STRESS is the killer‏

A forwarded e-mail "STRESS is the killer" for your reading."I would like to share with you an actual but very sad occurrence which Ihope may get you guys to ponder over what constitutes anxieties,extremities and unnecessary over reactions. A long story... but worthreading for lessons learned.... you may want to pass on to others.A friend's father who is a retiree in his mid-60s, is perfectlyhealthy looking and behaving normal, plays his round of golf each Sunday,does a fair bit of gardening, keeps himself busy the rest of his timehelping his son's (my friend's) little retail business, and goes ontour/trips every now and then ......He was persuaded by his daughters and other well-wishers to go for hismedical check-up which he had last done before retirement some 10 years ago.He didn't see the need to do it as he was feeling perfectly ok and healthy.Of course he didn't want to spend the money. After persistent persuasionfrom his family he finally gave in (his daughters agreed to foot the bill).First his blood test revealed a total cholesterol count well above the 5.2threshold (in fact close to 6). The doctor advised that he went for hisstressed ECG test.Again he had to be persistently persuaded to go thru that test, which hedid. And it revealed some abnormality with his heart.Now the doctor advised that he went thru angiogram. He resisted again andagain after much pestering he subscribed to that invasive test.....whichrevealed three (3) blockages in his heart. And the doctor advised he wentthru angioplasty.This time he was adamant not to go any further. But it was like the end ofthe world for his family members who were all highly educated people withlearned common sense. They went thru the highest mountains and deepestoceans to convince the old man to go thru angioplasty.The surgery was successful. And he was given a clean bill of health. Hisheart is revitalized and cleared of all blockages. After returning homefrom the hospital, his family (especially his daughters) put him on a"healthy" diet. Strictly no meat....only vegetables and fruits, with perhapsan occasional dish of steamed fish.... no oil.The result.... the poor old man became weaker, couldn't drive his golf ballthe distance he used to, got tired easily when he did his gardening, lost alot of weight (which everyone was happy because they see him gettinghealthier that way), went to bed unusually early ('cause he got tiredsitting up late watching the sports channels).... in a nutshell he actuallygot weaker and probably suffering from mal-nutrition!Hardly 2 months after the angioplasty he passed away, supposedly from heartcomplications.. All of a sudden, a few family doctor friends were able tooffer explanations. One of them had this to say...Heart blockages do not happen overnight. They are built up over time. Andthe body has somehow gotten used to the blockages. As long as the effectsof the blockages are not life-threatening, it may be best to leave themalone. Maybe it is better not to know about this. For most men at thatadvanced age, blockage is common and some may be even worse. Not knowing ithas one clear advantage. There won't be any STRESS imposed on the person.And STRESS is the killer.Some may not respond well with angioplasty. With the heart cleared of itsblockages, the blood flow will be unrestricted. But sometimes the body(even the heart may not be used to this new revitalized condition) may notknow how to cope with it quick enough. Coupled with a "healthy" diet ofjust fruits and vegetables which are not the usual and normal intake ofthis person, may and can do further damage.So it's a combination of all these that could have killed this poor old manwho was, just 2 months before, a healthy bubbly man living a perfectly normalSTRESS-FREE retired life.Today my friend and his siblings all regretted what they had done totheir father.Moral of the story is not to be extreme and take everything in life in itsstride and with moderation.One more thing.... my family doctor, age late 40s, hardly takes meat, agood sportsman, has a total cholesterol count of 6.Sometimes it's in the genes. Like my 90 year-old mother-in-law who livesby herself; does her own marketing; cooks her own food; never eat any meatthat has no fats attached for all her life; she hates lean meat; cholesterol so bloody high......and she is still kicking and so mentally alert. One thing....she's gotNO STRESS.She only gives STRESS to all others around her. That's probably why she'sliving alone by herself.So my friends... Don't get paranoid and stressed up for nothing!!! "