I spent the last two weeks make visits home "at risk" the elderly in rural areas of South Carolina. At the rate of approximately 7 House calls a day, I was able to make a few observations based on a respectable sample. I was surprised and intrigued by the conditions of life that I met, and I am pleased to announce that I did today my first physical examination in a careful review of a team of the cat, cock and hen (photo left). On another house call I I was offered a goat Pygmy as a thank-you for my efforts, and countless good-natured folk I was offered-the Ice House and these edible delectables such as fish and fishing honey cakes.
But what has me the most is that some elderly people were in much better health than others of their age, and the healthier who all had one thing in common: strict daily exercise regimens. I realize that this is not revolutionary News (which is good for us), but the contrast between those who exercised and those who could not have been more clear to me.
A particularly charming 85-year-old man gave me a tour of his vegetable garden and explains that he has bicycle in the city, six days a week to give friends and folk of the city churches of okra (and other vegetables). Growing vegetables and giving away them was the work of his current life, and although he lived in extremely modest circumstances, what he had was clean and tidy. He was happy, bright and had the physique of an athlete.
Contrast this man another patient in his 80's engaged in all and is smoking cigarettes inside most of the day. He was blind in one eye, almost deaf, difficult to breathe, had wounds on his skin. He was depressed, machines and bloated heart failure. I was sad to see his State and the relative squalor in which he lives. Smell of urine and smoke permeated the House, and I wondered how much more he would survive.
When I arrived at the House of a eighties, I noted that the garage was filled with watermelons of different sizes. After investigation, the man said that he has hand-picked the watermelons of a plot of land that it has 2 miles of his home. He brought them home with a wheel barrow... and made many trips back and forth over the past week. There no medication and a normal physical examination.
And then my days - back to back tours with the elderly who either were involved in active, or have been weakening, plunged inside with progress of dementia and chronic disease. I realized that no medical treatment has the power to overcome damage implacable than inactivity, smoking and cause of deconditioning. The secret to old age in good health lies in the choice of life, not bottles of pills.
As we enjoy the last weekend of the summer day, consider the importance of this work is actually in our mental and physical well be. You are never too old to carry watermelons on the road, culture of okra to your neighbors or simply commit cessation and daily walks. If you do this regularly, your health will improve surely - and your quality of life will be immeasurably improved. Ultimately, adding life to years is what medicine is all about.
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