Carmen Bowen-Wright
THE TWO are not compatible; if you indulge in risky behaviour your state of wellness will be negatively affected.
Risky behaviours can be categorised in a series of headings as shown below.
FOOD
This is a source of very common risks. Foods that are high in fat, high in sugars, especially sweet drinks, give rise to weight gain and ultimately obesity.
Obesity is the forerunner of chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis and colon cancers.
One should stick to vegetables, fruits, peas and beans and meats low in fat. In cooking, methods such as frying should be avoided. Boil, bake or broil and avoid fast foods and excessive sweet drinks.
PREVENTIVE STRATEGIES (VACCINES)
Our population is schooled to get sick and then seek medical care. But it is risky to ignore good preventive strategies such as immunisation. The elderly, for example, are prone to influenza during the cool months of the year. Many get serious attack of flu on which much money has to be spent. Yet a flu shot at the beginning of the season will keep most patients flu-free for the season. It is also less expensive than spending on cure of the influenza.
There are also many other vaccines e.g. anti-chicken pox, anti-tetanus, anti-measles, anti-diphtheria.
HEPATITIS B
This disease for which this vaccine is made is more contagious than HIV. Sickness in those not immunised is devastating.
Note: Because you had certain immunisation in early childhood, this does not mean you do not need further immunisation. You need what are referred to as boosters. They boost up your antibodies which are fading after primary immunisation was done such a long time ago. If you have an immunisation certificate, take it to your doctor who can advise as to what boosters you need. The flu vaccine is given annually unlike most other vaccines, which are given every five to eight years.
EXERCISE
If you have given up regular exercise or you have never developed the habit of regular daily exercise, then you are putting yourself at risk. Exercise need not be expensive, you don't have to have funds for a gym. Walking, jogging or running on a daily basis is effective and cheap. Some persons are involved with games such as football or netball, but needs to do extra training.
ANNUAL PHYSICAL EXAM
Don't risk identifying a health problem when it is far advanced. Men, especially, should see the doctor even once a year. There are some good Public Health Screeners that can be done annually. These are the mammogram for breast cancer, the Pap smear for cervical cancer, and for men the PSA test for prostate. The latter indicates the state of activity in the prostate.
RISKY SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR
It is not surprising that our curve in Jamaica that depicts the number of HIV cases is rising, because men and women still indulge in sex with strangers or persons who have 2 or 3 other partners. Of course, the condom is not used. Other STDs which affect health status are being contracted, giving rise to disease in the pelvis and often infertility (unable to have a child).
INDULGENCES IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE
That is alcohol, cigarette, ganja, cocaine-crack, and heroin. You put your health at risk by developing diseases of the lung, including cancer, as in the use of cigarettes and ganja. Alcohol in large quantity affects the liver. All of these can give rise to psychiatric problems which are devastating to the person indulging in their use.
I hope readers will focus on the risk factors and take action to eliminate those risky behaviours they are indulging in.
Dr. Carmen Bowen-Wright is a preventive medicine specialist and wellness physician; phone: 927-4301; email: yourhealth
