Healthcare

PowerSwitchJames · Post by **PowerSwitchJames** » 09 Dec 2005, 12:02

http://www.guardian.co.uk/medicine/stor ... 89,00.html

Patients who smoke, drink too much or are obese could be denied medical help if their lifestyle is likely to undermine their treatment, the government's health treatment watchdog said yesterday.

This is exactly the kind of policy I expected when times were getting hard post-peak.

Looks like it is coming a bit earlier!

PowerSwitchJames · Post by **PowerSwitchJames** » 09 Dec 2005, 12:18

And this won't shock anyone here either.

Ageing population 'will strain NHS resources'

Press Association
Friday December 9, 2005

The huge rise in the number of older people in the UK over the next 30 years will place a great strain on the NHS, researchers warned today.
The estimated 53% increase in over 65s between 2001 and 2031 will increase both financial and workload pressures on the health service with more demand for treatment for chronic conditions such as heart disease, according to healthcare researchers Dr Foster.

The researchers estimated the impact of the UK's ageing population on the number of people with coronary heart disease (CHD), heart failure and irregular heart rhythm.

They predicted that by 2031 the number of cases of CHD would rise by 44% to 3.19m, with hospital admissions rising by 32%. Cases of heart failure were predicted to rise by 54% to 1.3m in 2031, with admissions up 55%. And cases of irregular heartbeat were predicted to rise by 46% to 1.09m, with hospital admissions increasing by 39%.

Writing in the British Medical Journal, the Dr Foster team said rising rates of these conditions would lead to increased demand for statins - cholesterol lowering drugs used to combat heart disease. The drugs are already the single biggest component of the NHS prescribing budget and the researchers said their cost was likely to increase further.

They also predicted the cost of other drugs, diagnostic tests and surgical procedures to rise, with added demand for regular monitoring of patients by GPs, cardiologists and nurses.

The Dr Foster team said the government should encourage people to adopt healthier lifestyles in a bid to reduce NHS financial pressures.

They said: "A key aim of government policy should therefore be to encourage people to remain active, engage in regular exercise and refrain from behaviours that could have a detrimental effect on their health, such as binge drinking, smoking and overeating."

Totally_Baffled · Post by **Totally_Baffled** » 09 Dec 2005, 12:46

such as binge drinking, smoking and overeating."

Peak oil is going to cure all of these (un)fortunately!

These will all be too expensive!

genoxy · Post by **genoxy** » 09 Dec 2005, 12:50

Totally_Baffled wrote:
such as binge drinking, smoking and overeating."
Peak oil is going to cure all of these (un)fortunately!

Good, I can't wait to quit smoking! Honestly, there's nothing that p1sses me off more than the government allowing every corner shop to sell addictive poisons and cashing in on it. Then they complain and tell us we won't get treatment for all the sh1t they stuffed us with.

If you're not a smoker (or a heroin addict), forget it - you won't understand.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 09 Dec 2005, 12:52

Have you tried the patches? I'm on them at the moment and haven't craved a cigarette since I gave up 5 weeks ago

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 09 Dec 2005, 12:53

I just crave patches instead

genoxy · Post by **genoxy** » 09 Dec 2005, 13:11

Apart from Zyban, I've tried everything (even a healer - it worked for a week).

You know the reason you crave patches, don't you? Let me give you a hint - it's the same reason you crave fags.

A couple of years ago, Boots declared a non smoking day. They proudly wrote on the windows of their shops - this is the day when everybody tries to quit! (was March or April 2004).

They even got me encouraged, so I walked into one of their shops, until I understood the trick. I'll be damned if they didn't raise the price for patches and gums on that very same day (was about a fiver for a pack of that fuck1ng filthy gum).

Wouldn't you feel cheated? My health is not for sale. My life is not for sale.

Bring it on - PO. Let them swallow a bit of their own recipe

And on a different note - goodluck kicking the "habbit" (rather the demon that had taken over both of us, and millions of others - sponsored and cashed in on by globalisation).

