Re: OT...Are we killing ourselves...or what?

Posted by doug stockman on January 14, 2004 at 02:58:37 from (65.229.131.78):

In Reply to: OT...Are we killing ourselves...or what? posted by Sad in SD on January 13, 2004 at 06:50:33:

I would like to help put things in perspective. It is unfortunate that may of us die from cancer. The incidence of many cancers increases with age. Therefore, the longer you live, the more likely we will get some form of cancer.

Now on to the rest of the world. About 75% of the world's population lives in developing countries. Probably 90% of these people live in abject poverty in conditions similar to what our great great grand parents lived in about 100 years ago. Many of these people live in mud huts or flimsy shanties make out of scraps. Close to 50% have no access to safe drinking water or sanitation facilities, medical care, paying jobs, etc. Their mortality rates are high. For example, in many countries in West Africa, out of every 1,000 live births about 200 children die before their fifth birthday. Average life expectancy is under 50. If you are lucky enough and have a good immune system to make it through childhood, then you may still get cancer and die in terrible pain because there is no access to medicines.

I would say we in the developed world have it so much easier in many ways. When refugees come to the US, almost none of them want to go back to their country of origin, even if the war in their home country were to stop. And refugees are dirt poor in the US.

We all must die. Almost all of us will get sick before we die, or we will die a traumatic death. The nursing homes are full for a reason. To reduce your chances of premature death basically be smart, do things in moderation, exercise regularly, do not get too fat, avoid things that are known to cause cancer, don't sleep around and enjoy every moment you have.

By the way, I spent 1 year in Liberia, West Africa and 2 years in Ghana, West Africa. I am just getting involved in Honduras, Central America. I was an unpaid volunteer for those 3 years. I lived in small rural villages and had way too many children and decent people die on me from both preventable and unpreventable causes. About 40% of my clinical practice here in the US are refugees.

Ok, now I am off my soapbox.

Douglas Stockman, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor, Dept. FamMed U. Rochester
Medical Director, Family Medicine Center
Director, International and Refugee Health

I own 3 IH tractors and have a great time with them.

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