Uncle Hugh 'Murphy' Miller: war 'hero,' cool guy

 AboutAnything  | Greg McComb 

  Whenever I look at this picture of my great-uncle Hugh, (under x) my first thought is always 'he must have been a really-cool guy.' It's one of my favorites in a vast collection of ancestry photos. 

  

   I mean, look at the guy. A cigarette dangling  from his lip, his steel helmet tilted-fashionably right, and then there is the sleeveless-sheepskin vest, possibly donated from as far off as Australia, and shipped to the front by the Red Cross.  These vests were the only thing standing between a soldier and a bad case of frostbite during months of winter-trench warfare in France. 

   You see, this is a photo of Hugh's unit taken around 1915 or 16 during World War I, at a camp on the frontlines in France. Possibly next  to the poppy fields that bloom today

in Flanders Fields, symbols of the million or more soldiers who were wounded, missing or killed in-action during the bloody trench warfare that defined this awful war, from 1914-18. I can't know for sure but the long-poles held by two of the soldiers were medieval-style pikes used during raids of German trenches. Canadians gained a reputation as fierce raiders using make-shift weapons like these pikes along with hand-made clubs, knives and small catapults. This was no high-tech war, hand-to-hand combat was not uncommon.

                         Who was Hugh? 

     So, who was Hugh? I have little oral history of my great-uncle, so I  stitched together a rough sketch of his life using ancestry research I've done for my Miller lineage.

   

   I know Hugh was born in 1896 in Glasgow, Scotland, part of a large family that would eventually count twelve children. A typical size for the times, pre-birth control. His parents were John and Annie 'Murphy' Miller, my great-grandparents, (above, 1910, Scotland). 

    I included Annie's maiden name for a couple

of reasons. One, to point out her heritage; that part of my family tree is not pure Scot, the surname Murphy is about as Irish as-it-gets. Second, to highlight her central role in the family. From oral history and photos, I surmised that Annie was a sturdy, strong-willed woman, the matriarch of the family, (see photo left).   She was the alpha female in the marriage, John was the beta. One of the historic clues is Hugh's memorial notes and gravestone. Both included Annie's maiden name, Hugh Murphy  Miller,  an unusual thing to do short of a 

 surname change. So, Hugh was definitely a mommy's boy. 

   Hugh's brother was my grandfather James Miller, who I grew up with in Winnipeg, Canada, regularly visiting his house on Garfield street. A short-sprightly man, Grandpa Miller used to play the bones when I visited his house in the west-end, and slurp his coffee from a saucer, a habit that drove my grandmother crazy. He often joked he didn't

mind when his wife Ella put on some weight, he liked women 'with-a-little-meat on their bones.' He also had a mild-Scottish brogue, and would drag his kilt out of the closet for special occasions, like a true Scot (see photo left of couple). Assuming these characteristics ran in the family, a best guess is that Hugh was also a bit of a jokester, fairly short and spoke with a Scottish accent. Not sure about the kilt. 

  What else? Hugh was athletic like his brother James. Both participated in and won numerous 'running races,' which were popular back then.  According to correspondence, Hugh won a race while serving in France, and was awarded a ten franc note.  Similarly, Grandpa Miller won a giant-silver trophy at a company running event; that was eventually passed down to me. 

   Both were also popular and made fast-and-loyal friends. When I was a young teenager, I watched a procession of hundreds of friends pay their respects at grandpa's funeral. As a young man, the 'cool' and confident Hugh was nicknamed 'Hughie' and solidified an intense friendship with his fellow-soldier driver, J. James (sorry no first name). So much so he took the time to write a detailed letter back home, that I will talk about later in this blog. 

                             The Caper 

    Finally, Hugh was a brave young man. Very brave. Barely an adult at 18, Hugh volunteered to serve in the British army when the call came out from King and Country. He was no draft dodger. Even though brother James (my grandfather) was under age at 16, he enlisted anyways, caught up in the fervor as Britain was under threat of attack from German warships, and made the call to all able-bodied young men in the Commonwealth. I have good oral history that James lied about his age on his enlistment form, and that he volunteered without his Mom Annie's knowledge. Not sure of this, but the story goes that she boarded a ship to Britain to 'rescue' her son, 16-years-old and barely five-feet tall. Quite the caper! Lucky James didn't get away with it, or I might not be alive today! 