I keep my fingers crossed for you

skeptik · Post by **skeptik** » 09 Dec 2005, 13:32

Joe wrote:Have you tried the patches? I'm on them at the moment and haven't craved a cigarette since I gave up 5 weeks ago

The trouble is all youve done is substituted one nicotine delivery system for another. You'll be craving the patches when you stop using those. Didnt work for me.

Eventually I did a six week course of Zyban which did break the addiction avoiding the worst effects of cold turkey. Ive been weed free since October 2004.

...still enjoy the smell of good Dutch tobacco though.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 09 Dec 2005, 14:37

Yeah, but I've substitued my nitotine delivery system for one that's a lot cheaper, doesn't make me stink, allows me to taste my food, contains far fewer toxins and carcinogens and isn't harmful to others.

snow hope · Post by **snow hope** » 10 Dec 2005, 01:00

I used Zyban to give up just over 5 years ago and havent touched the addictive weed since. All I can say is how fantastic it is not to be dependent on nicotine and cigs any more. They controlled my life and I am so glad to be off them.

It feels so good not to worry where I will get my next packet from, when I was down to only a couple left. Oh yes I still remember....... my commiserations for anybody still addicted.......

genoxy · Post by **genoxy** » 10 Dec 2005, 03:09

snow hope wrote:....... my commiserations for anybody still addicted.......

Thank you.

My day will come - I know it will. I won't go down six feet under stincking of that filthy sh1t with rotten gums and lungs that look like lumps of coal.

Honestly, I can't thimk of anything more evil than the tobacco industry. Aren't they rich enough? Can't they leave us alone?

"Kul kaleb bijy yumo" in Arabic. The day of every dog will come, including mine and including the tobacco industry - the number one drug pushers in the history of Human Kind. I just hope I live to see that day.

Post by **mikepepler** » 10 Dec 2005, 10:12

I used to smoke, and had repeated attempts to give up, which kept failing. In the end the way I did it was to change they way I saw these "failures". This was because every time I'd given up and then had a cig a few days later, I'd just think I'd failed, and start smoking again.

So, instead, after giving up, when I then gave in and had a cig, instead of thinking "failed again, best carry on smoking", I'd think of myself as a non-smoker who had just happened to have a cigarette - there's plenty of "social smokers" so it does happen anyway. This way, I'd still have the odd one after giving up, but the gaps would get longer and longer in between. Part of the trick was to avoid buying a pack to myself, I'd either get some off a mate, or else share a pack with someone, so they'd be gone quick and I could go back to "giving up".

It may not work for everyone, but it did for me. Even now, if I fancy a cigarette I'll have one, and it doesn't start me smoking again. I probably have 2 or 3 a year now, just for old times sake!

genoxy · Post by **genoxy** » 10 Dec 2005, 12:20

mikepepler wrote:
It may not work for everyone, but it did for me. Even now, if I fancy a cigarette I'll have one, and it doesn't start me smoking again. I probably have 2 or 3 a year now, just for old times sake!

(This is the last post I'm writing on this as I don't wanna get too off topic here)

Thank you very much for your advice (Mike and others). Unfortubately, I can't do what you did Mike. I envy you. I'm hooked on this stuff very badly, to the extent that its truly manipulated my thinking patterns and decision making over the years (apart from toying with my health), cost me losing my ex (that I loved very much

), nearly cost me my job, a few times, and much more (I wouldn't put you through reading it all). Yet somehow, it always seems like its your "best friend" in times of trouble.

I really believe I'd be quite a different person if it wasn't for nicotine, and that's what really p1sses me off most! How dare they sell 16 year-old kids that satan-in-a-box in every corner shop!

Anyway, thank you and all the best.

MacG · Post by **MacG** » 12 Dec 2005, 10:28

Slightly OT, but somehow connected ....