Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Yaya]

My friend and former colleague told me he suffered a stroke last year, and he's not that old (early 40s). He told me the doctor blamed excessive drinking as the main cause.

I wonder how many others are just prepping themselves for a similar incident.

[okokok]

[GreenlightmeansGO]

^^Are you serious? At least six.

[GreenlightmeansGO]

I imagine a few of my friends are going to have hard times in a few years. When all you do is go out and get ratfaced, you're looking for trouble. How many TEFLers go out too much and chuck their names?

[sojourner1]

1st time hearing about this one. I've known about so many hard alcoholics drink beer and drink beer and even whiskey regularly and usually smoke cigarettes, but live past 70 years old. WTF?

Is it a problem to have a 6 pack once a week like many guys do including myself? It shouldn't be. People have been drinking beer and wine for over 2000 years. The real problems I've seen is when chemicals are used to speed the brewing process like common in Korean and Chinese beer.

It's common knowledge that regularly drinking hard liquor destroys the liver, heart, cardiovascular system, and the body all together. Many chemicals are also used in hard liquors so they're best avoided altogether.

[Yaya]

Hearing him tell me about his stroke was a huge jolt for me. I don't drink nearly as much as he probably did, but now, he is restricted to a beer or two.

I think people need a reality check every now and then.

[bassexpander]

A guy I knew a while back had a stroke due to hard drinking, and other substances. Messed him up forever. Sad thing.

[Guri Guy]

It's probably quite common in South Korea. They call it "fan death" however.

[chickenpie]

High alcohol consumption = high blood pressure > stroke.

[Jandar]

In the late 1600s life expectancy was something like 36.

The Human body can only take so much punishment.

Yep there are those that beat the odds.

Beyond growing and reproducing the physical human body serves no purpose.

That we exist beyond our natural useful age is an act of willfulness against nature.

We exert our will and at the same time we challenge our existence in many different self defeating behaviors.

[itaewonguy]

my uncle had a stroke.. he was mid 40's

one morning he was cooking some bacon and eggs for breakfast getting ready for work.. and then BAM!! it just hit and he hit the floor..
paralyzed the left side of this body from head to toe..

he spent years in recovery learning to speak again and walk etc..

he enjoyed drinking beer and smoking, eating bacon and eggs every morning.. typical farmers diet..

[Straphanger]

My grandfather ate steaks and eggs and all sorts of crap all over Japan, Russia, China, Australia, Argentina, and the United States. He turned up his nose at my "healthy" Egg McMuffin (real sausage, sharp cheddar, fresh egg, toasted English Muffin) because it wasn't greasy enough, didn't taste right. Until the age of 12, I thought pimentos grew inside olives because I'd never seen an olive outside of his martini glass. Long divorced from my father, my mother still credits him with making the best Manhattan ever - which he credited to using a graduated cylinder instead of a jigger. He ate greasy food, drank alcohol in excess, and was (when drunk) genuinely a fun guy to be around. I wish he were alive today. I miss him.

He died at 78 due to an unintended consequence of an implanted medical device.

Eat, drink, and be merry, fellas. From the day we're born, one thing is sure - we're all going to die.

[Ilsanman]

A lot of ajosshis look like they've already had a heart attack. Can't walk in a straight line or talk without mumbling.

[Milwaukiedave]

My father had a stroke at 44, but not from drinking. It was from stress, smoking and high blood pressure. He survived, but lost full use of his right arm, leg and had slurred speech. He had several other small strokes throughout the years and ended up having a pretty big one shortly before his 55th birthday that put him in the hospital in 2003. He died less then a week after his birthday. I ended up celebrating father's day, his birthday and my graduation from graduate school all while he was in the hospital.

Strokes are a very nasty thing to have happen to you. I have seen quite a few older Korean men walking around since I came here with the same signs of post-stroke symptoms and I think of my dad.

If you are a heavy drinker, now is the time to cut back. If you smoke, quit. You don't want to become like Yaya's friend or my father.

[Straphanger]