                           The Big Move   

    In 1912, the Miller family moved from Glasgow to the frigid-Prairie outpost of Winnipeg, Canada, my hometown - half a world away. Hugh was a

teenager, only 16-years-old when he boarded an ocean liner, likely at close-by Greenock port, (see map left). The ocean vessel he took was likely a working-class version of the Titanic, which crashed into an iceberg that same year, 1912.   

    This was no doubt a scary yet exhilarating experience for a youngster, leaving the 'Old World' for the New.  But Hugh had company, lots of it. According to historic records, Annie Murphy had completed the Herculean-task of giving birth to twelve children, a family size unheard of today. So, Hugh shuffled onto the ship with a crew of thirteen other family members, including mom and dad. Most importantly, Hugh had his 14-year older brother James (my grandfather) by his side, the reason for my  very existence and the fact I grew up Canadian.  

      Back then, Winnipeg was a frosty-desolate place, although it was full of promise as the 'West' was opening up. Tracks for a national railway had just gone through and a grand-Greek-revival train station had been completed, only six years previous. Winnipeg was (and still is) known as the ''Gateway to the West.' 

    In the early 1900's, millions of pieces of immigration literature flooded Britain and Europe from Canada. I'm sure this caught the eye of father John Miller, who did an exploratory trip to Winnipeg and managed to secure a job, according to oral history. This made for a 'soft landing' for the young family, that quickly settled into Winnipeg life.

              Early Miller life in Winnipeg

    

  I don't know a lot about the early life of the Millers in Winnipeg; but pictures  handed down to me show what is mostly a jovial bunch, attending picnics, playing baseball and goofing around. Love the hats back then, although the suits must have been very hot. No casual wear back then. That's my Grandpa Miller center-front with a big grin on his face and a floppy hat, slanted backwards.

One of their favorite haunts was Grand Beach, a massive white-sand beach an hours' drive north of Winnipeg. The photo above is of the early Miller family, around 1915, with the old board walk and dance hall in the background. Following in their footsteps, I did a lot of my 'growing up' summer weekends at Grand Beach. My sister Linda owns a cottage there; and so do my cousins, Kelly and Jamie Miller. A legacy that keeps on giving. 

                    Hugh's life cut short

  I would very much like to end this blog on a happy note, but that's not the case. Hugh died a tragic death in June, 1918, on the frontlines during World War I.  Only a few months before the war ended. He was the victim of a German bomb that hit his truck while out on a nightly run for wood, to restock the stoves and fireplaces at artillery headquarters in Frevent, France. A detailed accounting of this sad incident, along with Hugh's dying wishes, was written in a letter sent home by Hugh's friend and fellow driver, J. James, (see last part of blog).

   At the time of his death, Hugh was only 22 years old with a full life ahead of him, and a loving family to support him. I did a search for any medals or awards that Hugh won, but found none. To me, that doesn't matter. In my books, he is a 'hero' for volunteering and then sacrificing his life for the great cause of peace and freedom, things that are still at risk today.  In Canada, we commemorate the millions of soldiers who gave their lives for peace on  Remembrance Day, November 11th. Red poppies, like those grown at Flanders Field in France, are worn to honor both fallen soldiers like Hugh and the veterans who survived war.  

   Thanks for your service, Hugh! 

                   The sad letter home

This is the letter sent to Canada from war-torn France by Hugh's friend J. James. The purpose is to inform Hugh's mother Annie 'Murphy' Miller of the death her son. 

                                                                                France,

                                                                              1918

Dear Mrs. Miller: -

  Again with heartfelt sympathy, I pencil you these lines, testifying to the receipt of your letter in answer to mine. As sure it must have been an awful shock to you, and all of yours concerned.

 

  Well, now I will give you all the details, as requested, beginning at the start.

  Hugh and I were in the habit of visiting a nearby Y.M.C.A. for the purpose of getting empty boxes for his fire every morning. Of course we always went the evening beforehand, and on the evening of June 6th, I had a few jobs to do when he was ready to go. Well, he said he would not wait, as it was 

not far and he would soon be back.  While he was away I finished my little jobs and was waiting on the road for him. Presently I saw him coming up the road with a box and just then Fritzie (German army) started shelling. When he got near where I was the fatal one had landed quite close to him, and one of our signalers.  They, of course, were both badly wounded - as it is now
  proved - for they both died of the effects. The signaler got it in the head, and poor Hughie got it in the legs from the knees down. 

