Your most important asset: Your health

Generally, it is not until we personally suffer from a serious or chronic health issue that we truly understand how dramatic an impact it can have on our lives. We often take so much for granted in this world, as if we expect to live the same way indefinitely. Poor health, however, can rob us of the many wonderful things that we normally possess, such as a rewarding career, good social life, and even the simple privilege of feeling independent. It can thus dramatically impact our financial stability, personal relationships and future goals.

Such a scenario can also affect our loved ones such as family members, close friends, and co-workers, who often have to step in because of our physical limitations. It is crucial, therefore, that we take preventative measures to in order to avoid or alleviate damage to our bodies before it leads to a situation that may become irreversible. It is inevitable that our bodies will age and deteriorate over time, but there are simple measures that we can take in order to maintain as healthy a lifestyle as possible. Indeed, we endeavor to protect our material belongings in the form of repairing, cleaning and insuring them (preventative conservation), so aren’t we being remiss by not looking after ourselves?

Growing up in the western hemisphere, I felt confident that the medical profession had a solid understanding of the human body and that no matter what illness they faced, doctors would by and large be able to diagnose and treat it, accordingly – Ahhh! Those blissful days of pure ignorance… However, the reality is that this is often not the case. Although modern medical care has improved enormously over the last few decades, we are nevertheless a far cry from where we need to be and, as patients, it is important to be proactive in our overall well-being.

As expected, the majority of government funding is directed towards research for the most common types of disorders, such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes, and so forth. Millions of people (excluding those from third world countries) therefore continue to suffer with other less common chronic problems that may either go undiagnosed or be misdiagnosed… And in some cases, even if they are diagnosed correctly, they may still not be treated sufficiently due to the lack of appropriate treatments that are available for some types of illness. Indeed, some medications carry hefty side effects with them but there is sometimes nothing else available due to lack of clinical trials for that particular disease.

It is crucial, therefore, that you do your homework and make sure that you ask your doctor the right questions. Your doctor is certainly responsible for assisting in your overall medical treatment, but who cares about your future more than you do?

Further information

* WebMD - Better Information, Better Health

* Dr. Andrew Weil – Trusted Health Advisor (Mind & Body)