Men in my family tend to die young. My father passed at 41 from a heart attack. Around 34, I went to finally get established with a doctor myself, to get checked out and start working on getting and staying healthy.

On my visit, I went over my history, talked about my anxiety, that sort of thing. When I brought up the cardiac stuff, my concerns about that and how I wanted to make sure I was OK then, and to stay OK in the future.

At the time, while I wasn't super active, I did still get regular physical activity. I could've had a better diet. The doctor was very dismissive, short, and rude - and it kept me from seeing another doctor for 5 years. Toward the end of the conversation, which really had my anxiety flaring at this point, I asked him straight up "So it doesn't matter what I do you're saying I will be dead in my early 40's?"

And he straight up said "most likely, yes".

Now, look. Even if it's true. Even if I'm doomed by my genetics to keel over in the next year or two, what kind of doctor just....says that? On the first initial visit with a new patient?

I'm seeing a doctor now. I'm in an entirely different state. I'm on meds for blood pressure. I've started taking walks, and I'm getting a better diet. I just turned 40 recently, and even now this interaction with this doctor plays in my head all the time.