  They were both quickly taken down the nearest dugout and doctors were on the job immediately.  At this stage they were both absolutely unconscious - which of course was best I think. The signaler was still unconscious when taken away. When the ambulance arrived they brought Hughie up first and set the stretcher down for a second or two before putting him in. 

  Just then he three up three mouthfuls of loose blood from his mouth and became conscious. I believe the concussion of the shell burst caused an internal hemorrhage somewhere to cause that loose blood. They then lifted him into the ambulance and I jumped in to have a few words before he left.

  I was pleased to find that he opened his eyes and knew me, as I was afraid he wouldn't. I asked him if there was anything he would like to drink, but he said 'no' to all my suggestions. Then I asked him how he was feeling and he said 'pretty tough, Kid,' and closed his eyes again.

  His eyes seemed to be rather low on the blankets, so I asked him if I could fix it a little higher and he said 'yes, please' with eyes open, and tried to smile. Then I asked him if I would fix it a little higher and he said 'yes, please' with eyes open, and tried to smile. Then I asked him what he would me to do after he went away. He said, 'you will look after all my little things I know, and you know where they all are. Get them together and keep them till I write and tell you what to do further.'

  

   I said 'Yes, of course I will, and don't you long in writing, as you know how anxious I'll be. If you can't write, I said, 'get the nurse to do it.'  'You bet I will,' he said. Then I asked him if he would like me to write right away to you, and he said 'No, it will be quite soon enough when she (Hugh's mother) hears from me.' I guess he didn't want me to excite you in any way. You must not imagine he lost any arms or legs, as I can assure you he had them all intact. Just from the knee down to the feet the pieces went through, and he lost a lot of blood.

     The I tried to cheer him up about being over in Blighty between the nice white sheets - with all the sorts of nice things and attention - but to this he just smiled. Then the other poor fellow was put in so I could see I had to get out soon, though I wished I could have been allowed to go with him. Am sure I could have kept him up a lot. So with a firm shake of his hand, telling him to write as soon as it was possible, I jumped out.

  Just as the car moved away, I wished him the best of luck and he answered me, but I did not hear him very plain on account of the noise from the car machinery. I know it was well meant whatever it was. That night you might imagine how I missed him, and how blue I felt.

  After a few days passed and I was wondering how he was, as I had not heard, there appeared in our routine orders, "Decrease of strength - Dvr. H.N. Miller - Died of Wounds. Reported by O.C. of Hospital. 

  I was sadly shocked to realize it, as I could hardly believe it.  Then I wrote to you straight away and would have written to others but could not find any other addresses with him. I trust you will get all that was in his pockets,  also that you have received the few things left in my charge till I handed them over the paymaster.

  Then the first chance I got I gained 'leave of absence' to visit the hospital and make inquiries, and see his grave. I had a talk with a staff sergeant there, who informed me he was admitted there in the afternoon on the 7th, and slept fairly well at night. He was awake early next morning, feeling very bad, and kept sinking from then till 1:20 p.m. when he drew his last. They tell me he passed away unconscious, and that gangrene had set in - which caused his death.

  Then I asked about the grave and was told it was at the other end of the town, so I started off to find it. It is called St. Hillaire cemetery, and is an old French church cemetery with a part partitioned off for British soldiers. I guess you know the name of the town, so it will be needless for me to mention it. 

  Well, his grave is market with a military cross - the same as all are - and it is being well attended to. There are seven rows of graves from 'A' to 'G' and his is the second grave in the fifth row (E). I placed a few flowers on it when I was there. 

 Since I saw Hughie last there was a parcel sent to him and his parcel was handed over to me. The senders name was cut off the wrapping so I don't know who it was from, though I felt sure it was from you. Anyhow, I enjoyed the niceties that were inside, and feel quite safe in thanking you for the same.

 As soon as I found out the address of his young lady in

Scotland, (unknown, possibly pictured left) I forwarded my deep sympathy, with full details. Today, I received a letter from her in reply. 

  I got your letter the day before, also one from Miss May Miller.

  Now about that prize he won a while ago at the running races. I asked our Chaplain today all about it, as he did not give it to Hughie the day he won it, and Hugh never knew what the first prize was to be.  Well, it appears that the first prize was a small sum of French money, and the chaplain says he will hand it over to me to send you, though he didn't tell me just when he would. So, I will see him again tomorrow, and if he can let me have it will enclose it with this letter.

