Is All of This Self-Monitoring Making Us Paranoid?
There is some truth to this. Also, as members of the forum, are we too quick to jump on the new supplement/drug bandwagon for fear of missing out?
“As wearable technology, like the Oura Ring, becomes more ubiquitous, some users say having so much data about their bodies is making them more anxious.”
“Ms. Wernimont, the Dartmouth professor, said she regularly has classroom discussions with students who are overly reliant on their quantified experience, focusing closely on data and trusting those metrics over their own firsthand experiences and physical sensations.”
https://archive.is/iAGFl#selection-495.0-495.50
8 Likes
Well, these are tools. The mistake is putting the horse before the cart. The tools work for you, not the other way around.
It starts with an evaluation. What is the tool for and does it work? There’s a lot of hype out there. The tool makers are trying to sell you their goods. Like any buyer: caveat emptor. They are selling you a promise and a dream. A lot of the time, A LOT of the time, it’s an illusion or a half truth at best. We buy in, because we want to believe. We are the worst kind of buyers, we are motivated buyers.
So my approach is a variation on the old carpenter’s rule: measure twice, cut once. Do a ton of research and approach with skepticism before buying. It’s not even as much about the money, as it is about your health. Yet I see people do more research before they buy a computer than before they buy a supplement they put in their body or a measuring tool based on the data of which they make health decisions. A$$ backwards.
“Look here, we’ll sell you this amazing ring, can measure your blah, blah, blah”… “Oh yeah? PROVE IT!!!”. I don’t believe a word they say. Every time I did, even based on extensive experience of others, I came to regret it (OTC CGM, ahem). Sorry, I don’t care what the sales pitch is, or the testimonials of well meaning placebo victims.
I do my research. A lot of it. Then I try it. Measure as best I can. Observe. Make a decision.
It’s your health. Control the tools, don’t let the tools control you. YMMV.
6 Likes
I asked the librarian if they had any books on paranoia.
She whispered, “they’re right behind you!”
Paranoia they destroy ya!!
I do get that and am watchful of it in my pursuit of a healthy aging process. One of my keys is “condition” not being in condition but being aware of any condition I have and dealing with that in a rational manner.
And accepting the fact that no one gets out alive. Ending on a relatively healthy note “for my age” would be nice but accepting the fact that it will end at some point helps keep the excessive BS out of my health span equation.
So I try to have fun with my interventions 
and not take them too seriously.
5 Likes
Beth
#4
This week I was listening to Steven Bartlett, from the Diary of a CEO, and he referenced a paper (at least I think it was a paper) that basically showed those who focused the most on their health had worse outcomes. I apologize I can’t remember the specifics, but the gist was the stress will kill you!
I love thinking about all this stuff, so I was none too happy
EDIT: it was during the interview with Dr. William Li
(It was a passing comment and not important enough to look it up)
4 Likes
Herm
#5
Some paranoid, some pronoid, and everyone else in between. That should cover it.
If you are on the cutting edge too much, you will bleed. Some of the stuff coming out that appears to be amazing will be detrimental. That’s why so many of the top researchers - Dr. Miller, Dr. Sabatini, Dr. Kennedy, etc - don’t take any medication or supplement until they are 150% sure it won’t be detrimental.
That’s also why Dr. Stanfield and Dr. Nick only recommend supplements that are GRAS and almost certainly beneficial—creatine, coffee, glycine, vitamin D, etc.
However, I prefer to follow Dr. Kaeberlein and Attia, who are slightly more daring and recommend Rapamycin, Bempedoic Acid, Ezetemibe, statins, tadalafil, etc…
I don’t want to accidentally cause harm in trying to do good, but being too cautious is going to get me nowhere. I’m taking the middle road. However, I do go out and try things such as Galantamine + Metformin and some questionable supplements.
