do these stories not annoy anyone else?!

[Super.Niki]

One thing I do know for certain though. We are all going to die of something. Sorry to be so depressing

I think that's a perfectly reasonable thing to say to be honest. I think it may be that I have a different outlook to many people but the idea that talking about death or dying (even when it's a strong possibibility in the near future) is something that shouldn't be done, I find a bit wrong. Sorry if this thread in particular upsets anyone but it IS a reality we need to live up to, yes some of us last a very long time (Ellandra, 103... wow!) but at the end of the day, you're not going to last forever, so why not talk about it?? It's one of the few rhings that everyone everywhere on the planet shares in common!

[JulieSherris]

I quite agree, Niki!

When my Mum turned 60, we tried to talk to her about putting some sort of insurance in place - just to cover the expenses should the worst happen.... well, she got upset about it, then she agreed, so I arranged a small policy which would have been enough to sort out her funeral & not a lot else - we certainly weren't looking to get rich from it!
Anyway.... at that time, in our own wills, we had my eldest chosen to take charge of our estates - the younger 2 were under 18 at the time & my Mum took exception to this Saying that SHE should have been the one to sort things out - so her policy never got done... she died 18 months later... we got landed with the costs & were left with a bill of £2500. And that was a modest seeing off too!

My MIL on the other hand has already paid for most things & has her funeral plans all sorted - even down to the caterers & the venue of the 'bun fight' as she calls it.... ok, it's a bit extreme, but we know that when she goes, everything is already done - we just have to make the phone calls - very civilised indeed.

As for us, well, we have differing ideas - Andy says just pop him in the garden.... I'd want a garden ceremony too - but I'd like a cremation first & my ashes can go up with the pets already resident (well, we only have one pet there so far, but by the time I go there will be a few more, I'm sure) Then plant some freesias around the area & everyone should wear summat yellow - and smile... cos I shall be watching!!

Talking about death can be a taboo subject for many folks - but in our house we've NEVER skirted around taboo topics - face them square in the eyes & stare them out, I say! It takes away fear.... and everyone else around you is in NO doubts as to your wishes.
We all have donor cards - altho my eldest doesn't want her eyes to be used - fair play, it's her choice - as for me, they are welcome to anything they want - if it's still useable anyway!

Right... death chat over.... I'm off to the garden!

[StripyPixieSocks]

My Dad had a friend who didn't smoke, didn't drink, only ate healthy foods and exercised every day... fittest man he knew... dropped down dead at the grand old age of 28 from a heart attack.

My ex FIL was an alcoholic who chain smoked and ate the most appallingly fatty foods you could imagine... died at 98!

I eat sensibly and am struggle to lose weight and am feeling lower than low and about 180 right now yet the Chavs around here seem to thrive on a diet of disgusting fast foods and supermarket ready-meals, alcohol, smoking and god knows what else... and are thin as bean poles and fit as fleas.

You usually find the funding of these tests and research units greatly effects the outcomes. The tea one was probably funded by a Coffee company somewhere along the way I would imagine.

[dave45]

The Bad Science column every saturday in the Grauniad is a good counter to some of these health stories. And its online :-)

There was one on coffee - http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... n-goldacre

[Loobyloo]

I had a big old rant to my colleagues when I read that tea story.

Its not that long ago that we were hearing all about the health giving and detoxifying properties of tea. Then there was the story that women drinking alcohol on daily basis would face a higher cancer risk, but remember when we were all told to drink a glass of red wine everyday for our hearts?

I'm just waiting for the next headline:

Life proven to lead to death!
New studies suggest that 100% of people living today will face death at some point!

[Annpan]

Am I the only one who thinks that drinking scalding hot tea might lead to a more immediate health danger.... like third degree burns of the esophagus for example.

[Mal]

The Bad Science column every saturday in the Grauniad is a good counter to some of these health stories. And its online :-)

There was one on coffee - http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... n-goldacre

I was going to link to Ben's page as well. http://www.badscience.net is the online version, although I'm not allowed to access it at work. It's good to have someone who actually applies science to pseudo-scientific stories, and isn't afraid to take journalists to task for their mistakes.

<<edited for clarification>>

[dave45]

I was going to link to Ben's page as well. http://www.badscience.net is the online version, although I'm not allowed to access it at work. It's good to have someone who actually applies science to pseudo-scientific stories, and isn't afraid to take journalists to task for their mistakes.

but after reading a few of these you get the idea that most health-related stories are made up by somebody flogging something. So do you only trust the medical profession? They make it up too
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_a ... 697975.ece

who can you believe?

