Oh we think we know so much!

I had a fight with my aerobics teacher last night. Yep. Can't say that's happened before.

She was substituting, though I've had her before and don't remember her mood being that foul. She was crabbing at people for not trying hard enough, for not lifting our legs high enough or for not reaching our arms far enough back or for not using heavy enough weights. She said, "You've all been here for years now, and you must try harder!" We raised our eyebrows to each other, but no one commented. On and on she went, relentlessly.

Then it came. This skinny (though none too cute!) little whippersnapper said, "How do you want to die? On a hospital bed like Bernie Mac or like Issac Hayes, who was standing near a treadmill?" She went on to say how Bernie Mac died because he didn't exercise or eat right or live a healthy life. She was laughing and insinuating that if we didn't do better, we'd die just like Bernie Mac. Now I don't know Bernie's medical history, but I do know he had sarcoidosis, which is a rare autoimmune disease that attacks the lungs, and indeed he died of pneumonia. As a faculty member I conducted research on lung transplant patients, some of whom had sarcoidosis. Further, I cannot stand when people make judgments about people's health status. We all have different genes and issues, and it is not up to others to "judge" what someone could have done to have prevented death. I've seen health care providers walk up to a patient dying of lung cancer and the first thing out of his/her mouth was, "Did you smoke?!" It's too late for those sorts of judgments.

But I digress. Back to my story. I couldn't help but speak up at this point. Remember, I'd been slow boiling through this whole class (most aerobics instructers there are excellent). I said, "Well he had sarcoidosis!" She then argued with me that he really died of his gluttony (she knows his medical history?). I explained that sarcoidosis can be quite serious, and she had the audacity of saying, "I read about 'sarcoidosis' today, and it's mainly found in Blacks who neglect their health." She'd read about it??? Where? On Wikipedia? What balderdash! Here is a brief description for those who aren't in the medical fields. That was it. I pulled out the heavy ammunition. Normally I don't brag about my background, but she deserved it. "I have conducted research on patients with lung transplants," I told her. "Some of them were patients with sarcoidosis, so it really is quite serious! It is an autoimmune disease with an unknown etiology, and it most certainly is not caused from an unhealthy lifestyle!" I have to say, this know-it-all did quiet down after my diatribe.

I don't know what Bernie Mac's (or Isaac Hayes's for that matter) actual cause of death was. But for her to assume it was due to lifestyle is just beyond me. The worst part is, besides teaching aeorobics, she is a home health care aide. I'd not want her caring for any of my patients!