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My dad is having heart surgery performed next month. Thankfully it should not be to bad because they managed to catch the issues early on, but these issues were

by isk517 3y ago

My dad is having heart surgery performed next month. Thankfully it should not be to bad because they managed to catch the issues early on, but these issues were only discovered because my dad is somewhat active and noticed a dramatic decrease in his stamina and then repeatedly insisted to his doctor that he needed to see a cardiologist.

pengaru 3y ago
> these issues were only discovered because my dad is somewhat active and noticed a dramatic decrease in his stamina It can't be overstated how important this aspect of regular physical activity is. The feedback on your body's condition is priceless. It's like the old adage "it's not a prison if you never try the door". You don't know you're unwell if you never try activities requiring fitness.
- isk517 3y ago
  You correct. If my dad had only relied on the feedback from his doctor he would still be under the impression he was perfectly healthy. Always remember, it is smart to trust modern medicine, not so much to trust any individual practitioner.
- Wonnk13 3y ago
  100% this. I've posted on HN a few times about my bouts with cancer. I'm only 35 so symptoms were constantly dismissed as something else. Only because I noticed the drop in my workouts did I have the motivation to really push my PCP for more testing. Knowing your body and being an advocate for yourself are so critical in a "if your arm hurts stop moving your arm" medical culture.
  - SoftTalker 3y ago
    It's tough, because odds are your doctor is right. You are an outlier. For the vast majority of people, if you feel OK, you are OK.
    - pengaru 3y ago
      > For the vast majority of people, if you feel OK, you are OK. I think you might be missing the point entirely here. You can "feel OK" when a whole lot is NOT OK if your daily existence is extremely sedentary and you never even move your joints through their full range of motion, let alone elevate your heart rate and break a proper sweat. Exercise is literally about exercising your capabilities. If you don't exercise them, you don't discover they've gone missing until it's too late.
    - pc86 3y ago
      The GP didn't feel ok, though. They noticed abnormal negative symptoms compared to previous experiences which their PCP initially ignored. But they only knew that because they got regular physical activity and so could tell the difference.

by isk517 3y ago

pengaru 3y ago

> these issues were only discovered because my dad is somewhat active and noticed a dramatic decrease in his stamina It can't be overstated how important this aspect of regular physical activity is. The feedback on your body's condition is priceless. It's like the old adage "it's not a prison if you never try the door". You don't know you're unwell if you never try activities requiring fitness.

isk517 3y ago
You correct. If my dad had only relied on the feedback from his doctor he would still be under the impression he was perfectly healthy. Always remember, it is smart to trust modern medicine, not so much to trust any individual practitioner.
Wonnk13 3y ago
100% this. I've posted on HN a few times about my bouts with cancer. I'm only 35 so symptoms were constantly dismissed as something else. Only because I noticed the drop in my workouts did I have the motivation to really push my PCP for more testing. Knowing your body and being an advocate for yourself are so critical in a "if your arm hurts stop moving your arm" medical culture.
- SoftTalker 3y ago
  It's tough, because odds are your doctor is right. You are an outlier. For the vast majority of people, if you feel OK, you are OK.
  - pengaru 3y ago
    > For the vast majority of people, if you feel OK, you are OK. I think you might be missing the point entirely here. You can "feel OK" when a whole lot is NOT OK if your daily existence is extremely sedentary and you never even move your joints through their full range of motion, let alone elevate your heart rate and break a proper sweat. Exercise is literally about exercising your capabilities. If you don't exercise them, you don't discover they've gone missing until it's too late.
  - pc86 3y ago
    The GP didn't feel ok, though. They noticed abnormal negative symptoms compared to previous experiences which their PCP initially ignored. But they only knew that because they got regular physical activity and so could tell the difference.