Years back I nearly dropped over from shock as I listened to my father’s cardiologist control my father with the question, “Do you want to die?” My father was hospitalized for a reaction to his medicine, blood thinners, that had blood running down his legs as if he had burst a pipe. When my father asked if he really needed the medicine the cardiologist gave his Godly response, “Do you want to die?” I felt like I was watching the classic movie the “Ten Commandments” starring Yul Brynner.
The doctor was implying the blood thinners needed to be taken for the rest of his life, as most medicines are. How many people, possibly even yourself, have been put on cholesterol lowering meds, blood pressure pills, Type 2 diabetes meds, among others and had your doctor discontinue them because the meds made you so healthy? It’s so rare.
When injured in an accident approximately 5 years ago, that resulted in a severe blood clot, I required blood thinners. I was terribly concerned I would be on blood thinners the rest of my life. When asking the doctor if that were the case he said, “No, we don’t keep people on blood thinners for life anymore.” Wow, what a beautiful change in thinking. So, in other words, the bold advice the cardiologist gave my father wasn’t necessarily true.
My 84-year-old cousin recently had the experience of blood thinners causing side effects. She was lucky enough to have another doctor examine her, as her regular doctor was out of the office. The new doctor quizzed her about her blood thinners and after exam discontinued the medicine. The side effects went away and her quality of life improved.
My question to you is how many lifetime medicines are you on; especially because you don’t want to die of a stroke, heart attack or whatever? As Eli Lilly, the most famous drug maker of all said, “If it doesn’t have side effects, it’s not a drug.”
So, what’s the solution? Lifestyle, lifestyle, lifestyle. Treat yourself like you matter because you do. Start small. You don’t have to walk or run 6 miles the first time out. Take baby steps. The intention of your focus is more important than the intensity of your changes. Ease into getting healthier.