  I understand he has forwarded you all the necessary information as to how you can secure a photo of the grave,

(see left, map of gravesite). I also spoke to him about arranging to have the engineers put us up a nice big white cross, with an inscription on it. He says he will see what he can do, and I know he will do his best.

As it grieves me to keep writing on this sad bereavement I would like to suggest that you forward this letter to your daughter May, as I presume she would like to know all I can tell and I have now written all I do know concerning it. Of course I will write her a letter in answer to hers, and ask her to arrange to see this, if possible. I hope this will be convenient for both you and her, and that you will understand my meaning and feelings. Many thanks to you, and also to her, for your kind wishes to me for a safe return home.

  Now I guess I must draw to a close. I trust this will find you safely, and all quite well - as it leaves me the same as present.  With my deepest sympathy to you, one and all, and hoping I have no added more pain to this than you can bear, believe me.

                                Yours most respectfully,

                                        Driver J. James

P.S. Please find enclosed one ten franc note - which was the first prize for racing.

  

This is a scan of the original letter, same as above but harder to read.

  

  

  

  

 

   

  

   

 

  

  

   

   

Read more »

How to get fit and stay fit, twenty years later (part 4, medical care)

 AboutAnything  | Greg McComb

Years ago, a visit to your doctor's office was a bit scary, at least for me. Your doctor was  viewed as a person of reverence - almost priest-like - and highly respected in your community. They usually wore a rumpled-white coat and had a stethoscope drooped around their neck.  A small-rubber hammer was close-at-hand; soon your doctor would tap your knees to test your reflexes, a practice abandoned by all but a few doctors nowadays. 

    All-of-this is nothing like the photo above of a couple of smartly-dressed modern doctors, engaged in conversation while researching the latest medical findings on their laptop. 

   Back then, I'm talking about  the 1960's and 70's when I was a youngster, there were few resources for a patient to learn more about their disease or condition. Ill-informed, you showed up to your doctor's office with an ache, pain or cough, described your condition in an emotional narrative; and your doctor would  either prescribe some medicine, or consider checking you into a hospital for further observation and testing. 

  Those were simpler times, people smoked and thought it was okay, and there were only a handful of medications for common conditions like heart disease or ulcers, most pretty ineffective. 

            Medical advancements....but

  Fast forward to 2024. Things have changed a lot; mostly for the better. Over the past 50 years, new-effective medicines and treatments have been developed for a host of common diseases like high blood pressure, plaque build-up in arteries that lead to heart attacks,

 ulcers, arthritis and numerous breakthroughs for the treatment of cancer. Only a few years ago, a cure was discovered for Hepatitis C, a debilitating disease that slowly dissolves your liver. Herbal mediations also became more widely used, a common sight on pharmacy shelves. On top of that, detailed-medical information on any disease or condition is readily available on the Internet, at peer-reviewed databases like Medline.  

    As medical care improved, life expectancy increased in lock-step, helped along by improvements to our environment - cleaner smog-free air, and a rapid decline in smoking.  In 1960, people lived to around seventy years-old whereas today, people in most developed countries are active in their 70's and are expected to live well into their eighties. Just take a look at 81-year-old Paul McCartney, still performing decades after the Beatles broke up. 

     Despite all these advancements, I sense that a lot of people have trouble accessing proper medical care. I should know, I was one of them. For years, I suffered with undiagnosed high-blood pressure. Overweight, in my mid-40's and with a history of heart disease, I was at risk: all my grandparents suffered from either strokes or heart attacks in their sixties or early

seventies. A successful Winnipeg businessman, my grandfather Frank McComb (see left) was hobbled by a severe stroke in his sixties and lost all his businesses, a successful clothing store and stable of race horses. A tragic story.   

   I also had other conditions I knew little about: a persistent cough, what was initially diagnosed as a mild form of asthma. I  coughed a lot- especially during flu season- and took over-the-counter cough syrups for years. Not very effective. Didn't help much. I also smoked a bit, casually...very addictive, very stupid habit that made my coughing worse.

  On top of all that,  I had difficulty sleeping for more than a few hours a night. Insomnia; a common condition. After a night of tossing-and-turning, I awoke feeling unrefreshed, restless and cranky. I often needed to nap in the afternoons to make up for my sleep deficit. (I'll talk about this condition more in a separate blog on the importance of sleep and rest).

