Comments on: Perfidious Albion http://thecheerfuloncologist.blogsome.com/2006/05/03/perfidious-albion/ This blog has moved on to ScienceBlogs - come and check it out! Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:05:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: Rosie http://thecheerfuloncologist.blogsome.com/2006/05/03/perfidious-albion/#comment-2352 Thu, 26 Apr 2007 20:37:56 +0100 http://thecheerfuloncologist.blogsome.com/2006/05/03/perfidious-albion/#comment-2352 I thank you for your comment. I thank you for your comment.

]]> by: lazyandvain http://thecheerfuloncologist.blogsome.com/2006/05/03/perfidious-albion/#comment-2238 Sat, 13 May 2006 15:39:47 +0100 http://thecheerfuloncologist.blogsome.com/2006/05/03/perfidious-albion/#comment-2238 The reason people in the UK are 'healthier' is, I believe, for two reasons. 1. the British don't 'like to make a fuss and bother their doctor' as much as Americans do and 2. British GP are trained to put off patients as much as possible. I'd say that if you have a health problem it takes several visits to GP before they actually DO anything about it, such as any testing/blood,etc....so I think people are just as sick in the UK, just not diagnosed with anything (diagnosis missed due to lack of proactiveness) The reason people in the UK are ‘healthier’ is, I believe, for two reasons.
1. the British don’t ‘like to make a fuss and bother their doctor’ as much as Americans do and
2. British GP are trained to put off patients as much as possible. I’d say that if you have a health problem it takes several visits to GP before they actually DO anything about it, such as any testing/blood,etc….so I think people are just as sick in the UK, just not diagnosed with anything (diagnosis missed due to lack of proactiveness)

]]> by: Anon http://thecheerfuloncologist.blogsome.com/2006/05/03/perfidious-albion/#comment-2204 Fri, 05 May 2006 21:56:34 +0100 http://thecheerfuloncologist.blogsome.com/2006/05/03/perfidious-albion/#comment-2204 I wonder, since the surveys relied on self-reporting, if Americans are more likely to report health conditions, and if the English are more reticent about this. There's the other factor of the pressure put on Americans to be health conscious, i.e., aware of diseases, even if this doesn't translate into better health habits. If you watch the evening news in both countries, there's a big disparity in health reporting. This week, the ABC Evening News is running a 3 part report of the dangers of dietary suppliments. Next week, there's a segment about the epidemic of autism. Several weeks ago, there was a 3 part series on prostate cancer (What Every Man Needs to Know!!!). But if you watch the BBC World News on my local PBS station, there's rarely any health reporting. It's all news about what's going on in the world. Not nearly as sensationalist, but a lot more informative. On the subject of health habits: when I was in Paris 6 years ago, I noticed that the French walk a lot more, but spend many carefree hours in cafes smoking, drinking strong coffee, reading the newspaper, and talking on cell phones. They also have their share of McDonalds. While there, I caught a TV commercial touting the latest French version of the Big Mac. Theirs had FOUR beef patties, versus our three. Bon Appetit! I wonder, since the surveys relied on self-reporting, if Americans are more likely to report health conditions, and if the English are more reticent about this. There’s the other factor of the pressure put on Americans to be health conscious, i.e., aware of diseases, even if this doesn’t translate into better health habits. If you watch the evening news in both countries, there’s a big disparity in health reporting. This week, the ABC Evening News is running a 3 part report of the dangers of dietary suppliments. Next week, there’s a segment about the epidemic of autism. Several weeks ago, there was a 3 part series on prostate cancer (What Every Man Needs to Know!!!).

But if you watch the BBC World News on my local PBS station, there’s rarely any health reporting. It’s all news about what’s going on in the world. Not nearly as sensationalist, but a lot more informative.

On the subject of health habits: when I was in Paris 6 years ago, I noticed that the French walk a lot more, but spend many carefree hours in cafes smoking, drinking strong coffee, reading the newspaper, and talking on cell phones. They also have their share of McDonalds. While there, I caught a TV commercial touting the latest French version of the Big Mac. Theirs had FOUR beef patties, versus our three. Bon Appetit!

]]> by: SJ http://thecheerfuloncologist.blogsome.com/2006/05/03/perfidious-albion/#comment-2203 Fri, 05 May 2006 15:56:41 +0100 http://thecheerfuloncologist.blogsome.com/2006/05/03/perfidious-albion/#comment-2203 Multiple factors are not being considered in this study. Brits drink alot more that Yanks (please note I am NOT a Yankee as I was born below the Mason Dixon line!) It is very easy to make a few block stroll to your local and have a pint. Then you have to walk back home. Thus burning a few calories. Of course then there is the added bonus of being able to walk to the grocery store - at least in the city. If I was going to have to lug home my 12 pack of Coke, 2 half gallons of Bluebell ice cream along with my fruit and veg. gotta say I would not be buying some of those heavier high calorie items. That and I have yet to have met a fridge in the UK that could hold a fraction of what is in mine right now. Obesity not considered aside - you do a lot more walking in England than I ever do during any day in the US. I lived there for a few years. It is just the actual opportunity for increased exposure to exercise of the most mundane variety, just going through your day and living it. That and their work day starts much later than the typical US workday and they get loads more vacation days. I think I am moving back. Multiple factors are not being considered in this study. Brits drink alot more that Yanks (please note I am NOT a Yankee as I was born below the Mason Dixon line!) It is very easy to make a few block stroll to your local and have a pint. Then you have to walk back home. Thus burning a few calories. Of course then there is the added bonus of being able to walk to the grocery store - at least in the city. If I was going to have to lug home my 12 pack of Coke, 2 half gallons of Bluebell ice cream along with my fruit and veg. gotta say I would not be buying some of those heavier high calorie items. That and I have yet to have met a fridge in the UK that could hold a fraction of what is in mine right now. Obesity not considered aside - you do a lot more walking in England than I ever do during any day in the US. I lived there for a few years. It is just the actual opportunity for increased exposure to exercise of the most mundane variety, just going through your day and living it. That and their work day starts much later than the typical US workday and they get loads more vacation days. I think I am moving back.

