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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:
Toastandcoldsaltedbutter · 19/12/2023 20:54

Interesting topic and thread- thanks.

Mum2jenny · 19/12/2023 20:56

Many NHS employees, including doctors, are highly stressed and drink too much and do not have a healthy work/ life balance

justabigdisco · 19/12/2023 20:56

Yep I’m a doctor and so is DH. Both drink too much, exercise little, work long hours and don’t get enough sleep. Self diagnosis can be helpful but also a hinderance as we are crap at seeking advice when we really really should.

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General health
Heatherbell1978 · 19/12/2023 20:57

Dad was a GP, mum a nurse. They're the worst tbh when it's their own kids! I battled eating disorders for years which neither parent noticed. DB's had learning issues and MH which were ignored and are worse in their adult lives. They took nothing seriously. Loads of examples of my siblings and I having illnesses and injuries which we were left to get on with. Dad did used to prescribe all the time though. I think they just hated taking work home!

Destiny123 · 19/12/2023 20:58

Hmm I'm pretty healthy, beyond awful insomnia from shift work, most of us in anaesthetics are as we see the absolute worst of what goes wrong if you aren't. But many others are really unhealthy, there's always junk food to snack on which is often needed as rarely have time for proper meals at work. Many will be in denial and ignore symptoms far longer than a normal person would, and often miss stuff as are dismissive thinking its unlikely (one of my bosses missed his kids skiing broken arm injury for 3d and felt really guilty for it). Many smoke, many drink too much to cope with work stress

Destiny123 · 19/12/2023 21:01

GreenLight23 · 19/12/2023 20:46

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

No full time as a trainee (until 34yo in most specialties is an average of 47h a week up to max 72h). Its becoming easier now to be part time at least

MissyB1 · 19/12/2023 21:02

Dh is a hospital consultant 56 years old works about 50 hours a week. He leads a healthy lifestyle as in very healthy diet, doesn’t drink much alcohol, cycles to work and back in all weathers. He’s always lead a healthy lifestyle.
But he’s highly stressed, a poor sleeper, oh and has a benign brain tumour with a shunt in place.
The brain tumour only got diagnosed by accident really after he had a scan for arthritis in his neck.

WhichIsItWendy · 19/12/2023 21:03

This thread has reminded me how much respect I have for healthcare professionals.

exoticmicrophone · 19/12/2023 21:04

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

Suicide rate is distorted because they have easier access to lethal means than the general population. Similar to other professions with that kind of access.

Lordofmyflies · 19/12/2023 21:05

Definitely a very unhealthy lot. DH and I are doctors. He has diabetes II mainly from grabbing crappy sugary snacks on the go. I have high blood pressure and anxiety from the mental pressures of the job. We are both mid 40's. We've lost two friends who committed suicide due to pressures of the job. I procrastinate about seeking medical help because I always think any ailments are the result of the worst of the differentials.

ATerrorofLeftovers · 19/12/2023 21:11

A GP friend is very very thin and has an eating disorder which I’m worried she’s passing on to her DS - who is not allowed cake even on his birthday…

A nurse friend is overweight and smokes, but eats healthily. Her bar for seeking medical treatment is very, very high. Basically, unless your leg’s hanging off or you have Ebola, you should shut up and get on with it.

SockQueen · 19/12/2023 21:14

I think it's changing. Far fewer doctors smoke than previously, and I think drinking rates have probably gone down now we don't live on site like many junior doctors used to. When everyone has to drive 20+ miles home, because you're getting rotated around different hospitals and trying to find somewhere vaguely commutable to live, going for a boozy night out is just less likely to happen.
I think I've noticed more of our juniors are proper gym bros these days. But there are still many aspects of the job which do not lead to a healthy lifestyle.

I'm a new ish consultant. I've never smoked or taken illegal drugs, I drink less than 5 units a week (frequently none). But I'm overweight, tend to stress-eat, and don't exercise enough. Wouldn't be surprised if I end up diabetic at some point. It does make me more sympathetic to my obese patients though, as I know how fucking hard it can be to try to manage your weight.

