EMS Worker Shares the One Thing That Causes the Most Preventable Deaths

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

From Men's Health

Paramedics and other emergency service workers routinely see harrowing tragedies and death. On Reddit, one curious poster asked EMS professionals to explain the most preventable causes of death they've ever witnessed. The most popular response as voted by Redditors highlights the best way to stay out of the hospital: take your medication.

"Lots of type 2 diabetics don't take their Metformin or change their diet/exercise simply out of denial or they are too set in their ways. End up with bad kidney failure or heart problems," the EMS professional wrote. "Additionally, had a patient who refused to take their medicine for their high blood pressure. No reason, just refused. Ended up with a brain bleed on his brain stem, was a quadriplegic, on a ventilator, could not speak, move, or breathe on his own.... he was in his 30s. Take your medicine people."

The post elicited responses from readers whose family members became severely ill after ignoring their medications.

One person explained how their father suffered a heart attack and two strokes because of uncontrolled high blood sugar.

"He survived but is weak and spends nearly 100% of his time in bed with the exception of being helped to the toilet or shower," they wrote.

Another poster shared how his friend's dad had a stroke after ignoring his high blood pressure.

"...He's doing OK but not in a great way, needs looking after, wheelchair, hospital visits etc. Taken a toll on him and his family. My friend said the other day that he had high blood pressure and was given medication years ago...he just didn't bother taking it."

Roughly 125,000 people die every year from not properly taking prescribed medications, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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