           Back to the 'Fitness Pie'

  So, in my early forties I was essentially a medical basket-case. As I made early attempts to get my weight-under-control and exercise, there was a parallel story about my struggles with high-blood pressure, a persistent cough and insomnia. My argument is that solving those medical issues are just as important to fitness as diet and exercise. As the arrows in the pie chart suggests, many aspects of your fitness are interrelated. Not enough sleep and your mental health suffers. In my view, quality medical care is a little different; it's an overarching part of your wellbeing. If you don't have that, nothing else matters...

Consider this general scenario: someone in their thirties has worked hard at eating a healthy diet with lean meat, fruit, vegetables and grains; and are walking 8,000 steps-a-day, excellent life-extending cardio. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to you, a serious medical condition is lurking...it could be high-blood pressure like mine, or diabetes or the early stages of arthritis, all treatable with modern medicine. So, you may think you're fit, but you really aren't. 

   One problem with this hypothetical person is they haven't bothered to go to the doctor for a check-up. Why should they? In your mid-thirties or early forties, risk is low....isn't it?

    Not really...

    Although disease risk is lower when you are younger, health professionals still recommend you start regular doctor visits and blood workups as early as thirty. Unfortunately, people are busy with families and careers at this age, and often don't bother. When do they have time in-between picking up their children at daycare or school, working overtime to boost their careers; or cooking family suppers?

                          -------------

    In this blog, the fourth in this series - I will start with a case study on how I eventually got my health conditions under control: my blood pressure and asthma -- and how I stopped smoking.....for good. My journey to better medical care. Like my other blogs, this will be a 'warts-and-all' overview: I  had several false starts and will talk about these. 

   Next, I will provide personalized 'tips' or best practices I've learned over the past twenty years.  Similar to my blog on resistance exercises, I'll list a series of things you can do to get the best medical care. 

   So, let's get started.

    My medical history: warts-and-all

    I first learned I had high-blood pressure (or hypertension) when a nurse took my reading during a routine test for life insurance, back in the year 2000.

While my wife passed with flying colors, the nurse looked a bit shocked when she took mine. Back then, I knew little about blood pressure, what it was and why I should be concerned. I just knew that something was wrong. 

     As a first step, I read about the condition and bought a blood pressure monitor from a drugstore, one you self-administer; it wraps around your wrist. I periodically checked my levels and they were persistently high, well above the normal range of 120 over 80, sometimes 20 or 30 points. Especially on days when I was stressed, a key trigger for hypertension. I tried to bring those numbers down naturally, eating less salt and drinking less caffeine but none of that worked. I found it very difficult to reduce stress and I will talk about this in another blog on mental wellness. 

  I also sought out treatment from a doctor. Due to a doctor shortage in Canada, I had to wait several months for an appointment. During my first visit, the physician didn't prescribe any medication even though, as discussed, there are plenty of effective treatments for high-blood pressure, most with few side effects. Not sure why. Perhaps he thought my high readings were caused by the white-coat effect. 

   Time passed, I was concerned about my health but thought I would be okay. Other issues around work and family clouded my judgement. I experienced few symptoms for my hypertension; that's why it's nicknamed the silent killer.

              New 'pro-drug' doctor

   Fast forward several years, I needed to see a doctor sooner-rather-than-later because of a cough. I missed a few days of work because of a flu, returned to work, then missed more work because a bad cough would persist for weeks. In an act of desperation, I scanned

the internet  'yellow pages' and  landed an appointment with a physician in downtown Ottawa...the next day.  That doctor specialized in men's issues like low-testosterone and prostrate cancer. I guess he had only one gender to deal with, so his calendar wasn't booked solid. As I would soon learn, he was also 'pro-drug:' he was quick to prescribe medication after he made a similarly speedy diagnoses. A little like the actor Hugh Laurie in the tv series House MD. 

    Back to the examination. Although I wanted treatment for my cough, the doctor routinely took my blood pressure; and had the same shocked look on his face as the insurance nurse. Unlike the first doctor, he acted quickly and prescribed Hyzaar, a combination medication. One ingredient Losartan works by relaxing the walls of your blood vessels so they don't narrow.  A second is an old-fashioned 'water pill' that reduces salt absorption, so you retain less fluid. With less blood, there is less pressure on your artery walls. 

   Whatever the mechanisms, Hyzaar worked... Within a week or two, my blood pressure pulled back to normal or near-normal levels, 120 over 80. No side effects. Got very lucky. I've been on Losartan for over twenty years, and it continues to work.  The only glitch was recently, a few years into retirement. Without the day-to-day grind of family and work, my stress levels dropped and so did my blood pressure. Working with my current doctor, I halved the dosage, and my readings returned to normal.

