Health Tips

It’s one of the easiest things you can do. Take the decision that leads to a little more exercise. But few people do it. Just watch the crowds in shopping malls or anywhere else that you’ll find an escalator. People will line up for the ride rather than walk up or down the stairs. Architects are partially to blame, hiding stairs and making them unattractive options in office buildings and public spaces. A sign at the bottom of every escalator should read, “Only for parents carrying infants, those needing assistance, and people who want to develop osteoporosis.”

Dog ownership provides opportunities for people to make firends. An Emglish study showed that people in neighbourhoods where redidents were way of one another feel safer when a stronger is with a dog. And if you want others to love you, have your picture taken with a dog. Politicians have long known of the benefit. One thing is incontrovertable. Your dog will love you unconditionally depite what your circumstances. For such a gift, be good to your dog.

You can sit on a fence and let others figure out the tough questions. Or you can inform yourself about the facts and try to figure out the grey areas. When you take a stand on the issues, let’s hope it’s not because it’s the popular thing to do. Too many people frivolously following a crowd is how societies fall apart. And it’s a bad strategy for your health. This week’s tip? Don’t sit on the fence when it comes to your health. And don’t blindly follow the crowd. Get into the details and make informed decisions with your doctor.

Whether it’s a scalpel in the hand of a surgeon or a surgical robot performing microscopic moves with a laparoscopic instrument, patients should never take the occasion lightly. Surgery involves calculated risks, and you should do everything possible to minimize them. That means, find out who is the best surgeon for the job and don’t agree to anyone with lesser skills. Do you own part to prepare. Lose weight if you need to. Stop smoking in advance. And follow all the instructions provided by the surgeon.

Sex can help to relieve the pain of arthritis, whiplash and other injuries.  During sex, levels of the hormone oxcytocin surges to five times its normal level. This in turn releases endorphins, the body’s own morphine. So for those who say they have a headache, have sex and the pain may be gone after it.

Doctors and patients should take a few cues from the practices of a good general. First, know your objectives and plan, plan, plan. Do you want to live to be 100? Does every ailment need treatment? Map out the course towards key goals, know the terrain, and make decisions about how to procede. Second, fight the good fight, which means, in life as is battle, using the tools that help advance to goals. Use screening tests to identify problems, stay in top physical and mental shape, and minimize risks. Finally, know when to retreat. It may be better to stop fighting. When the battle is not winable, it may be better to stop trying and instead to enjoy the remains of the day.

This winter, millions of skiers will ascend the slopes.  And hundreds of thousands will descend in ski patrol toboggans. One study revealed that 75% of those injured had not received any ski instruction. Prepare before you head onto the mountain to make sure you have the strength for the sport. Know your limitations, and don’t engage in speeds or take on terrain beyond your capabilities.  Falls when skiing commonly result in fractures, torn ligaments, and head injuries. And this occurs, unfortunately, from an outting that was supposed to be fun.

Enjoying a midday snack is normal. But why do so many reach day in and day out for the least nutritious food one can find? Garbage food and drinks, high in sugars, salt, fat, and additives, take their toll day by day, slowly chipping away at the foundation of health. If it helps, put a notch in a column on a sheet of paper every time you choose a healthy snack and another notch in another column when you give in to temptation. Maybe the visualization will help you establish a new habit of healthy choices.

There’s a story about a drunk who throws insults but is too inebriated to fight. Nothing happens to you if you ignore the person. But if you prepare to fight, you discharge hormones that increase heart rate and blood pressure, and the nervous system becomes on high alert. If you have coronary heart disease, you may suffer a fatal attack. Who then is the murderer? The drunk who never laid a hand on you?  Or did you commit biological suicide? The moral of the story is that if you have poor cardio health, then you should think hard about how you react to stress.

Montaigne said, “It is not death, but dying, that alarms.” So why keep quiet with a dying person when a good discussion would help lift the dark? There are few better ways to ease a troubled mind than a sympathetic discussion between good friends. Take cues from people who are facing decline, and if they want to talk about the end of life, give them an understanding ear. If you need help with this, seek out a qualified social worker.

1. The right to know the diagnosis and be fully informed.
2. Tthe right to be treated with respect.
3. The right to safety and protection from harm.
4. The right to request and get a consultation.
5. The right to high quality treatment that complies with standards.
6. The right to know the costs in advance.
7. The right to be referred to another doctor if religion or moral code prevents assistance with a specific problem.
8. The right to personal supports.
9. The right to confidentiality.
10. The right to direct treatment decisions, including the option to die with dignity.

If we hooked paperclips end to end, one for every person who is needlessly suffering pain, the chain would stretch to the moon and back. A lot of people are quietly just taking it — especially when the pain is in a taboo place. Women who are having pain during sex need to consult with a gynecologist to make sure any of the common problems that cause pain are not the root cause.  If they are, they can usually be fixed. It’s not your fault when nature deals you a health problem that is luck of the draw.

Single opinions can be misleading. A new acquaintance may recommend Dr. Awfully Good, simply because they want to ingratiate themselves into your circle.  Someone else may recommend a doctor who happens to be a member of a favourite club or donates to the same charities. Get several opinions before you make your move, and don’t get them the way most people do.  Don’t follow the crowd. Do your investigative work with people who know the doctor’s medical skills.

Many people die tragically from cancer of the colon.  Remember, never, never neglect rectal bleeding. Graveyards are full of people who thought such bleeding was due to hemorrhoids. Don’t put off getting regular screening, and let your doctor know of any change in bowel habits such as increasing constipation, diarrhea or a change in the size of bowel movements.

Protein should be a part of a balanced diet. And an occasional steak isn’t going to harm anyone. But it is prudent to get a good proportion of your protein from plant sources such as whole wheat bread, milk and yogurt rather than red meat. If you haven’t yet tried protein-rich lentils, quinoa, tofu, or chia seeds, now is as good a time as any!

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Picking up weights is not about winning competitions. Lifting dumbbells is not just for building muscles either. Rather, as we age, strength exercises can help guard against medical problems associated with imbalance, most notably nasty falls. In addition, lifting weights decreases the risk of fractures by building up muscle strength and slowing bone loss.

For our Canadian readers this Thanksgiving, remember that moderation is key when it comes to alcohol. While it’s tempting to indulge in festive drinks, especially during local gatherings, excessive alcohol can lead to overeating and impair judgment. Limit your intake to one or two drinks, alternating with water to stay hydrated. Eat your balanced Thanksgiving meal before drinking to help slow alcohol absorption. Alcohol affects everyone differently, so respect your body’s signals. Enjoy the holiday responsibly, prioritize your health, and cherish the time spent with loved ones without compromising your wellbeing.

Engaging in lifelong learning offers a myriad of health benefits. Cultivating new skills, whether it’s learning a language, a musical instrument, or a hobby, stimulates the brain, enhancing cognitive function and memory. It fosters mental agility, reducing the risk of age-related cognitive decline and diseases like Alzheimer’s. Learning new things can boost self-esteem, confidence, and a sense of accomplishment, leading to reduced stress and anxiety. It also promotes social interaction, as shared interests can strengthen relationships and improve mental well-being. So, make curiosity your ally – embark on new educational journeys to enrich your mind.

Maintaining strong friendships is a cornerstone of good health. Studies consistently show that social connections boost mental and emotional well-being. Engaging with friends provides a support system for coping with life’s challenges and reducing stress and anxiety. It can also encourage healthy behaviours, as social activities often involve exercise or shared hobbies. Loneliness and isolation, on the other hand, can lead to depression and increased risk of chronic diseases. Cultivating friendships, both old and new, fosters a sense of belonging and purpose, enhancing overall quality of life. Prioritize your social connections for a happier, healthier you.

Don Quixote wrote years ago, “I tell you Sancho a tooth is more important than a diamond.” But even having heard the advice, many people loose their teeth from foolish neglect. Loose gums due to a lack of the amino acid lysine, the cement that makes gums strong, can contribute to tooth loss. This needless loss can be decreased by supplementing a healthy diet with high doses of vitamin C and lysine. The diligent removal food between teeth will also help save teeth.

Be cautious of sugary drinks like flavored water, sports drinks, and fruit juices, which may seem healthy but often hide added sugars. Read labels, choose beverages with little or no added sugar, and opt for water, herbal tea, or unsweetened options to reduce your sugar intake and promote better health.

Medical equipment is getting better and better at limiting the amount of radiation patients receive from CT scans, x-rays, and mammograms. But it’s always a good idea to discuss and understand the pros and cons of these tests as well as radiation therapy. Make sure procedures involving radiation are medically advisable and think twice before demanding they be done if the doctor doesn’t see a need.

There’s no better example than mitochondria. Each cell in our body contains up to 2,500 mitochondria, and although tiny, they can make up to 60% of the volume of muscle cells and 40% of heart cells. Mitochondria work like batteries fuelling more than 90% of the energy in cells. Studies suggest that regular exercise is important in the maintenance of healthy mitochondria, combined with a healthy diet and good sleep.

Obvious enough, but what if it’s a little bit broke? Living with a little imperfection may be the right answer. Gallstones may be better left to the crematorium. Hernias that are causing no discomfort need not be rushed to surgery. Even cancer of the prostate can be so slow growing that the better option is to let it be. What’s more, some things that break a little can be fixed with patience and attention to root causes. If weight loss or a change in diet will fix some problems, it’s far better to see a nutritionist than a surgeon.