just not worth it to me.

I would rather die at 40 enjoying a big ribeye than at 80 eating carrots.

I'm imagine when your family is mourning your early death, those ribeyes might not seem worth it. Dont get me wrong, I love food, but I'd give up the food I love in a heartbeat if it meant living alot longer with my family.

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: Mxylplyx

Originally posted by: adairusmc

Originally posted by: Journer
your going to die anyways...

:thumbsup:

I excersise and whatnot, but I am not going to get obsessive about it. I have high blood pressure, but if that means giving up most of the food I enjoy, then it is just not worth it to me.

I would rather die at 40 enjoying a big ribeye than at 80 eating carrots.

I'm imagine when your family is mourning your early death, those ribeyes might not seem worth it. Dont get me wrong, I love food, but I'd give up the food I love in a heartbeat if it meant living alot longer with my family.

Agreed

 

[BoomerD]

Is the OP one of those people who post those "OMG! I have a cold. Should I go to the doctor?" kind of posts? I don't get why there are so many hypochondriacs on this forum? It seems like the "Geeks" have zero common sense when it comes to health issues. Sure, there are some things that are worth getting worked up over, (heart problems, cancer, diabetes, etc.) but most of the health issues people here post about are just paranoia-driven nothings...

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
Is the OP one of those people who post those "OMG! I have a cold. Should I go to the doctor?" kind of posts? I don't get why there are so many hypochondriacs on this forum? It seems like the "Geeks" have zero common sense when it comes to health issues. Sure, there are some things that are worth getting worked up over, (heart problems, cancer, diabetes, etc.) but most of the health issues people here post about are just paranoia-driven nothings...

No, I never get paranoid about a cold. In fact, I have to be feeling like CRAP for WEEKS before I go to the doctors... most infections and such, colds, strep throat, etc I just deal with as long as I can.

I'm only a hypochondriac over my heart. And I have a reason to be. It USED to be thick as hell.

I'll put it to you like this.

Left Ventricular Hypertrophy is a bad thing. They define that as the sum of a few leads on an ECG - one of the ways is the sum of V1 and V5 (any nurse in here can back me up). My V1 + V5 QRS (the actual wave) total used to be 37mm as a 20 year old. They define LVH as > 35mm for this total.

Since then, I've now dropped to a total of 27 mm... still SOMEWHAT high, but no where near the threshold of 35 mm. I did that with exercise, diet changes, etc.

An echocardiogram follow up revealed that my heart walls had shrunk.

So.... YES, I am paranoid about my heart health, but I know what I'm looking for, I KNOW what's real and what isn't (if I have a normal ECG, I can read it, and understand it, and know I'm OK or I'm not OK). I went above and beyond, true... but none is paranoia.

-Matt

 

[ggnl]

Originally posted by: Mxylplyx

Originally posted by: adairusmc

Originally posted by: Journer
your going to die anyways...

:thumbsup:

I excersise and whatnot, but I am not going to get obsessive about it. I have high blood pressure, but if that means giving up most of the food I enjoy, then it is just not worth it to me.

I would rather die at 40 enjoying a big ribeye than at 80 eating carrots.

I'm imagine when your family is mourning your early death, those ribeyes might not seem worth it. Dont get me wrong, I love food, but I'd give up the food I love in a heartbeat if it meant living alot longer with my family.

It's not just about length of life, it's about quality of life. I don't really want to live to 120, the reason I work out is because I want to be in good enough shape at 50 to enjoy all the same activities that I do now at 25.

In the grand scheme of things, 5-10 hours a week at the gym is not that big a deal.

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: b0mbrman

Originally posted by: mjuszczak
Enter person A:

Unhealthy person, diagnosed with high blood pressure. Told by his doctor to lose weight. Immediately loses weight, gets in shape, works out, and his/her health becomes his number one priority, sometimes unfortunately obsessively (I speak from personal experience here, but also through the light of friends).

Enter person B:

Unhealthy person, diagnosed with high blood pressure. Told by his doctor to lose weight. Doesn't really care, eats fatty/fried foods still, makes work their #1 priority, and forgets all about the problem, and/or denies the problem even exists.


Please, enlighten me as to why person A must become so obsessive, and to why person B doesn't seem to care at all. Surely it'd be great to find a happy medium.

Thoughts?

I'm in the middle...

A fellow fence-sitter.

 

[Vic]

Person A suffers from anxiety, Person B from depression.

Either way, you're going to die. The key is to make the best of it while you're here. Being fat and unhealthy isn't doing that. OTOH, neither is stressing and obsessing. Just take care of yourself and enjoy yourself. Exercise is supposed to be fun. Do you count the years of your life wasted posting on ATOT?

 

[Skacer]

Originally posted by: ggnl
It's not just about length of life, it's about quality of life. I don't really want to live to 120, the reason I work out is because I want to be in good enough shape at 50 to enjoy all the same activities that I do now at 25.

