If you are lucky enough to be an average person, you are probably already getting great healthcare and don’t need to read the rest of this post.
The problem, however, is that few of us match the average statistics. For example, the average American man weighs 197.9 pounds, has a waist circumference of 40.2 inches, and is just over 5 feet 9 inches tall. If we gave every man clothing to match these dimensions, over 90% of us would be wearing outfits that didn’t fit at all.
This is what can happen in healthcare. When you get blood tests, the “healthy” threshold is based on averages. But in reality, what’s healthy for the average person may be unhealthy for you.
The best way out of this dilemma is to be your own advocate. Do your own research, get to know your own body, and use this information to ask better questions of your healthcare providers. If you don’t understand an answer, ask for a clarification. If your physician doesn’t like your well-intentioned questions, find another doctor.
We’ve all heard stories of the chain smoking, beer guzzling 95-year-old who is still going strong, and of the exercise-every-day health fanatic who dropped dead at an early age. When you “average out” our bodies you lose all the most valuable nuances.
I’m not average, you are not average. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
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