  Oh yes, one other thing. I have retired to the 

Caribbean and really enjoy an expresso-latte on the beach,(see left) especially during my morning walks. Coffee served this way is chocked full of caffeine, and can get my heart racing and blood pressure pumping. As someone at risk, I know I shouldn't drink this wonderful concoction, but I see this dark-coffee as a necessary evil, a great joy. So, I continue to drink and check my blood pressure regularly using my wrist monitor. Too much coffee and my blood pressure goes north of 130, and know I have to stop...for a few days. 

              My asthma diagnoses

   So, back to my persistent cough, the reason I went to the 'pro-drug' doctor in the first place. During this first appointment, I described my coughing symptoms, and he made a quick diagnosis: I had asthma and prescribed a puffer that dilates

 your bronchi allowing you to breathe freely, (the blue kind, left). 

   I have a sharp memory of the doctor demonstrating how to use it. He stood up, blew out strongly a little like the wolf in the children's story "Three Little Pigs." Then he gripped the inhaler-opening with his lips, depressed the top and sucked the mist in with an equal amount of force.  All of this shocked me; the performance just a bit, but more so the label: I was now an asthmatic. I switched doctors a few years later, and the new one refined my diagnosis; I was now someone with non-exertional  asthma, the less-severe type. I just coughed a lot during flu season, but didn't

lose my breath when exercising. The latter is the serious kind that children have; they often wheeze and lose their breath during serious asthma attacks.   

   The so-called blue inhaler worked for several years, but lost it's effectiveness over time. When I started working as a health economist, one of my colleagues with asthma told me to switch to the orange inhaler; it has a steroid and reduces inflammation. This worked even better and I eventually quit using inhalers; except on rare occasions when I  have flare-ups. 

                         Quit smoking

    I also quit smoking around this time, an incredibly addictive habit; and this helped reduce my coughing. Along with coughing, smoking causes a myriad of other health problems including lung cancer, a weakened

immune system that hampers your ability to fight off disease, a greater risk of heart attack and stroke, and wrinkly skin. Yuk! Which is why I warn people off smoking; yeah, I'm that annoying guy that does that. You can't call yourself fit if you smoke.

    It took me several attempts (and years) to quit smoking; the cravings for nicotine were so powerful I would relapse. There were two keys. The most important was to really want to quit, to have the force-of-will. Without this, you're not going anywhere. The second was to use an over-the-counter drug, Nicorette. I used the gum not the patch and it really worked to dampen those cravings.

  A few months after I quit, I would often dream about smoking, kind of weird side-effect. Years later, I look back at how bad this habit was and how it compromised my health, and made me feel sick. I wonder why I ever started, especially when I sneak a few puffs at a party and start hacking. 

              Regular blood tests

  Over the years, I met with doctors regularly, and at least once-a-year for a general physical and blood workup. I found the results of the blood tests particularly useful, and I would listen carefully

to what my doctor would say, especially when talking about anomalous results. For one test, my calcium levels were low and my doctor asked whether I was eating enough cheese or drinking milk. I wasn't, I was cutting back on these high-fat foods as part of a diet. To get more calcium in my system, I started eating more cheese (the expensive older stuff) and drank a bit more milk. It's little known that calcium deficiency not only weakens your bones; it can also weaken teeth and eyesight. Yeah, you need strong bones to be fit. Muscles aren't everything.

                           Statin fail

  Another important finding from my annual blood tests was that my cholesterol levels were elevated, not a ton but enough to be of concern.  That made sense; I have a family history of heart disease which means my arteries naturally load-up with plaque, the type that can lead to coronary artery bypass surgery. Although there's some debate, it's generally accepted in the medical community that plaque build-up is caused by high cholesteral.  

  My 'pro-drug' doctor was the first to notice this result in one of my blood tests; and he prescribed a statin, a popular class of drugs used by around 200 million people worldwide to lower

cholesterol. The drug worked well: subsequent blood tests showed my cholesterol levels dropped to within a normal range, less than 200 mg/deciliter. My doctor liked this but I didn't. The reason I didn't like it was that I was one of the rare patients who experiences major side effects from taking statins. I was getting a bit of nausea but more noticeably I had muscle pain; fairly severe in the arches of my feet. As a result, I had trouble walking....so I took myself off the drug, after trying it for about two months. It took about a month after that before I returned to normal; and I could get back to walking my 8,000 paces-a-day. 

