When should you go see a doctor?

This is a tough question for me, because I'm terrified of pharmaceuticals, but even I have to admit that there can come a time when a doctor is the only solution.

You see I have two friends who contracted pneumonia. Or I should say I had two friends. Maybe if they had taken better care of themselves, used the right supplements, made better food choices, drank more water, etc. they would not have gotten it - I don't know. I just know that both of them just thought they had the flu.

One friend was a young mother - one of those people who can only lay around for so many hours a day before they have to go get the kids, cook dinner, and all the rest. She wasn't anti-pharm, and in fact was taking some kind of over the counter drugs to keep herself moving. When she finally went to the hospital, it was too late. She entered the hospital on Tuesday and died on Thursday.

My other friend will get well, although it may take a while. After a couple of weeks of feeling miserable, he actually thought he was feeling better, so made a trip to the store, where he collapsed.

When his wife talked with the doctor she learned that if he had stayed home and gone to bed that night, he probably would not be with us today. His body had started to shut down - with many organs ceasing to function. His blood pressure was so low that he was on the very edge of cardiac arrest.

The one thing that stood out when she told me all the things the doctor said was the fact that he was dehydrated. The lack of fluids in his body caused a myriad of other problems, which soon began to snowball. Did you know that dehydration can bring on a heart attack? I didn't know that until today.

So, what's the point? To say "Pay attention to your body." Use your own common sense to decide if the situation warrants a visit to the doctor. And don't stop drinking water just because you feel rotten. Drink more.

And meanwhile, take care of yourself so that you don't get sick in the first place.

Be well.