Crushed23 · 19/12/2023 21:17

Most people in the traditional professions are thin. Especially the young ones.

I work with City lawyers and Big 4 accountants - all work really long hours, all of whom are thin and athletic. They’re up at 6am and in the gym before pulling 12+ hour days.

Not quite sure how they do it tbh.

SockQueen · 19/12/2023 21:18

I'm also rubbish at dealing with my own kids - I tend to only see either totally well kids having elective surgery, or critically ill ones being transferred to ICU. I have relatively little experience of mild-moderately ill children, so am not great at telling when they just need calpol and a rest or when they need a proper doctor (i.e. not me). I now tend to ask non-medic DH what he would want to do if I weren't there, and he usually makes a sensible choice!

Crushed23 · 19/12/2023 21:19

*to those musing that the doctors they know are thin

BubbleBubbleBubbleBubblePop · 19/12/2023 21:20

exoticmicrophone · 19/12/2023 21:04

Suicide rate is distorted because they have easier access to lethal means than the general population. Similar to other professions with that kind of access.

Show quote history

Would a doctor necessarily have easier access to drugs? Surely only nurses and pharmacy professionals have access to the drugs on the ward?

Crushed23 · 19/12/2023 21:20

I think they just apply the same discipline that you need to work in law, medicine, etc. to their exercise/diet/fitness regime.

Differentstarts · 19/12/2023 21:24

BubbleBubbleBubbleBubblePop · 19/12/2023 21:20

Would a doctor necessarily have easier access to drugs? Surely only nurses and pharmacy professionals have access to the drugs on the ward?

Edited
Show quote history

I think its less to do with access to drugs and more to do with knowing what drugs to take and how many to take

ssd · 19/12/2023 21:25

Its probably like being married to a joiner who never does DIY and the house is falling apart

Original poster
GreenLight23 · 19/12/2023 21:26

It’s really interesting and I don’t know a doctor to ask.

OP posts:
negronicake · 19/12/2023 21:30

Depends where you work. You can have much much easier access to drugs in anaesthetics theatres or ED etc. Also can access things on wards without much hassle. I’m not advocating for this btw!

TroglodytesTroglodytes · 19/12/2023 21:31

You don’t need to be a doctor to know that things like eating well, exercising, reducing stress and getting enough sleep keeps you healthier. We all know it, a lot of people don’t achieve it. I guess doctors have the advantage of a decent income to help them whereas someone on minimum wage will find it harder.

YipeeHipee2 · 19/12/2023 21:31

I'm a doctor (psychiatrist) and I would consider myself to be healthy. I've never drank alcohol or smoked. I cook from scratch and love to cook. I'm really interested in the healing power of whole food and cook according to season/lifestyle changes/bodily energy.

I enjoy exercising but am on mat leave and haven't been as good as I usually am.

AgeingDoc · 19/12/2023 21:37

In my experience there are quite a lot of doctors and other HCPs who are at the extremes- either super healthy and a bit obsessed about diet and exercise or really unhealthy. I think far fewer smoke than did when I was a medical student/early junior doctor but a lot drink too much. Same goes for assessing our own health needs, we tend to either minimise things or be quite hypochondriacal.
I'm a mimimiser. As an intensive care consultant my idea of what constitutes "ill" has become kind of skewed so I have certainly sent my children into school when they should probably have been in bed at home and I've frequently been to work when I've been unwell - it's a combination of denial and guilt.
Obviously there are also plenty of doctors who have fairly normal approaches to their own health but I think quite a lot of us are rather dysfunctional in at least some ways and we're definitely not healthier compared to other people who are similar in socioeconomic terms.

drV · 19/12/2023 21:38

Me and DH are both doctors.. also my elder brother is a doctor.. I could say all 3 of us have pretty good general health but we do occasionally suffer for aches and pains, specially me!

Atm I am on maternity break and life is very hectic and stressful with a baby (almost a toddler).. I am unable to go to gym as I used to before-baby and it has definitely taken its toll on my overall stamina and health..

All our jobs are extremely stressful and it keeps piling up.. I always feel we will end up having hypertension and related complications later in life!

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