     Over the next year, I even tried statins at a lower dose but still experienced side effects. Working with my doctors, we decided to treat my high cholesterol through diet and exercise, mainly diet. Lowering the amount of fatty and greasy foods - like fried chicken and butter  - kept my levels in check, although they're still a touch high. Not a fan of greasy foods anyways. Better this, than limping along during my morning walks....  

       Naturopathy and the sickness debate

     Although this blog talks mostly about 'standard' medical care  - doctor visits and drugs - there is growing dissent to this model of care. The most vocal are people who

promote or practice naturopathy. I actually like (most of) their approach: instead of focusing on sickness or disease and ways to treat it with the latest drugs or surgery, their philosophy is one of prevention. To use their own words, "naturopathy supports a person to live a healthy lifestyle...a healthy diet, clean fresh water, sunlight, exercise and stress management." (click for reference). This is essentially what I advocate for; an approach to fitness or health that is well-rounded and includes a healthy diet, exercise (cardio and resistance) as well as medical care and mental well-being. I certainly don't think that living a sedentary life and eating fast food; (like so many North Americans) then taking drugs when you get sick is the way to go. Prevention is key.

  Where I depart from naturopaths is their views on modern medical care and the education, research and testing that supports it.  As a health economist, I managed a

research project called the New Drug Pipeline Monitor (see left) that reviewed ongoing clinical trials for new drugs. All drugs go through rigorous double-blind trials that can last ten years, and cover three phases from discovery to approval by a regulatory agency like the U.S. Federal Drug Agency. In my view, naturopaths' emphasis on herbal and other 'natural' treatments aren't sufficient to treat severe or chronic diseases like arthritis, hepatitis C, cancer or high-blood pressure. To treat these diseases, you need modern medicine that has gone through rigorous testing. 

    The same goes for a naturopath practitioner, a course that lasts a few years compared to a doctor, who is screened in with an A-or-better average in pre-med school, four years of medical school and three to seven years of residency at a hospital. As discussed, it's better to listen to counsel from a doctor with his advanced education and suite of treatments and tests, than a naturopath practitioner, with a course of only a few years. In my view, the key is developing an informed relationship with your doctor and researching and understanding whatever disease afflicts you. The next section will deal with this.

                Tips for better medical care

   In this section, I will provide a series of tips on how to get better medical care. These tips will draw on my personal experience over the past twenty years, things I've talked about in the first part of this blog. 

  So, let's get started: 

      1) Get a doctor, not so easy

     If I've learned anything over the past two decades, it's that you need to have regular

 checkups with your doctor, along with blood workups at least once-a-year.  Don't wait until you're old-and-sick, start regular checkups in your twenties. 

     To do this, you first-of-all need to find a doctor, not an easy task in a country like Canada with an acute shortage. This may be a project in itself: I had a friend who was on a waiting list for  years and after making numerous inquiries, found they had lost her name. Bureaucratic bungle. Numerous-harried phone calls over several months, pleading that she had a child with a chronic condition that needed attention -- and she landed an M.D.  I finally got lucky with a men's doctor who had a short patient list, after a search that lasted several years. So, persistence is the key. Just keep on trying. 

  Situations in other countries may differ but the key is to get a doctor, a general practitioner  (G.P). Without asking, your doctor will create a file with all your tests and their notes.   That's your medical history, very important. 

      2) Don't talk about misinformation

   Now that you have a doctor, it's important to  cultivate a long-term relationship, a bit-of-a challenge. 

 Especially in these times when there is so much misinformation seemingly everywhere: in social media posts, websites run by conspiracy theorists and endless replies and rants to websites run by who-knows-whom. This started before the pandemic but the social isolation caused by all the lockdowns only amplified this trend. I get this... Everyone went a little nuts during the pandemic, myself included. So, the worst thing you could do during a doctor appointment is to rant or argue about health misinformation gleaned from the Internet. Won't win you any brownie points...don't do this.

           3) Ignore hard-sell of new drugs

   A second challenge is how aggressively the pharmaceutical industry promotes new drugs: on TV with sophisticated ads, and with direct sales pitches to influential doctors. In the U.S,

pharmaceutical drugs made up half of new TV ads in the first half of 2023, while numerous movies including Pain Hustlers have dramatized the lives of drug sales reps; this one a rags-to-riches story starring  Emily Blunt as a struggling-single mom.  

