Director, Emergency Services, Bikur Cholim Hospital
I was sent an article that life expectancy is going to go
down in the USA. The USA is currently behind Israel by the
WHO statistics for life expectancy in the world, with Japan
and Australia at the top. Women still outlive men by 7 years
on average in most countries.
Will the life expectancy in the USA fall? If it does it will
not be due to infant mortality, even though that is on the
rise due to immigrants, nor will it be due to murders, even
though the USA has an unbelievably violent society. It seems
that obesity is doing them in: all the comforts and
conveniences coupled with poor eating habits and fast food
will lower expectancy. There is also a multi-million dollar
advertising attempt to make Americans eat more.
In the Americans' favor are things that do not exist here in
Israel, or a lower scale. Americans do not eat any
hydrogenated or saturated fats. in Israel, we have this in
almost every processed food. Americans will go to exercise
and fitness centers. Israelis will use the elevator at any
opportunity. Few educated Americans smoke. In Israel it is
rampant. The more we pick up the bad habits of Americans, the
worse it will get for our own life expectancy.
Why does diabetes cause heart disease? Diabetes affects the
small vessels, aside from its direct effects on the heart. It
also can affect pain sensations, so major heart attacks can
be silent.
What can be done to prevent amputations in diabetics?
Meticulous foot care, including immediate care of any
infections or cuts between toes. People must help them check
between their toes. Also careful control of their sugars.
When should you go to the emergency department and when
should you wait for the morning? Misrad HaBriut has
guidelines that are available at every Kupat Cholim. But
remember that the doctors in their urgi-centers and the ones
that come to the house are usually of poor quality, so insist
that you be sent to the emergency department instead of
getting service by these poor doctors. Write me in care of
the Yated
A message from GlaxoSmithKline, sponsor of this
column. Lamictal is powerful against seizures and is
recommended when they are hard to control. This medication
has given new hope to seizure sufferers and I have found it
to be safe for my patients. Ask your doctor about
Lamicatal.