[pumpy]

I have a theory 'bout cancer, & i am not be-littling the seriousness in any way. (i have seen too many people succumb to this desease over the years).........but i seriously believe that there is a lot more that could be done as regards various cures. However, as it accounts for 30% of the population, it is a natural way of keeping the population down (culled)..... last century, 2 world wars did the same thing. My MIL who was manageress for a cancer-charity shop in Thetford also thinks along the same lines, & as she points out........it's a big money business.

[Super.Niki]

I do trust the medical profession, I need to! however... sometimes they suprise me! I'm not a fan of GPs (mainly because my home practice seems to be populated with unhelpful ones who like giveing you any random diagnoses... I think they have a "diagnosis of the day" calender and just refer to that when they can't be bothered)....

I agree some of the 'research' is a bit far fetched though...

[pumpy]

I do trust the medical profession, I need to! however... sometimes they suprise me! I'm not a fan of GPs (mainly because my home practice seems to be populated with unhelpful ones who like giveing you any random diagnoses... I think they have a "diagnosis of the day" calender and just refer to that when they can't be bothered)....

I agree some of the 'research' is a bit far fetched though...

I/we also trust the medical profession (my Jackie in particular), but this thing,i believe, is out of their hands.

[dave45]

I think the key phrase is "evidence-based medicine" - thats what counts. AIUI all doctors used to genuinely believe that stomach ulcers were caused by stress until someone doggedly did the work to isolate campylobacter pyloris as the cause. Long-term the evidence wins out if enough people do the work. Until then treat any new health story like the "cold-fusion" story - an interesting hypothesis waiting to be independently verified. It wasn't.

Generally speaking you can apply this approach to anything - just ask - where is the evidence that this works? (quantitative easing, reducing VAT, adding biochar to soil, companion planting etc etc). As Tony Blair once said - judge us on the results. mmm I like the approach, but it didn't really work for him did it?

[Rosendula]

I do trust the medical profession, I need to! however... sometimes they suprise me! I'm not a fan of GPs (mainly because my home practice seems to be populated with unhelpful ones who like giveing you any random diagnoses... I think they have a "diagnosis of the day" calender and just refer to that when they can't be bothered)....

I agree some of the 'research' is a bit far fetched though...

I/we also trust the medical profession (my Jackie in particular), but this thing,i believe, is out of their hands.

I'm so lucky that although I am registered with one doctor, he is part of a large practice (practise?) and I can see any of them. I have my favourites, and others I avoid. I avoid the stupid woman who, when I told her I was in agony with my upper back when heavily pregnant and asked if there was anything I could try to allievate the pain without taking medicines, she offered me counselling. I try to see one who, whatever you go in for, you end up telling him everything that's gone on in your life since last time you saw him. He doesn't mind if you are there for an hour, if that's what it takes. He knows that a lot of physical complaints are caused, or at least made worse, by mental health issues, so he tries to deal with the cause rather than treating the symptoms. The waiting room's always full of people complaining about him amongst themselves, because he very rarely gives out prescriptions. That's why I like him. If he's not available, I see my second favourite. Of course, if it was urgent I would see whoever was available, but if I can wait for the better doctors, I do. That said, I can't remember the last time I needed to go. Lucky me, eh?

OH saw a doctor who gave him antibiotics and antihistamine for what turned out to be DVT. He sees her all the time now, because since her mistake was pointed out to her, he said she bends over backwards for him and has turned out to be pretty good. I guess we all make mistakes, but making one that could have killed someone kind of makes you want to do your best for them in the future I guess.

[pumpy]

We have a brilliant local surgury, where we all know each other(sad but true!). One Dr. in particular is renowned for 'running late', but it's because he cares & will talk to you,rather than throw a prescription at you, without looking up from his desk. I guess that's a bonus of villiage life. However, if my female Dr. was bending over backwards for me..............

[the.fee.fairy]

I do trust the medical profession, I need to! however... sometimes they suprise me! I'm not a fan of GPs (mainly because my home practice seems to be populated with unhelpful ones who like giveing you any random diagnoses... I think they have a "diagnosis of the day" calender and just refer to that when they can't be bothered)....

I agree some of the 'research' is a bit far fetched though...

This is the same local practice that said Dad was constipated, when in fact his appendix was at bursting point (and did buirst three days later...we found this out 3 days after it had burst when he was taken for surgery...).

This is also the same local practice that tries to put me on the pill every time i go in, and suggested a cervical smear when i had tonsillitis...

I think that GPs need to learn only one thing - the art of listening.