Our health is our true wealth, as without it, we have nothing. We may be wealthy with money and belongings, but it’s our health that determines if we can enjoy these riches and appreciate what we have, isn’t it?
It’s mind-blowing how something as important as our health can often take a back seat to a whole lot of other things in our lives. Countless people ignore their health even though they know that they’re not well, or that they’re heading for disaster if they don’t address their failing health. What we need to realise is, each and every one of us has a responsibility towards our own health, for it doesn’t just affect us, but others as well. Have you ever thought of the following:
A mother has decided to visit a friend who she knew has the flu. In a few days, she comes down with the flu herself and before long, she passes it to her children. Now, her children are sick and there is a big chance that as soon as their school sick leave ends, they may still manage to infect other kids in their class, school bus, etc.
Or, take a man with a heart condition who pays no heed to diet recommendations and advice. Instead, he continues to eat burgers and fries three times a week, washing it all down with his favourite fizzy drink each time. Consequently he suffers a heart attack and is hospitalised and is no longer able to work. If he is the sole breadwinner in his household, this will spell trouble and hard times for his family.
It starts with us
It’s easy to take our health for granted when nothing is currently wrong with us., and many among us are also guilty of ignoring our healthcare needs, regardless of normal days or during sick days. While there may be too many other factors involved and sometimes, even fate may decide to play a part, but we cannot ignore the fact that it really is up to us to ensure that we make the right decisions, and take the right actions for the sake of our health.
When we fall sick, especially from something preventable through vaccinations for example, or even lifestyle choices, it’s not just us who feel its effects, but other people as well. These people could be our family members, our work colleagues, people who work for us, or who we work for, etc. When we fall sick, it could lead to a domino effect where others who caught what you have then unknowingly infect their family members, friends, etc.
The current wave of Covid-19 virus, also known as the coronavirus can be taken as a warning sign of how things can quickly get out of hand if we are not responsible enough and take whatever precautionary steps needed to not get infected. We now know that anyone can get it, and we may be exposed to it without even realising it until it’s too late. The keys to keeping well in this particular case is of course, to avoid going to crowded places without the use of a good face mask, keep your hands clean at all times, avoid touching your face, stay hydrated, take steps to increase your immunity, etc.
But then why go so far as the Covid-19, when dengue has been terrorising our nation for years and has already taken more lives than it should? How serious are we, as individuals, when it comes to dengue prevention and eliminating the cause of it, which is the aedes mosquito? If everyone is really doing their part, there should not be so many people, including children, getting dengue each year, with many losing their lives to it. When it comes to eliminating mosquito breeding grounds, keeping the surroundings clean, and ensuring water does not collect anywhere, taking responsibility for our own health can help prevent others from getting sick too.
Stay healthy – for yourself, your family and your society
All things considered, it shouldn’t be too complicated to keep yourself healthy, fit and well. With every action you take to increase your health, providing that they are not counter effective, will surely reap results when you feel better about yourself and are able to function well as an individual. If you are a parent taking positive steps towards better health, think about how much more you’ll be able to do for your children when you have more energy, and feel fit, healthy and well. If your work requires you to meet and mingle with people (this includes office work), taking better care of your health by improving your immunity, eating a nutritious diet and exercising regularly could mean that you may be able to fend off certain diseases more efficiently, but it doesn’t stop there. You’ll also be less likely to pass any nasty illnesses around.
There are, of course, more than one way to keep healthy. Get interested in them all – a good diet, regular exercise, reduce stress levels, have healthy communication ties with family and friends, find time for holidays, meditate, etc. It is completely understandable that sometimes, life itself and the obligations that you may have towards others and your duties come in the way of your intentions, but it doesn’t mean that you should just push your health aside. Find ways to get healthier, one step at a time.
During this challenging time of COVID-19 outbreak, Constant Pharmacy, an award-winner in the category of Pharmacy last year in the Natural Health/ A Healthy Lifestyle Readers’ Choice Awards has stepped up to be of service to the community. The network of Constant pharmacies remain of service to the community, whereby their newly launched #CONSTANT2U will enable residents in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Johor, Perak, Kelantan and Terengganu to purchase a variety of health and wellness products and have them delivered to their doorstep, or, from pick-up points, within the radius of 10KM from their neighborhood outlet. Sally Chuah, the Chief Executive Officer of CONSTANT shared that the pharmacy is available to offer advice on hygiene and immunity. She also assured customers that all CONSTANT pharmacy outlets are taking extra steps to maintain a clean and safe environment at their stores. The public can log on to www.constant.my to make their purchases and check out all the pharmacy has to offer to make their lives easier.
