Health Related Discussions

[app_engine]

This is a general "myth" amongst Tamilians!

Actually this is "promoted" by the healthcare industry That way, is not a myth among a group of people, like Thamizhs / TN-ers etc. I've observed heavy marketing by medical community for the "periodic screening / check-up / find-if-early / master-health-check-up" etc.

Since cancer & heart attack are the two most dreaded diseases in the last few decades (people could get them due to a variety of reasons but the increase in occurence is a reality nevertheless), where some "advance notification" helps to take care of some conditions and ensure a few more years of life, people too go for it.

In fact, after 40, most insurances in U.S. cover a number of tests without any co-pay/deductible kind of charges to the person (e.g. mammography, pap smear).

[app_engine]

Also, Param, "prevention is better than cure" applies to both cases.

i.e. the method suggested by you (healthy life style)

or

the method suggested by healthcare industry (test / screen / aware / beware)

[NOV]

I would strongly advocate going for regular check-ups. We can live as healthily as possible, but there are genetic concerns too. I know of my guys who led a fit life but who died unfittingly.

[NOV]

[NOV]

[PARAMASHIVAN]

Actually this is "promoted" by the healthcare industry That way, is not a myth among a group of people,

So Are you saying hormone changes take place after 40 +? I understand people loose muscle mass as they age and their metabolic rate drops done significantly as well as a reduction in bone mass, but does that mean they need check ups? Sorry I don’t get it.

In fact, after 40, most insurances in U.S. cover a number of tests without any co-pay/deductible kind of charges to the person (e.g. mammography, pap smear).

Isn't that due to the fact 2/3 americans are obese ?

[app_engine]

Isn't that due to the fact 2/3 americans are obese ?

Like I had already mentioned, there are many reasons why people get diabetes / heart problems / cancer, that are on the rise among people of all nationalities. (FYI, heart attacks had been terrible with Indians in India in the last few decades, it's no longer a "rich country disease"...obesity is just one of the factors. I know of a few who were lean but got killed by heart attack in 30's, the possible reason being smoking / stress).

For cancer, how do you know if you're at risk or not My cousin got killed by cancer (in the neck area) when he was only a teen. None in family ever smoked or drunk or anything like that. And they ate mutton probably just once a week.

The fact is most food materials that come to stores are produced by all kinds of chemical / genetic / technological manipulations - over which most people on the planet have no control!

This is in addition to the already imperfect bodies people inherit from their parents ; being surrounded by polluted environment ; stressed by things over which one has zero say (think of the relatives of those who got burnt in the thamizhnAdu express, what control they had over the fire?).

So, bottom line, at the slightest indication (sometimes even without symptoms, simply periodically) - carry out some tests

[PARAMASHIVAN]

For cancer, how do you know if you're at risk or not

True, Only scan/blood test can reveal such illness

My cousin got killed by cancer (in the neck area) when he was only a teen.

Sorry to hear that

The fact is most food materials that come to stores are produced by all kinds of chemical / genetic / technological manipulations - over which most people on the planet have no control!

true! Not to mention GM foods

This is in addition to the already imperfect bodies people inherit from their parents

True! we have no control over this. Infact cholesterol is the main killer here, I have seen fit people diagnosed with cholesterol and these people are on medication, simply because these genes concerned with cholesterol were inherited from their parents!

[app_engine]

So Are you saying hormone changes take place after 40 +?

I don't have much knowledge on that

It's all healthcare industry recommendations and insurance provisions in the U.S. These may be possibly due to past statistics, in addition to other research findings IMG.

[NOV]

Can anyone identify the following plants: