heart failure – Page 5 – Tate Basildon

Why That Blasting Speaker-Phone in the Waiting Room Is Literally Harming My Brain (And Maybe Yours Too)

Chronic illness, wait‐rooms and “halfalogue” stress: as a chef living with sarcoidosis and heart failure I’ve learned that overhearing speaker-phone calls isn’t just annoying—it adds cognitive load, heightens cardiovascular risk, and drains creativity. If you’re juggling chronic illness or writing your debut novel, here’s why you’ll want to resist the roar of public monologues and reclaim your mental fuel.

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The War After the War: A Chef’s Salute to Veterans, Especially the Forgotten Ones

On Veterans Day, I find myself thinking about the soldiers who fought in wars they never chose—especially the Vietnam vets who came home to rejection instead of honor. As someone living with sarcoidosis and heart failure, I understand battles that never really end. This is a personal thank-you to those who fought for a country that didn’t always fight for them.

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*When Faith Becomes a Crutch: Why “Thank You, Jesus” Isn’t Always the Answer to Chronic Illness

Living with chronic illness takes more than blind faith—it takes grit, humor, and a little rebellion. As a chef with sarcoidosis and heart failure, I’ve seen how spirituality can both heal and harm when people rely too heavily on divine intervention instead of their own strength. Here’s my honest take on faith, health, and the real work of living through it.

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Why I Absolutely Can’t Stand Halloween (And What It Says About Us)

As a chef battling sarcoidosis and heart failure, debris from a life that refuses to behave, I’m here to tell you why Halloween — creepy skeletons, gore-fest lawns, serial-killer mannequin dioramas and all — feels wrong in a way that psychology backs up. If you’ve ever felt alienated by the “fun” of Halloween or want to understand why it grates on your nerves (and mine), read on for a mix of sarcasm, heart, and insight into fear, ritual and chronic illness living.

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•The High Price of Staying Alive: Chronic Illness, Insurance, and America’s Health Care Circus

Living with chronic illness means juggling more than fatigue and pain—it’s the nonstop cost of staying alive. From $280,000 heart surgeries to sky-high insurance premiums, surviving in America’s healthcare system feels like a full-time job. Here’s what it’s really like to navigate life, love, and medical debt when your body—and the system—won’t cut you a break.