In the grand scheme of things, 5-10 hours a week at the gym is not that big a deal.

And the worst aspect is the people who are 25 and can't even enjoy many activities.

 

[Megatomic]

What about Person C? I would typify Person C.

Go through life living like Person B and then one day come to a realization on your own that you are fat, lazy, and heading to an early grave. So Person C radically overhauls everything about his/her life including eating, drinking, exercise, and habit.

Person C doesn't obsess to the point of hypertension, he/she just follows the plan and reaps the rewards of the lifestyle changes enacted above. There is room for Person C in society and it would seem to be the best of the 3 by all accounts.

Thoughts?

 

[TecHNooB]

Excercising daily, eating healthy, studying hard, and the occasional cheat meal. That's ideal to me. I must be person A. This thread needs more pollage.

 

[ggnl]

Originally posted by: Megatomic
What about Person C? I would typify Person C.

Go through life living like Person B and then one day come to a realization on your own that you are fat, lazy, and heading to an early grave. So Person C radically overhauls everything about his/her life including eating, drinking, exercise, and habit.

Person C doesn't obsess to the point of hypertension, he/she just follows the plan and reaps the rewards of the lifestyle changes enacted above. There is room for Person C in society and it would seem to be the best of the 3 by all accounts.

Thoughts?

I work out a lot, and excercise and health are NOT points of stress in my life. If anything it's comforting to not have to worry about it. I just do my time at the gym every day and go home looking good and feeling good. Most of the people I know that exercise do it for exactly the same reason. There's no obsessing, it's just like any other hobby.

In other words, I agree with you 100%.

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: Vic
Person A suffers from anxiety, Person B from depression.

Either way, you're going to die. The key is to make the best of it while you're here. Being fat and unhealthy isn't doing that. OTOH, neither is stressing and obsessing. Just take care of yourself and enjoy yourself. Exercise is supposed to be fun. Do you count the years of your life wasted posting on ATOT?

I exercise primarily because I don't want to be a fat lard. If I can live until 60, I'll be happy. But I'd like it to be HEALTHY!

 

[Megatomic]

You can live healthy (food, exercise, etc...) and not suffer ill effects. My last physical blew my doctor away. He told me that he wished all his patients were able to do what I did.

And there seems to be this misconception that to eat healthy means you have to eat foods you'd rather not. I enjoy a very nutritious and delicious array of foods that leave me wanting nothing. Sure, I don't eat fatty steaks (or any beef for that matter), but there are other foods that supplant it by a long shot.

 

[TraumaRN]

Originally posted by: mjuszczak

Originally posted by: BoomerD
Is the OP one of those people who post those "OMG! I have a cold. Should I go to the doctor?" kind of posts? I don't get why there are so many hypochondriacs on this forum? It seems like the "Geeks" have zero common sense when it comes to health issues. Sure, there are some things that are worth getting worked up over, (heart problems, cancer, diabetes, etc.) but most of the health issues people here post about are just paranoia-driven nothings...

No, I never get paranoid about a cold. In fact, I have to be feeling like CRAP for WEEKS before I go to the doctors... most infections and such, colds, strep throat, etc I just deal with as long as I can.

I'm only a hypochondriac over my heart. And I have a reason to be. It USED to be thick as hell.

I'll put it to you like this.

Left Ventricular Hypertrophy is a bad thing. They define that as the sum of a few leads on an ECG - one of the ways is the sum of V1 and V5 (any nurse in here can back me up). My V1 + V5 QRS (the actual wave) total used to be 37mm as a 20 year old. They define LVH as > 35mm for this total.

Since then, I've now dropped to a total of 27 mm... still SOMEWHAT high, but no where near the threshold of 35 mm. I did that with exercise, diet changes, etc.

An echocardiogram follow up revealed that my heart walls had shrunk.

So.... YES, I am paranoid about my heart health, but I know what I'm looking for, I KNOW what's real and what isn't (if I have a normal ECG, I can read it, and understand it, and know I'm OK or I'm not OK). I went above and beyond, true... but none is paranoia.

-Matt

Now please don't take this the wrong way, cuz I like you as a forum member and fellow poster, but as an ER nurse and someone who deals with this kinda stuff daily, I will honestly say you are the kind of patient that I wanna kick upside the head. I love that you are knowledgeable about your own health, BUT you as a patient tends to like to tell me as a nurse of what I should do. And thats a HUGE pet peeve of any health care worker.

Plus paranoia/worry thing. We had a guy last night FLIP out because we took his Catapres patch OFF. He went nuts cuz he thought he BP was gonna shoot up. Yea it did cuz you flipped out!

But on the flip side it IS really awesome that you take care of yourself like that. I really respect that as a nurse, plus it means I wouldn't see you in my ER very often