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Too many people take too many pills

economist.com

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Re: Too many people take too many pills

#81

Post by quintushoratius »

SturgeonsLaw wrote: post #38
manuel_w wrote: post #37

Slightly related: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16252372 I noticed that taking pain-killers is a very common thing in american TV shows. The main protagonist (male hero) gets hurt, goes to the bathroom, hastily pours a handful of pills into his hand and pops them into the mouth. Not one, but a hand full of pills, cleary too many. I've seen it so much, I'm starting to wonder if it's a TV trope. I'm wondering if…

Like the way toothpaste ads show them squirting 3x as much paste as you actually need onto the toothbrush

That's just like how shampoo companies advise you to "lather, rinse, repeat". It's a great way to boost sales, but besides being unnecessary it's terrible for your hair, your water bill, fish living downstream, and your wallet.

Re: Too many people take too many pills

#82

Post by quintushoratius »

birdyrooster wrote: post #59
local_crmdgeon wrote: post #2

I hate these articles. While yes, this is true, it's also true that _many_ people have severe, untreated illness that they're just "toughing it out." My friend with BPD ruined his life because he's "stronger than the disorder, I don't need to take my meds" Spent millions foolishly, genius engineer - horrible story. Easily fixed.

Who are you to say that spending your millions is foolish this way or that way? We all end up as dirt. Why not live eccentrically and take risks? It makes for a good story which you have conveniently cast as horrible. I bet that story is plenty interesting and worthwhile as is yours.

> Why not live eccentrically and take risks?

Maybe because there are dependents that needed that money for school, shelter, clothing, or food.

There was a story in the news recently about a guy who spontaneously gave away $200k by throwing bills out of his car window. Seemed like a feel-good story, at first. It turns out that he gave away his family's life-savings and they're now destitute.[1]

Money can absolutely be wasted and spent foolishly.

[1] https://www.nbc15.com/2023/04/13/man-throws-200k-cash-out-ca...

Re: Too many people take too many pills

#83

Post by badpun »

11235813213455 wrote: post #67
badpun wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> All humans in environment A get fat, develop heart disease, and are depressed There's plenty of non-obese people in the world.

> There's plenty of non-obese people in the world yes, over 9000 but more than half people are overweight in developed countries, so this has become the norm

What's with the denial? A significant portion of population of developed countries is not obese. It's easy to look that up. This proves that we don't live in an environment that makes everyone obese.

Re: Too many people take too many pills

#84

Post by [deleted] »

quintushoratius wrote: post #81
SturgeonsLaw wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Like the way toothpaste ads show them squirting 3x as much paste as you actually need onto the toothbrush

That's just like how shampoo companies advise you to "lather, rinse, repeat". It's a great way to boost sales, but besides being unnecessary it's terrible for your hair, your water bill, fish living downstream, and your wallet.

[deleted]

Re: Too many people take too many pills

#85

Post by comfypotato »

omginternets wrote: post #49
asdfman123 wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’ll tell you what your doctor might not be telling you: - 30 minutes of cardio, 3x a week is a bare minimum. The more cardio the better, so consider endurance sports. - Resistance training is necessary too, and can be done at home with no equipment - Get at least 10 minutes of sunlight right after you get up or right after the sun comes rises, even if it’s cloudy, if possible - Don’t drink more than 2 drinks in a da…

> The more cardio the better, so consider endurance sports. The research vehemently disagrees with you, especially if you’re a woman.

It’s one of the most researched topics in science.

5 hours at 3 MET (a 2.5 mph walk is 3 MET) a week lowers your risk of cardiac disease by 70%. It’s not affected by gender for the basic numbers. This is from one of the bigger meta analyses I’ve ever read. The US’s exercise guidelines are based on it.

Can’t speak for the recommendation of endurance sports. Definitely not a requirement. The research does show that, in general, the more cardio the better.

Re: Too many people take too many pills

#86

Post by comfypotato »

0zemp2c wrote: post #63
asdfman123 wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’ll tell you what your doctor might not be telling you: - 30 minutes of cardio, 3x a week is a bare minimum. The more cardio the better, so consider endurance sports. - Resistance training is necessary too, and can be done at home with no equipment - Get at least 10 minutes of sunlight right after you get up or right after the sun comes rises, even if it’s cloudy, if possible - Don’t drink more than 2 drinks in a da…

I don't think 30 mins, 3 times a week of exercise is remotely close only stretching back a few decades, my grandfather was working his own land as a subsistence farmer without much "automation"...probably doing the equivalent of three hours of CrossFit a day, basically every day. looking back at pics of him now...he was strapped, even in his late 70s (what was also known as "normal"). my genetics probably come from h…

5 hours per week of 3 METs (a 2.5mph walk is 3 METs) reduces your risk of Cardiac disease by 70%. This is from one of the bigger meta analyses I’ve ever read. The US’s exercise guidelines are based on it.

In general more is better, but it’s diminishing returns, and you could argue that more time than this could be better spent doing other healthy tasks.

Re: Too many people take too many pills

#87

Post by badpun »

eli_gottlieb wrote: post #26
aschearer wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

LOL what? Where did all this "lords and peasant" nonsense come from? Come back to reality, Eli.

I'm being real. Lots of people work 10-12 hours a day. How are they supposed to shop and cook for only fresh and healthy food, as well as do 30 minutes of rigorous cardio per day, in the remaining four hours a day when they're not asleep? What if they have family obligations?

Most people don't work on weekends. You can do shopping and cook for entire week then. This is not a theoretical proposition, I've done that a lot.

Re: Too many people take too many pills

#88

Post by blacksmith_tb »

manuel_w wrote: post #37

Slightly related: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16252372 I noticed that taking pain-killers is a very common thing in american TV shows. The main protagonist (male hero) gets hurt, goes to the bathroom, hastily pours a handful of pills into his hand and pops them into the mouth. Not one, but a hand full of pills, cleary too many. I've seen it so much, I'm starting to wonder if it's a TV trope. I'm wondering if…

Hmm, well I wouldn't recommend taking a whole handful of ibuprofen, but it probably shouldn't kill you (unlike a handful of acetaminophen/paracetamol, or opioids), it would be hell on your stomach, but I suppose fast-paced drama doesn't have time for realism.

Re: Too many people take too many pills

#89

Post by [deleted] »

asdfman123 wrote: post #24
JohnFen wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I expect my doctor to give me the best medical care. If that's telling me to make a lifestyle change, that's what I want (whether I follow his advice is an independent issue). I 100% don't want a doctor to give me medication that isn't necessary.

I’ll tell you what your doctor might not be telling you: - 30 minutes of cardio, 3x a week is a bare minimum. The more cardio the better, so consider endurance sports. - Resistance training is necessary too, and can be done at home with no equipment - Get at least 10 minutes of sunlight right after you get up or right after the sun comes rises, even if it’s cloudy, if possible - Don’t drink more than 2 drinks in a da…

[deleted]

Re: Too many people take too many pills

#90

Post by slowmovintarget »

manuel_w wrote: post #37

Slightly related: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16252372 I noticed that taking pain-killers is a very common thing in american TV shows. The main protagonist (male hero) gets hurt, goes to the bathroom, hastily pours a handful of pills into his hand and pops them into the mouth. Not one, but a hand full of pills, cleary too many. I've seen it so much, I'm starting to wonder if it's a TV trope. I'm wondering if…

With the toxin they put in Tylenol (to prevent abuse), you'd blow out your liver if you did that.

In books, you get "chewing asprin without the water." So yes, it's dramatic, but not realistic. It's just a way of conveying through action "Ouch, that really freaking hurts."

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