I've no idea what if those of you living outside the UK are being bombarded with health advice at the moment. It feels as if our government, our broadcasters, our newspapers are conspiring to remind us that our bodies are temples and we should treasure them.
Or maybe they've only just realised than an aging populating means an increasingly frail population which could strain our health service beyond its ability to deliver adequate care. And so those us of us with bus passes must be reminded how to look after ourselves for as long as possible and thus reduce the strain on the public purse. Or am I being too cynical here?
I've no problem with the occasional reminder to eat well and maybe move about a bit. There may be people who don't realise that a diet of cake and chips and alcohol isn't the best. They may spend their lives flopping about on the sofa and not realise that walking upstairs occasionally, even if it makes them puff, is a Good Thing.
But I've had such advice rammed down my throat a bit recently - and some has even come with the implication that 'keeping myself young' (whatever that means) is a protection from the disease of aging.
Which diseases of aging did they reference particularly? Arthritis and cancer.
And that's where my hackles rise. I have arthritis - not because I don't eat my greens, but because my grandmother had arthritis and I climb mountains. One day I'll need expensive new knees, though I'll keep myself going for as long as possible.
But the implications for cancer sufferers makes me even crosser. I know people with cancer, who have had cancer, or are half-expecting a diagnosis. Are the health-advisers seriously suggesting that this is their fault?
As I understand it, there is a statistical connection between living in an affluent society and cancer rates. That's a statistic - not a cause. We understand the origins of some cancers (like skin), but others need much more research before we can pin-point causes. And yet some bod on the telly feels we need reminding us to eat our broccoli and skip about a bit because if we don't we'll get cancer and it might (note that 'might' - enough to make the implication but not enough to be sued if they've got it wrong) be our own fault.
Shit happens. It can happen to anyone. The least constructive response to the cancer-shit is to make someone feel guilty.
Thank you, Jo! For saying this! My mum had arthritis. I'm thankful that so far, I don't, but she led a healthier life than I do if eating everything natural and walking religiously every day count. I've also known incredibly healthy people who've had cancer, but it's the ones who have lived a bit harder that are told 'you've only got yourself to blame'. That makes me cross. Cancer is so far from being explained. I lost my best friend to it when she was just 36. And the number of children who have it too. Can anyone get a grip on that? My grandfather died of lung cancer. He smoked like the proverbial chimney. But what about the number of people who get it who've never smoked. The incidence of this is rising, not falling! As you say, shit happens!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the support, Val. We need to look after ourselves, of course, but blaming people when they are ill is just cruel.
DeleteSo agree ..I have incipient arthritis..affecting fingers and now knee...and yes, my mother had it too. As for cancer...yep, had that. Totally random..no history in family. What IRKS me *pushes her off soapbox*is the constant media drip drip that we 'baby-boomers' are responsible for the problems of the country: our selfishness in buying houses, having pensions and savings is stopping the youngsters from getting on. Had a MAJOR rant at 2 people on Twitter last week...to one, I said: tweet the word 'gay' instead of 'oldie'....would you feel OK doing that?The other actually apologized when I pointed out how many elderly people die from loneliness, cold, hunger, nasty illnesses...or are struggling on with them. Horrid world!!
ReplyDeleteHope you feel better for the rant! And it's a western thing - eastern cultures look up to their aging!
DeleteI agree Jo, if we listened to what the media says we should stop eating all we would be doing is exercising and not eating anything. I received a letter from the hospital asking me to take part in a trial involving putting a needle in my ear. It said as I have a chronic illness I will be experiencing anxiety and depression and if I touch this needle it should make me feel better. I'm not depressed or anxious at all but I do need my ears syringed and what happened when I phoned this morning for an appointment with the nurse? I have to wait for a callback from a gp which could be anytime today. I'm so mad without health service.
ReplyDeleteGrrrrrrr! But I feel for the GPs. None of this is their fault, they are simply expected to do more than is reasonable.
DeleteYou're totally right and I don't think you're being cynical. Care for the elderly is getting worse. My mother who, incidentally, has bone cancer, alzheimers, diabetes, glaucoma and several other problems, has been waiting for a routine opthalmology appointment for months and months. Every time we make an appointment they cancel, and we have to phone for a new appointment. Six times so far, and her eyesight is now failing.
ReplyDeleteThe illnesses she has are not her fault, she's lived healthily, never smoked or drank, good diet etc...but for the current government to implicate our illnesses might be our own fault is incredible and disrespectful.
And I hate being patronised, which seems to be the governments default setting.
There are so many stories like this. I know the service is creaking, but that's what needs attention, not making sick people feel bad about being sick.
DeleteI too have arthritis yet I do my best to eat well and keep active. I do think that all these programmes are aimed at people other than you and me. There is an epidemic of obesity in this country. People are literally eating themselves to death. I am appalled at how many obese people I see in coffee shops tucking into cake or walking around with their hand in a crisp bag. They are the ones who need constant reminding. They are the ones who will cost our NHS a fortune in self-induced illnesses, not the likes of you and me.
ReplyDeleteI get that, Ros - but I suspect it's the like of you and me who watch these programmes and I only hope that no one who had led a blameless life and still had cancer watched it.
DeleteThis reminds me of a PBS program I watched once about individuals who had "done everything right" and still got cancer. They felt cheated, they were angry, they were confused. This happens when we come to believe that if we "eat right" and "exercise" and do other right things, we can somehow avoid the plagues of illness and old age. What world do people think we live in anyway? One where trouble can be bought or sold or legislated out of existence?
ReplyDeleteIt's mad, suggesting that if we do all the right things nothing dreadful will happen. And it's cruel - sick people need support and compassion, not an inquisition to determine what they've done to make themselves ill.
DeleteI agree with you that it is total folly to think that you can somehow avoid fate by doing the right things. But at present I am more concerned with whether we will still have any doctors left to look after the elderly and sick after this fiasco is over with the junior docs, or whether they will all have gone to Australia.....
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more. Shit happens. Prince is dead. Victoria Wood is dead. Alan Rickman is dead. Ronnie Corbett is dead. David Bowie is dead. Shit happens. Simple as that.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.