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A to Z guide to staying healthy (Sunraysia Daily, opinion)
1 January 2008
Alcohol: Be nice to your liver in 2008 - and hang on to as many brain cells as you can. If you enjoy a drink, enjoy it in moderation. And, of course, don’t drink and drive.
Breast: As in cancer. Every day in Australia more than 30 women discover they have breast cancer. It is the most common cancer diagnosed in women more than 35 years of age. Regular self examinations go a long way to detect breast cancer and early detection can make a life saving difference.
Cardiovascular: Essentially that’s the heart, blood and tubes. Think of it like your car engine. Keep it finely tuned with good food and exercise and a work-life balance.
Diabetes: Type 2 is one of the scourges of modern living, and it's generally preventable, being the consequence of fast food and sedentary lifestyles. See E, F, G, J and O.
Exercise: Yes, doctors and health professionals have been banging away at this for years but it really is important. Every day this year, try to get the heart pumping and the muscles flexing. Even a little bit is better than nothing.
Food: Junk the junk food. Opt for fresh in 2008. Fresh fruit, juices, veges. Make sure that "sometimes" food doesn't become "often" food.
GP: If you haven’t paid a visit lately, make an appointment. You and your GP can work in partnership to keep you healthy.
Help: It's available. Don't wait until it's too late. Many health problems must be addressed early to get the best result.
Injury: Falls, bumps and scrapes can result in serious injury. When working around the house or the workplace, take a moment to think about keeping safe.
Jog (or walk): Great things happen when you do. The blood moves faster through the circulatory system, heart-lung function is improved, muscles get fed, the brain receives more oxygen and you generally feel better.
Kids: What’s in their lunch packs this year? Healthy eating will boost their performance on the sports oval and in the classroom.
Labels: Oh, those labels on the good packages! Beware! What’s this Lite word? And does Lo fat really mean? Take a good look at what you are eating.
Mind: Your mental and physical health are linked - look after both. See H.
Nurses: Be nice to nurses. They are the lifeblood of our health system.
Obesity: So many health complications arise from being obese. These include sleep apnoea, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. If you really can’t control your shape and weight through a balanced diet, healthy eating and exercise, see your doctor. You’ll thank yourself in years to come and so will your family.
Prostate: Guys, this one is for you. The prostate gland is about the size of a walnut, shaped like a doughnut, sits underneath the bladder – and, oh yes, is a popular spot for cancer to visit. Each year about 10,000 cases are diagnosed and about 2,500 deaths recorded. The majority of men with prostate cancer are aged over 60. Talk to your GP.
Quit: Smoking. You owe it to your family. It's bad for you and bad for those around you.
Roads: They can be perilous. Drive responsibly this year!
Safe sex: HIV-AIDS has not gone away. The annual number of new HIV diagnoses in Australia has gradually increased over the past seven years following a long-term decline. Other diseases, such as Chlamydia, are also on the rise, leading to fertility and other problems.
Transplants: As the bumper sticker says: Don’t take your organs to Heaven. Heaven knows we need them here. For many people a transplant can make the difference between life and death. But they have to wait so long and often it’s too late. Talk to your family about organ donation.
Urology: Your waterworks can tell you stuff. As one of my old medical lecturers once said: "Take notice of yer ology." If it plays up seek treatment. Dribbling, burning sensations, incontinence can all be signs of something that should be attended to quickly.
Vegetables: A healthy diet of vegetables and fruit can reduce the incidence of stroke and heart attack. A Harvard study reports people who average eight or more servings of fruit and vegetables a day were 30 per cent less likely to have had a heart attack or stroke.
Work/life balance: Right, calling all workaholics. Get a life! Find the gym, ride a bike, take a brisk walk around the block at lunchtime. Don’t devote your entire life to the business. No medals for a heart attack – or worse – at the desk.
X: OK, Exercise doesn’t begin with X but it's very important, and not everyone needs an X-ray. Try and find ways of increasing exercise. Take the stairs, park the car a bit further away; every little
Young people: Take time out to listen to what they are saying. Being tuned in to what they are saying, who they are socialising with, how they view things can improve the family relationships. Open communication between the generations is vital in this high speed world.
Zero: The number of times doctors hope to see you in an emergency department with year. Emergency physicians are wonderful people, but you don't want to meet them at their workplace.
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