Cell 2 Soul: The Humane Health Care Blog

A Doctor Visit

Slomo: A San Diego Legend

"The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation... A stereotyped but unconscious despair is concealed even under what are called the games and amusements of mankind. There is no play in them, for this comes after work."  H. D. Thoreau

Thoreau sequestered himself at Walden.  The erstwhile neurologist, Dr. John Kitchin, fled a medical practice to in-line skate on the boardwalk.  On any given day, "Kitchin [can be seen] meticulously skating up and down San Diego's promenade. Disillusioned with a life that had become increasingly materialistic, he abruptly abandoned his career and moved to a studio by the beach. The locals call him Slomo, knowing little about his past life, but cheering and high-fiving him as he skates by in slow motion. He has become a Pacific Beach institution."

If you missed the provacative and, for some, inspirational NY Times article, click on SLOMO.

Lester Breslow, Who Linked Healthy Habits to Logevity

Dies at 97  NY Times, April 15, 2012.

This post was inspired by, and is dedicated to, Dileep G. Bal, M.D., Kauai District Health Officer, State of Hawaii and previous Chief of the Cancer Control Branch in the Department of Health Services in the State of California.  Mahalo!

Lester Breslow

The work Dr. Breslow will be most remembered for is the Alameda County California study that [is purported to have] rocked the public health world, because it proved with numbers that behavior indisputably affects longevity. Its seven recommendations are: do not smoke; drink in moderation; sleep seven to eight hours; exercise at least moderately; eat regular meals; maintain a moderate weight; eat breakfast.  Full "Lester Breslow Obituary."

 Strangely, this is very similar to what William Osler espoused in the 19th century: "‘the desire to take medicine is perhaps the greatest feature which distinguishes man from animals... Of one thing I [am certain] that that a little more exercise, a little less food, and a little less tobacco and alcohol, may possibly meet the indications of the case."

Of course, our grandmothers told us the same thing.  Yet, it took men of of science many years to corroborate their proscriptions.

For more information see this article about The Alameda 7.