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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:
Joeylove88 · 20/12/2023 23:37

SockQueen · 19/12/2023 23:40

Honestly, I think some people don't help themselves, or at least, haven't managed to admit yet that the world will not fall apart if they go for a wee/drink - though if your bleep goes off 5 times in that 5 minutes sometimes it feels that way! I'm pretty bossy about making sure my juniors get breaks, but I'm in a consultant-heavy specialty, and on the wards it's not always so well-supported. Sometimes there is an element of competitive martyrdom as well.

That said, there is definitely something in the mindset of wanting to be seen to be coping. I pushed through horrible pregnancy sickness when I really should have been off sick, if not actually an inpatient myself, because I didn't want to be seen as "weak." And while I'm pretty good at sorting out meal/toilet breaks for myself and others now, it wasn't always the case!

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I agree with this. The pressures must be immense when starting a job but something has to give eventually. Everyone has to be just a little bit selfish and take care of their own needs every now and then.

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