]]> by: soon-Malaysia http://thecheerfuloncologist.blogsome.com/2006/05/03/perfidious-albion/#comment-2200 Fri, 05 May 2006 10:09:54 +0100 http://thecheerfuloncologist.blogsome.com/2006/05/03/perfidious-albion/#comment-2200 well! there is no denying the fact that diet is the most causative factor in health and if there is a big difference between UK & US, then it could probably be true. we, Malaysians are also emulating the american way of chomping burgers with fizzy Coke, especially among the young generations which we have high incidences of young diabetic patients. its all a very sad thing! well! there is no denying the fact that diet is the most causative factor in health and if there is a big difference between UK & US, then it could probably be true. we, Malaysians are also emulating the american way of chomping burgers with fizzy Coke, especially among the young generations which we have high incidences of young diabetic patients. its all a very sad thing!

]]> by: The Cheerful You-Know-Who http://thecheerfuloncologist.blogsome.com/2006/05/03/perfidious-albion/#comment-2196 Thu, 04 May 2006 21:59:57 +0100 http://thecheerfuloncologist.blogsome.com/2006/05/03/perfidious-albion/#comment-2196 Saint M: Congratulations on your decision to give up smoking! Please tell us all the title of your latest book. Also, best wishes on the upcoming nuptials. Saint M: Congratulations on your decision to give up smoking! Please tell us all the title of your latest book. Also, best wishes on the upcoming nuptials.

]]> by: SaintM http://thecheerfuloncologist.blogsome.com/2006/05/03/perfidious-albion/#comment-2195 Thu, 04 May 2006 08:05:57 +0100 http://thecheerfuloncologist.blogsome.com/2006/05/03/perfidious-albion/#comment-2195 I recently returned from doing one of my least favorite things to do, the dreaded book tour. But this time there were two interesting bumps along my literary highway. I met someone and we have fallen in love (he is a Cardiologist of all things...!) and we are planning a wedding in June---and I met someone who was dying of lung cancer. These two meetings have changed my life, but even more so for the latter will probably save my life. Why? Well, my dark little secret is I smoke...and I smoke and smoke and smoke so more. I have yet to meet a writer who didn't have some sort of neurosis or addiction, and truth be told if one has both afflictions then one can safely assume they are a very good writer indeed. I am blessed to be hysterically frightened of chicken feet (I even dream about them!) and I am deeply in love with smoking. So there you have it, I am out of the closet. So here I am, one hand holding a hideous clawed/chicken foot thingy and the other hand holding on for dear life to my shiny pack of Marlboro Lights. That's it....I am no longer going to smoke. Of course I might light up a chicken foot just to see how it tastes, probably a lot like chicken I would presume. Always, Saint M I recently returned from doing one of my least favorite things to do, the dreaded book tour. But this time there were two interesting bumps along my literary highway. I met someone and we have fallen in love (he is a Cardiologist of all things…!) and we are planning a wedding in June—and I met someone who was dying of lung cancer. These two meetings have changed my life, but even more so for the latter will probably save my life. Why? Well, my dark little secret is I smoke…and I smoke and smoke and smoke so more. I have yet to meet a writer who didn’t have some sort of neurosis or addiction, and truth be told if one has both afflictions then one can safely assume they are a very good writer indeed. I am blessed to be hysterically frightened of chicken feet (I even dream about them!) and I am deeply in love with smoking. So there you have it, I am out of the closet.

So here I am, one hand holding a hideous clawed/chicken foot thingy and the other hand holding on for dear life to my shiny pack of Marlboro Lights.

That’s it….I am no longer going to smoke. Of course I might light up a chicken foot just to see how it tastes, probably a lot like chicken I would presume.

Always,

Saint M

]]> by: Emmy http://thecheerfuloncologist.blogsome.com/2006/05/03/perfidious-albion/#comment-2194 Thu, 04 May 2006 01:02:35 +0100 http://thecheerfuloncologist.blogsome.com/2006/05/03/perfidious-albion/#comment-2194 So, if I move to London my cancer won't come back? (shaking my head) So, if I move to London my cancer won’t come back? (shaking my head)

]]> by: elliottg http://thecheerfuloncologist.blogsome.com/2006/05/03/perfidious-albion/#comment-2193 Wed, 03 May 2006 23:42:20 +0100 http://thecheerfuloncologist.blogsome.com/2006/05/03/perfidious-albion/#comment-2193 How about the fact that since the NIH runs the show, variation in care is considerably less in Great Britain. It's less expensive AND better because there are standards. How about the fact that since the NIH runs the show, variation in care is considerably less in Great Britain. It’s less expensive AND better because there are standards.

]]> by: Bob http://thecheerfuloncologist.blogsome.com/2006/05/03/perfidious-albion/#comment-2192 Wed, 03 May 2006 18:16:07 +0100 http://thecheerfuloncologist.blogsome.com/2006/05/03/perfidious-albion/#comment-2192 Ooops, I just re-read the beginning and saw that obesity, et al, were factored out. That makes the results just plain weird, to my eye - I mean, once you take all those factors out, you expect diabetes and many of the rest to decrease, right? Ooops, I just re-read the beginning and saw that obesity, et al, were factored out. That makes the results just plain weird, to my eye - I mean, once you take all those factors out, you expect diabetes and many of the rest to decrease, right?

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