   

    So, what-not-to-do: don't show up to your doctor's office with the sole-purpose of getting a prescription for a new drug you've seen on TV, or read about in the news. Many of these ads are very convincing, but drugs aren't like a breakfast cereal or the latest smartphone; one-size-fits-all. The drug you have been persuaded to want-and-need may not be suited to the complexities of your specific disease or condition... 

          4) Be patient with your diagnosis

   ...That's your doctor's job, to diagnose your disease -- through a detailed patient interview, blood tests or other diagnostic tools. And then your doctor will prescribe a treatment,  and monitor how that treatment works, intensely

over the first few months and then over the long-term. That treatment will likely involve a combination of several things such as specific changes to your diet or exercise, self-testing like monitoring blood sugar levels or blood pressure -- on top of whatever medications are prescribed, if any-at-all. Most doctors try 'natural' treatments like changes to diet and exercise first before prescribing a drug. And buckle-your-seatbelt...most diagnosis are definitely not quick-and-dirty. It may take months or even years - and visits to several specialists - before your G.P. is able to pinpoint what it is that afflicts you. My personal-case studies on blood pressure, statins and asthma are pretty typical of how long it takes. Patience is the key, along with persistence. 

      5) Do your research, the real kind

   So, I've talked a lot about what sort of information you should not take to your doctor's office: misinformation from conspiracy websites or by parroting claims made in persuasive drug commercials.  

  But should you do any research about whatever disease afflicts you? Some say no, your doctor is-in-charge and he knows best. After all, he's got the advanced degree, white

coat, stethoscope and years of experience diagnosing patients. Keep quiet and listen to a higher authority.  

   I don't agree with this. I think it's a good idea to do some research before your doctor appointment. In short, be prepared...don't blather on about whatever ache or pain you have. Scan some reputable websites, carefully make-a-list of your symptoms and make a best-guess about what you-think you have. This helps...really.  

   Despite their advanced knowledge, your doctor is a busy person: my last G.P. handled more than a thousand patients-a-year in a series of fifteen-minute appointments. Not a lot of time to make a preliminary diagnosis. Your research will give them a head start. 

  Let me give you an example. Years ago, I returned from a vacation in the Caribbean with strange symptoms: nausea, red splotches on my arms and legs, and hot-cold-reversal. Yeah,

really strange. Several family members had the same thing. After scanning numerous reputable websites, and talking to my siblings; I made a guess that we had ciguatera fish poisoning. We all ate barracuda at a family dinner, and the online literature pointed to this higher-order reef fish: it concentrates this nerve toxin in its tissues.

 I can still remember that appointment, although it was a decade ago. At the start, I apologized and told my doctor I was going to attempt to diagnose my sickness using information I had found on the Internet. He laughed, pulled out his Ipad and after a brief search of a medical database, agreed with me. 

 

    Unfortunately, there is no treatment for ciguatera except for time. It normally takes about three months for the nerve toxin to clear

your system, and that's about how long it took. The only recommended change is to diet: abstain from alcohol, it's a trigger for ciguatera nausea. A regular pub goer, I switched to the 'medicinal' beer Guinness for several months and this kept my nausea within manageable levels.

   So, I've used the word 'reputable' to describe the websites I access for medical information, and warned you off conspiracy websites and drug commercials. So, what are reputable websites? There is no acid test but I always look for information from well-known and respected institutions. One of my favorites is the Mayo Clinic, it's one of the top-ranked hospitals in the United States. They also host a searchable website with concise information on just about any disease or condition. For this example on high cholesterol, the Mayo Clinic provided detailed information on causes, risk factors, prevention, diagnosis and treatment. 

  A similar searchable-website is hosted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, known more commonly by its acronym, the

CDC. The CDC is research-based institute that takes a lead on health 'scares' like the pandemic and other diseases that could spread quickly, and put the population at risk. For this example, I did a search for high blood pressure and it provided information similar to the Mayo Clinic, outlining symptoms and causes. 

  If you feel like rolling up your sleeves and digging deeper into data and studies, the National Library of Medicine hosts a searchable database of journal articles and books called PubMed. I would warn the output from these searches is quite technical, not for the faint of heart. However, if you have been diagnosed with a disease and you want to learn more about it, these searches will let you know about ongoing research in the medical community. 

  So, that's about it for part 4, medical care. Part 5 will cover the topic of 'sleep and rest' and its importance in overall fitness.

   

  

     

   

Read more »