Health Facts Confusion

Whenever I read some alleged new finding of fact or information that seriously affects my health, I immediately set about analyzing the truth or falsity of the statement. Perhaps we all do that. For example, years ago a thing came out from eastern researchers saying cranberries cause cancer. Within a few minutes I had accepted the validity of the research and told Iris that she should never ever buy another cranberry. Within weeks other people came out with a statement that cranberries were better for you than three weeks in Hawaii.

Can't remember when we got the news that salt and sugar were bad. I was upset enough to only give the findings 30 percent credibility, and of course there were the usual rebuttals to even more confuse us. Cut back on both items but did not give them up. I actually "sneak" salt because Iris has told me to watch it. If I should kick the bucket from too much sodium chloride, I don't want Iris feeling bad while she's out spending the insurance money.

When jogging first got all that publicity about being the secret to a long and healthy life, I started a running club because nobody likes to suffer alone. Got a key to the high school track and went down there every morning. At first, no one really wanted to be in my club because they didn't like getting up early, the torture of running in all kinds of weather, and then the necessity of coming home and getting cleaned up before going to work; however. I'm a good salesman and within a few weeks had nine members. I would jog along there panting and wheezing while telling stories about how wise we were and about us still doing that in our 90s.

After a mile or so when tongues were practically hanging on the ground I would use my last remaining energy to extol the value of searing pain in the lungs and the good things that come from burning agony in the legs. Running mates would yell at me to shut up but I wouldn't.

Then new reports came out. The first one told of many joggers having trouble with their joints, wearing out the old shock absorbers. This was followed by papers saying joggers were ruining their feet. The final blow was when the guru of all the jogging gurus dropped dead of a heart attack before his fiftieth birthday. I quit the jogging group and began sleeping an extra two hours.

In the early 1990s the Wall Street Journal carried the kind of headline guys like me cannot pass up because we are so concerned about leading a healthy life. The headline said, "ALCOHOL DRINKS MAY AID HEART."

The story following this scientific break-through said, "Drinking may be bad for your liver, but new and persuasive medical research suggest moderate use is good for your heart.

"A study of more than 51,000 men says men who consume from one-half to two drinks a day reduce their risk of heart disease by 26 percent compared with men who abstain from alcohol."

When Iris came home from work that day, she went to give me a little kiss, but reacted in a mildly hostile manner, "George! Have you been drinking? I smell something on your breath … and what's in that glass there?"

"Yes," I replied. "I've had a touch of brandy over the rocks."

"Well, I don't know if I approve of this kind of carrying on. You aren't going to make it a habit are you?"

"Iris. Surely you don't think I like coming home from a hard day at the office and then having to sit here forcing this vile concoction down my throat?"

"Well, people who are suffering don't usually grin."

"Don't let that fool you. I'm just smiling to hide my true feelings of revulsion; but, here .. Read this latest medical research."

Iris took the clipping and glanced through the first few paragraphs and handed it back saying. "Well that does sound pretty convincing, especially after doing studies of more than 51,000 men, but I'm not convinced it's right."

I handed the clipping back and asked her to please read the last paragraph out loud. She read, "A study published in 1988 found that women who consume moderate amounts of alcohol reduce the risk of heart disease by about 40 percent."

After being on this "special health program" for several years, Iris and I have now agreed that if someone should come up with a new study that says brandy is of no help in warding off heart trouble, we are going to completely ignore it as being the work of meddling trouble makers.

G. George Ostrom is the news director of KOFI Radio and a Flathead Publishing Group columnist.