The future of medicine is in your lifestyle
Dr. Edlyn B. Jones,
Medical Director Jones Wellness and Skin Care, Atlanta, GA
Owner, Florencia Cosmetics, BVI
“To find health should be the object of the Doctor, anyone can find disease”
Andrew Taylor Still, Founder of Osteopathic Medicine
Do you know that the foods you’re eating now could put you in an early grave? I don’t mean to be so gruesome but I have to tell the truth. We have all heard the statement “life is short”, but it is shorter for those of us who don’t make healthy lifestyle choices. How does one find good health? Is it found in a pill or a special exotic juice or fruit? Does it exist in your youth and fade when approaching age 50? The World Health Organization defines health as “the state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity:” In reality one’s health is not a static entity, it is a process. To achieve health one has to make intelligent lifestyle choices on a daily basis.
There is a saying, “You are born then you die. It is what you do in between that make the difference”. Many of us are born with the absence of deformity or infirmity. We observe the behaviors of our parents, siblings, community and the media. Eventually we mimic their habits, some good ones and some bad ones that have a significant impact on our health outcomes. Many of us continue to perform the bad habits we learned day in and day out. Eventually our bodies begin to experience the effects of these poor choices and habits. Our blood pressure becomes elevated, our blood sugar levels are out of control and the effect of aging begins to manifest itself.
Many of us rush to the doctor to find out what is causing our symptoms. If something is found, we may be given a pill. The symptom might improve, then another one develops and more pills may be added. There may be some benefits of taking the medications but sometimes many suffer side effects. The condition gets worse and this becomes a source of confusion for the patient and the medical professional. The cost of health care is constantly rising and many individuals lose their life savings after becoming ill.
A major problem with current medicine and medicine in the past is that it focuses on the symptoms and not the cause. Medication, surgery and other devices are used to help the symptoms get better but often times these do not cure the disease. Research has shown that the causes of many of the chronic diseases of today; heart disease, diabetes, cancer, obesity are caused by lifestyle choices. Studies now report that if we improve or change our poor habits we can influence quality of life.
Sure there may be some genetic component or environmental factors to influence this but our lifestyles may act as the trigger on a loaded gun manifest these diseases. The body is a unique machine. Its individual parts work together as a whole to keep it going. We have to know how to take care of it. We only live once and our journey through life should be enjoyable. We may have many accomplishments or millions in the bank but if we don’t have good health, if we do not take care of our bodies we have nothing. The world then is at a loss from our valuable contributions.
What are we teaching our children at home and in our schools? We teach them how to read and write; how to drive a car but we do not teach them how to take care of their bodies. The fact of the matter is that we ourselves do not know how to do this. It is a shame that we can take care of material things but when it comes to our own bodies we are often clueless. We do not know the basics as to what to put in our mouths to keep us from and early grave.
Medicine has been involved in sick care for too long. It is not until one presents to the emergency room; has a stroke or heart attack that we begin to take action. We have to take responsibility for our health and be in charge of our health destinies. It is not the responsibility of the Doctor, Government or the health insurance company.
How can we begin to take care of ourselves? We can take care of ourselves through lifestyle choices such as exercise, proper diet, adequate water, sunlight (use sun screen) and reducing our stress levels. Lifestyle diseases such as obesity, diabetes and hypertension are silent killers. Our diet plays an important role in the manifestation of these diseases. Too many orders of chicken and chips, burgers and fries, butter and bread….and the list can go on. Increasing the use of vegetables and fruits, eating more whole grains and nuts, adding an early morning or evening walk could create a life extension.
We pay later for what we put in our mouths today. It really is not the poor choices of foods that are eaten now; it is the ones eaten yesterday, last week, last year and the ones that will be eaten tomorrow, next year and the years to come. Increased cholesterol and fat begins to build up in our blood vessels and over a period of time can clog important arteries to your heart and brain. This can lead to strokes and heart attacks. Too many carbohydrates on our plate at one time (macaroni, rice, and potato salads); from cookies, pasta and sodas could cause one to develop diabetes. People are getting these diseases at younger ages.
Making healthy choices in foods can help our mind and body function optimally. This is vital to building strong communities and healthy nation. Food acts as fuel that keep our bodies going. We must make the best selections. Many people are now in the grave because they chose the wrong kinds of foods. We have heard the saying. “Life is a journey not a destination” Let’s think of our health as journey. We have to work on achieving optimum health every day. Each morning is a new beginning. Don’t neglect the most important asset-YOUR HEALTH. “Live your life Well”