Being unhealthy isn’t just about the discomfort that is experienced in such a state, it’s always about a lot more than that. Many diseases can prove to be very deadly for you while many others can be easily treated and are only results of neglecting basic safety and awareness. Ranging from such common issues as diarrhea, influenza (flu), and the common cold — which is also quite aptly named, — to such severe ones as diabetes, cancer, and even AIDS, our bodies are affected by a number of pathogens that sometimes threaten to take us down forever. At such times, however, what’s called for more than all else is proper care and lots of rest, but before any of this happens, an eye on prevention measures helps in miraculous manners. If such a possibility is in question, it’s true that some diseases are genetic and are triggered by such things that cannot always — or ever — be controlled. But basic exercises, dietary habits, an occasional condom, and properly regulated sleep, among some other welcome techniques, can save you from more diseases than you can possibly imagine.
A controversial statement half a decade ago went “You know, there are 10,000 diseases, and we only have 500 cures [and treatments]” and, however sad, it is understood that WHO also says that the current estimate of monogenic human diseases is marked at the count of 10,000. This statement somehow only guarantees that there are more diseases and not less, thus also supporting in some ways the German statement of quantifications — even if a bit disagreeably — that there are around 30,000 diseases in the world with 7,000 of them being rare.
Now, while there has been scrutiny over this statement, the more serious concern here, as explicitly mentioned by Dr. William Henderson, a physician and health consultant at Hisblue, is that ten thousand or not, we still have an ample number of diseases, the most commonly occurring of which are the ones that can be fought off most easily. All one has to focus on are a few questions, and all to do with the basics of health. Further, the very questions are also part of what one should adapt to in their daily life for better productivity and growth.
What is your pattern of rest?
A specific pattern of rest, and enough of it, is a basic necessity for us humans. We have come to understand with the time that circadian rhythms, which are a part of our body and also essential to our survival, are shared by a majority of advanced organisms living on the earth. A disruption in this pattern — or rhythm — can be quite harmful, as studies have often found, and may even lead to weight gain, impulsivity, affected cognition and, therefore, the ability to think, and other physiological and behavioral changes. Generally, these conditions are observed in people who work shifts work or have jet lag. As it happens in both cases, disturbances allowed for extended periods of time can cause issues, such as shift work sleep disorder in people working altered shifts every now and then and also in people participating in air travel every so often. Disruptions in circadian rhythms can lead to even more pronounced issues based on the periods.
How good are your food habits?
Today, we have more junk on the menu to lure us than we had half a decade ago. With more and more people moving around the world, while we do learn extensively about the differences in our cultures and, therefore, adapt to the better parts of different cultures, it isn’t always about the good things — we adopt not just the pros but also the cons. And while a different taste can be thrilling, any endemic to a region is often the most suited when it comes to health. It doesn’t necessarily mean that one has to avoid whatever interesting things they find in different cultures but that there’s a need to be wary of the problems “some” of the new habits could cause them. Food is among the first things that need to be examined properly. In every part of the world, we now have a variety of fast food, most of which were once only acknowledged by some corner of the world. So, while you may go ahead and devour all of it, make sure that your balanced diet isn’t compromised in any way, because among other things, a balanced, healthy diet is crucial since it provides the energy and nutrients required to survive and stay healthy.
How active is your lifestyle?
This is another important question because combining a healthy diet with an active lifestyle has great health benefits and also helps reduce the risk of major health problems, say obesity, heart disease, and cancer, among the many others. Exercise is a truly essential thing — the act of keeping your body active, your blood pumping rightly — and saves you from the stress of suffering from too many unhealthy habits and diseases at once. Many people who take part in regular physical activity through, among other things,
- distance running,
- practicing yoga, or
- doing cardio and other light exercises
face a lower probability of experiencing unusual weight gain and other distressing health conditions and are also happier than the average person, more energized, and get better sleep.
Are you getting all your vitamins?
Now, while a balanced diet is a guarantee that you’ll get all that you can gain from varieties of foods, some things can still be missed. As it is, very few foods naturally contain vitamin D, and it needs the presence of ultraviolet radiation of specifically low wavelengths for synthesis in the skin. Different studies suggest that there is not at all a danger of vitamin D toxicity as a result of sunlight synthesis, and the NHS website mentions functions of vitamin D as involved in the regulation of the amount of calcium and phosphate present in the human body, which tend to keep our bones — also teeth — and muscles healthy.
It is also understood that a lack of vitamin D at an early age can cause rickets in children and similar or related bone deformities in adults at a later date. The bone pain as a result of osteomalacia isn’t uncommonly heard of in adults who have experienced less exposure to the sun and, therefore, have little vitamin D.
Other than that, studies have also discovered a link between depression and the deficiency of vitamin D. Similarly, there is also a need for regular intake of other vitamins that affect different phases of our growth. It is good to have a nutritionist chart all of it up for you.
Do you focus more on the positive side of things?
While most of the things that show up as affecting us easily are related to us in the physiological sense, their psychological aspects are just as important. WHO states that it is the state of our emotional, psychological, and social well-being, and can be affected by a number of factors. For this reason, awareness regarding mental health is also quite important for our growth. This is also why when something bothers you or when you’re adapting to something relatively new, it is good to have a conversation with your doctor about all the aspects of whatever it is. As it is, a healthy mind is a healthy body and vice versa.
Conclusion
As can be seen, all of these practices and the resulting conditions are quite interrelated and assist in achieving a better lifestyle altogether. It is, therefore, recommended to keep in touch with your doctor and discuss with them the different aspects of whatever affects you and even your close ones. Improving your surroundings on a whole — from a basic approach to dietary or other lifestyle changes to any of the more pronounced ones — is the key to a healthier and, therefore, better life.