It’s been said that, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." I would also argue that this truth can be applied to many things. Take your health for instance. You could say that one sure way for your health to decline is for you to do nothing about it.
Most of our health is not controlled by the health care system but by our own actions, our environment, our genes, and social factors. In addition, physicians are not perfect. The more a person participates in their own health care, the more satisfied they tend to be with the care they receive.
Actually, you can begin today to infuse your life with the power of disease prevention just by being intentional about it. Doing something, no matter how small, is infinitely better for you than doing nothing. You can incorporate these efforts all throughout your daily routine from your morning shower to the evening news or while accomplishing your household chores.
There are many ways to sneak healthy activities into daily living. Decide to make small changes and they will add up to big changes in the quality of your diet, your physical activity patterns, your capacity to deal with stress, and in your sleep quality. Those four things comprise an enormously powerful health promotion that can change your life!
So, take the time to think about the ways that your health can improve by changing your lifestyle and make those changes. You are your own best advocate!
Contact your primary care physician for an annual physical or whenever you have a concern about your health and go to those appointments prepared. Talk to your doctor about the latest vaccinations and seek their advice on which ones you should stay current on. Always take a list of your current prescription and non-prescription medications, including herbal supplements. Keep a list of your health concerns and, most importantly, ask questions!
My dad used to tell me, “Son, take care of your body and your body will take
care of you.” Well, we all know that it is not always that simple. But our actions and choices do directly affect our health. Take charge of your health today and, hopefully, that will go a long way in your health maintenance.