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Original poster

Are doctors healthier than the rest of the population?

126 replies

GreenLight23 · 19/12/2023 20:21

I don’t mean particularly in terms of leading a healthy lifestyle. I am thinking more that they can diagnose themselves if they’ve got an ache or a twinge or an unusual symptom. They know if it’s serious or not and they know what treatment they need. For example, can they avoid strokes and heart attacks more than the general population?

Is there anyone here who is a doctor or has one in the family? What do you think?!

OP posts:
BerriesNutsConkers · 19/12/2023 20:26

Family member GP missed diabetes type 1 in her child until it was serious. Her MS was misdiagnosed initially!

ProjectsGalore · 19/12/2023 20:32

Most drs I know smoke and take recreational drugs so probably use cognitive dissonance......

Original poster
GreenLight23 · 19/12/2023 20:35

Yes I thought they are not known for their healthy lifestyles although I wonder if that is changing for young doctors coming through as a lot of the young adults I know don’t drink or smoke like they did when I was the same age.

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General health
JuliefromBasingstoke · 19/12/2023 20:35

You would think, wouldn't you, OP. I know some pretty unhealthy doctors, though. Also I saw a doctor being interviewed on TV last week who had been in total denial about breast cancer symptoms purely because she was a breast cancer consultant. She thought it would be too much of a coincidence. I also know a cardiac surgeon who recently had heart surgery. Maybe many of them ignore their symptoms? Like the opposite of hypochondria?

The healthiest group of staff in hospitals seem to be the dietitians. I've never seen so much salad at a lunch table!

ssd · 19/12/2023 20:36

The dr i know thinks cancer screening tests are a waste of time...

Chewbecca · 19/12/2023 20:37

My Dr family member does live a healthy lifestyle but is not someone you would consider ‘healthy’ due to lifelong unavoidable conditions.

Original poster
GreenLight23 · 19/12/2023 20:37

@BerriesNutsConkers I’ve always thought it would be useful to be a doctor when your child is ill.

OP posts:
Ethelswith · 19/12/2023 20:41

I have many doctors in my family.

They are all perfect ostriches about ignoring symptoms. But when they finally do admit that something's up, then they're bound to have an old mate in the relevant specialty who will then go into complete overdrive and throw everything and the kitchen sink at it.

They're simply dreadful patients

1AnotherOne · 19/12/2023 20:42

Most of my colleagues are and no they are not.

Original poster
GreenLight23 · 19/12/2023 20:43

Interesting! You would think they would be.

OP posts:
Birdh0use · 19/12/2023 20:43

No. They are stressed and work too hard/ excercise too little. High rate sucide & alcoholism

Part of reason many are part time to make it better

Easipeelerie · 19/12/2023 20:45

The young doctors who work in hospitals always seem to be thin. I imagine they play squash and cycle in to work. I think it’s a thing to be thin for longevity.

negronicake · 19/12/2023 20:45

I’m a doctor and I’m terribly unhealthy and I probably ignore symptoms for me and everyone else
I also have the worst lifestyle

Original poster
GreenLight23 · 19/12/2023 20:46

Are many hospital doctors part-time? I know a lot of GPs are.

OP posts:
Peasand · 19/12/2023 20:47

My DC is a Dr . They’re thin because they don’t get chance to eat in the A&E dept.
incidentally they’re not allowed to treat family,

CantFindTheBeat · 19/12/2023 20:48

negronicake · 19/12/2023 20:45

I’m a doctor and I’m terribly unhealthy and I probably ignore symptoms for me and everyone else
I also have the worst lifestyle

Tell us more, @negronicake

Original poster
GreenLight23 · 19/12/2023 20:48

Yes I can see how they would be stressed. I have had the misfortune of visiting A&E with dc recently and hats off to any medical staff who work in that environment.

OP posts:
negronicake · 19/12/2023 20:49

when you’re a consultant it can offer more flexibility like this and it depends on the specialty
you can be ‘part time’ as a doctor eg ‘less than full time’ training but still be working more than anyone working full time in any other job is it’s still a vast number of hours and days

fuckmyuteruslining · 19/12/2023 20:49

Easipeelerie · 19/12/2023 20:45

The young doctors who work in hospitals always seem to be thin. I imagine they play squash and cycle in to work. I think it’s a thing to be thin for longevity.

Actually the rate of eating disorders in doctors in training is appallingly high.

Very high pressure jobs, naturally self critical, shifts and few opportunities to eat - it's not a good combination

And in general op, no they're not healthier and neither are nurses. Who also have ghastly msk health too.

Our HCPs give up a lot to do their job for us, that includes their health I'm afraid.

fuckmyuteruslining · 19/12/2023 20:50

Oh yeah and women in surgery have a significantly higher miscarriage rate than the population in general

Original poster
GreenLight23 · 19/12/2023 20:51

Yes I imagine shift work takes its toll.

OP posts:
fuckmyuteruslining · 19/12/2023 20:51

And then there is the mental health impact.

Less than full time is commonly 80%. Of a 48 hr week. So still full time in most other branches of work.

Original poster
GreenLight23 · 19/12/2023 20:53

I don’t know about all HCPs, I’m sure it depends on your role, but it is probably physically demanding too.

OP posts:
Lavenderflower · 19/12/2023 20:54

I'm inclined to say no.

Original poster
GreenLight23 · 19/12/2023 20:54

I saw a heavily pregnant nurse work in children’s A&E all night and she didn’t appear to sit down or eat or drink once. I was quite concerned about her when it reached morning and she was still there on her feet.

OP posts: