Life Story “I didn't Think It was Worth Seeing a Doctor”

Josef has spent more than forty years working on the family farm in rural Austria. The farm has been passed from one generation to the next and has shaped almost every part of his identity. He has always believed that a good farmer gets up before sunrise, finishes the work regardless of the weather and puts the needs of the family before his own. Asking for help has never come easily to him because he learned that difficult seasons are overcome through determination rather than complaint.

Now, at the age of sixty-two, Josef is preparing to hand the farm over to his daughter. He is proud that she wants to continue the family tradition and spends many hours helping her learn the daily routines, financial planning and seasonal decisions that come with running a farm. He wants the transition to be smooth and worries about becoming a burden at exactly the time when the next generation should be moving forward.

Although he notices that he tires more quickly than before, he assumes this is simply part of getting older. After all, years of physical work leave their mark on every farmer. He rarely visits a doctor unless something prevents him from working. Preventive check-ups seem like something other people have time for.

As spring approaches, Josef notices that climbing hills or carrying heavy feed bags leaves him unusually short of breath. Occasionally he feels pressure in his chest that disappears after a short rest. Because the symptoms come and go, he convinces himself they cannot be serious.

His wife gently suggests making an appointment with the family doctor. Josef smiles and says he will go after the harvest, then after the machinery has been serviced, and finally after the paperwork for the farm transfer has been completed. There always seems to be another priority.

Deep down he worries that a diagnosis could interrupt the handover of the farm. Ignoring the symptoms feels easier than facing uncertainty.

One afternoon Josef attends a meeting at the local agricultural cooperative. During a coffee break he speaks with another farmer of a similar age. The man quietly explains that he ignored tiredness and chest discomfort for almost a year because he believed it was just part of ageing. Eventually he suffered a serious heart attack. Recovery was long and he could no longer manage the farm in the way he had planned.

‘I thought I was being strong,’ the farmer says. ‘Looking back, I only delayed getting the help that could have protected my health.’

Those words stay with Josef all evening. For the first time he sees his own situation reflected in someone else’s experience. He realises that waiting is not a neutral decision. Waiting is also a choice.

The following week Josef books an appointment with his doctor. He feels slightly embarrassed, wondering whether he is making a fuss over ordinary ageing. After listening carefully and arranging further tests, the doctor explains that Josef has high blood pressure together with early cardiovascular risk factors. The good news is that they have been detected before causing serious damage.

Together they develop a realistic plan. Josef begins taking medication, attends regular check-ups and makes small but sustainable lifestyle changes. He makes small exercises every day, pays closer attention to nutrition and allows himself proper rest during busy periods. Instead of seeing these changes as signs of weakness, he gradually recognises them as investments in his future.

He also starts talking openly with neighbours and other farmers about preventive healthcare. Several admit that they too postpone appointments because work always comes first. Josef encourages them not to make the same mistake he almost made.

Months later Josef feels healthier, sleeps better and has more energy. Most importantly, he is able to complete the handover of the farm with confidence, knowing that he will remain healthy enough to support his daughter without carrying the entire workload himself.

Looking back, he realises that healthy ageing is not about avoiding every illness. It is about recognising changes early, accepting professional advice and understanding that caring for yourself is also a way of caring for your family and community.

He now believes that seeking medical help early requires responsibility rather than courage alone. His story has become something he shares whenever conversations among farmers turn to health, because he hopes others will act before a small problem becomes a major one.

‘Looking after your health is one of the best investments you can make for yourself and the people who depend on you.’

1. Have you ever delayed seeing a doctor because you thought a symptom was simply part of ageing?
2. What beliefs influence your decision to seek medical help?
3. Who encourages you to look after your health?
4. What preventive check-up could you arrange this year?