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Ask HN: How have you hacked your health?

No medical advice, speak to a qualified specialist One of my favourite things about the discussions on this site is the amazing and insightful nuggets shared deep in the comment threads. Notably a conversation with HNers treating/eradicating persistent reflux with cheap HCL/acid supplements, instead of H2/PPI drugs. I’m not calling for medical advice or pseudo/pop science, I’m just interested to hear your stories and journeys. My own anecdote involves using a saline sinus rinse/spray and gargle in cold/flu season and when travelling to dodge bugs, obviously I’ll never be able to prove it works but I’ve noticed less sick days over the past 2 years. Interested to hear your examples.

pr07ecH70r 3y ago
Beer! :D (Not joking!) I am a Swiss and drink 2-3 beers every day. Haven't got more than a cold the last 2 years. Long term effects - no idea. Happy work environment too. Vitamin C, D and B every morning.
- DamonHD 3y ago
  Sadly, though I also follow beer therapy strongly, it does not eliminate respiratory illness for me. But (OP) following a New Scientist article I now try to sleep on my left to reduce acid reflux problems, and maybe it is working! No drugs at all.
- haltist 3y ago
  Have you considered ciders?
  - pr07ecH70r 3y ago
    Too sweet for me. I like the bitter beers.
Quinzel 3y ago
Probably going to sound really lame but the things I’ve done in the last 1.5 years to hack my health has been: - started meditating - created a set bedtime/wake time and generally stick to it pretty religiously. - decided to do therapy. - take vitamin D supplements And since doing those things, I noticed a sort of slow shift towards just feeling generally more peaceful internally. I stopped biting my nails (without even trying), and my ability to focus/concentrate improved substantially so my academic performance has improved significantly. I’m thinking about trying acupuncture, and some other alternative medicine practices in the near future to see if that enhances my feelings of inner calmness more (and perhaps helps with some somatic back pain I experience from time to time).
sysadm1n 3y ago
More productive Comfortable Not drinking too much Regular exercise at the gym (3 days a week) Getting on better with your associate employee contemporaries At ease Eating well (no more microwave dinners and saturated fats) A patient better driver A safer car (baby smiling in back seat) Sleeping well (no bad dreams) No paranoia Careful to all animals (never washing spiders down the plughole) Keep in contact with old friends (enjoy a drink now and then) Will frequently check credit at (moral) bank (hole in wall) Favours for favours Fond but not in love Charity standing orders On sundays ring road supermarket (no killing moths or putting boiling water on the ants) Car wash (also on sundays) No longer afraid of the dark Or midday shadows Nothing so ridiculously teenage and desperate Nothing so childish At a better pace Slower and more calculated No chance of escape Now self-employed Concerned (but powerless) An empowered and informed member of society (pragmatism not idealism) Will not cry in public Less chance of illness Tires that grip in the wet (shot of baby strapped in back seat) A good memory Still cries at a good film Still kisses with saliva No longer empty and frantic Like a cat Tied to a stick That's driven into Frozen winter shit (the ability to laugh at weakness) Calm Fitter, healthier and more productive A pig In a cage On antibiotics

pr07ecH70r 3y ago

Beer! :D (Not joking!) I am a Swiss and drink 2-3 beers every day. Haven't got more than a cold the last 2 years. Long term effects - no idea. Happy work environment too. Vitamin C, D and B every morning.

DamonHD 3y ago
Sadly, though I also follow beer therapy strongly, it does not eliminate respiratory illness for me. But (OP) following a New Scientist article I now try to sleep on my left to reduce acid reflux problems, and maybe it is working! No drugs at all.
haltist 3y ago
Have you considered ciders?
- pr07ecH70r 3y ago
  Too sweet for me. I like the bitter beers.

Quinzel 3y ago

Probably going to sound really lame but the things I’ve done in the last 1.5 years to hack my health has been: - started meditating - created a set bedtime/wake time and generally stick to it pretty religiously. - decided to do therapy. - take vitamin D supplements And since doing those things, I noticed a sort of slow shift towards just feeling generally more peaceful internally. I stopped biting my nails (without even trying), and my ability to focus/concentrate improved substantially so my academic performance has improved significantly. I’m thinking about trying acupuncture, and some other alternative medicine practices in the near future to see if that enhances my feelings of inner calmness more (and perhaps helps with some somatic back pain I experience from time to time).

sysadm1n 3y ago

More productive Comfortable Not drinking too much Regular exercise at the gym (3 days a week) Getting on better with your associate employee contemporaries At ease Eating well (no more microwave dinners and saturated fats) A patient better driver A safer car (baby smiling in back seat) Sleeping well (no bad dreams) No paranoia Careful to all animals (never washing spiders down the plughole) Keep in contact with old friends (enjoy a drink now and then) Will frequently check credit at (moral) bank (hole in wall) Favours for favours Fond but not in love Charity standing orders On sundays ring road supermarket (no killing moths or putting boiling water on the ants) Car wash (also on sundays) No longer afraid of the dark Or midday shadows Nothing so ridiculously teenage and desperate Nothing so childish At a better pace Slower and more calculated No chance of escape Now self-employed Concerned (but powerless) An empowered and informed member of society (pragmatism not idealism) Will not cry in public Less chance of illness Tires that grip in the wet (shot of baby strapped in back seat) A good memory Still cries at a good film Still kisses with saliva No longer empty and frantic Like a cat Tied to a stick That's driven into Frozen winter shit (the ability to laugh at weakness) Calm Fitter, healthier and more productive A pig In a cage On antibiotics