Forty years in medicine is a long time. I've practiced in "The President's Hospital" (Bethesda Naval Hospital), an LPH (Amphibious Missile Destroyer), small clinics, and a community hospital. I've ridden in the President's helicopter (Reagan's had jelly beans) and an ambulance screaming to Mass General. I'm no hero.
Dispensing advice to young people during a physical examination, I never know what they hear or take away. I'll share key points.
Youth is a blessing. Taking care of your body doesn't guarantee good health of immortality. But self-abuse is likely to prevent it.
Mental health problems arise, sometimes after disappointment. If you develop depression, get help. Don't seek a permanent solution (suicide) to a temporary problem.
A lot of people benefit from smoking - tobacco farmers and the entire industry employs millions. The person who never benefits is the smoker! It's a killer habit.
Ben Franklin said, "an ounce of prevention is worth an ounce of cure." Get at least seven hours of sleep (preferably eight). To guys, about one of forty thousand guys gets testicular cancer. The other 39,999 don't. Check once a month to make sure there's nothing there except for the original equipment (I've diagnosed testicular cancer in young men in the office twice, both on Friday afternoons. Both survived.).
Don't take energy drinks (I'm not talking Gatorade). They are sometimes "gateway drugs" to alcoholism and stimulants.
If you are sexually active, you don't want unexpected parenthood or sexually-transmitted diseases, especially HIV/AIDS. Love might not be forever, but herpes is. Barrier methods (like condoms) are better than nothing.
If you get stopped by the police, don't ask why. Be deferential and play the odds that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. The officer is the one with the badge and the gun. They don't need your attitude.
Do you know where you want to be in five or ten years? If you don't that's okay, but if you do, what are you doing today to get there?
"If you need help or have a question, LET ME KNOW."
Lagniappe. Dumacity...the act or condition of being a dumbass.
Avoid "DUMACITY" the extremes of self-destruction. Hundreds of young people have died from taking selfies. I suggest that you go to the link.
