Ones health is the easiest thing to take for granted. We do not think about our health until we start feeling a pain or until we come down with a bad cold. It is only then, that we run to the doctor for a quick fix. Health alarms begin when we hear, you have the pressure or sugar. Health alarms come only after we have been diagnosed with something life threatening. It is only then that we get scared and try frantically to reverse the clock. In some cases it is too late and the damage has already been done.  When we are well and feeling one hundred percent, we are not keen on hearing about what we can do to lead a healthy life. We eat what we want. We drink what we want. We smoke what we want. We refuse to exercise. We dont get enough sleep. We forget who or what a doctor is. We give no regard to our health. We give no regard to our bodies.  

It has often been preached to us that fitness and a proper diet prolongs life. These warnings are warnings that we take for granted. As human beings we think that we are invincible. We think that we are like the Energizer Bunny. We think that we would keep going and going and going. Somebody or something has fooled us into thinking that the bodies we adorn will never fail us.

We pay more attention to our cars than we do our own bodies. We ensure that the car is taken to the mechanic for a regular check up/oil change. We refuel even when the tank isnt empty. We insure that car. We dare not miss a mechanic appointment. We buy everything that the car requires. We budget and make sure that that money is there to fix that car, because that car has to transport us. We know more about that car than we do our own bodies. We develop a rapport with our mechanics. We ask him questions. Sometimes we hear a little rattle, on our next visit we are able to tell him what is wrong with that car, even before he checks it out. How well do we know our bodies? How many of us are able to tell our doctors what is wrong with us before he checks us out? How many of us have developed a rapport/relationship with our doctors? How many of us go for annual check ups? How many of us prepare our budgets with medical expenses included? How many of us have medical insurance? How many of us take our health seriously?

Some of us dont pay that much attention our bodies. We are constantly on the go. We do not rest. We do not take time to refuel. It surprises me how some of us would not hesitate to buy so many luxurious things however we second-guess our stomachs. We prefer the nice dress as opposed to a plate of food or a bag of groceries. We think it a sin to nourish our stomachs. We could sit three hours in a beauty salon to get our fix ups however we refuse to spend a half an hour or fifteen minutes around the stove. There is no time for that.  A car could run down without proper care. Our bodies could do the same. The thing is however when that car becomes obsolete we could purchase a new one. When our bodies are broken, in most cases they arent that easy to repair. It isnt possible to buy a new one. Our bodies require a lot of attention. Lets start taking our health seriously.

At Christmas we make sure that the house has a fresh coat of paint and new curtains. No one has to remind us that these things have to be done, however an annual physical, a thorough check up to ensure that our bodies are working well, that is out of the question. We find many excuses. Lord the wait in the doctor office to long!  or Where I going find the EC$60.00 plus dollars to give the doctor? or The doctor would want to send me for all kind of tests, thats more money again? Some of us say, Why go doctor and I aint even feel sick, that make sense! Had it been the car, the house or the dress we would have quickly tie we waist and make the sacrifice. Amazing isnt it?

In the past the solution to everything was a little bush tea and some horse rub dung. The times have changed. Things are more complex. I have often wondered why or how is it that there are so many diseases out there that we dont really hear that much about in our community. I am not talking about the communicable diseases. We all know about Cancer, Aids, Malaria and Dengue. Is it that we are somehow much healthier? Are we immune to these things? Is it that, these things just go unnoticed because they dont threaten the entire population? Is it that people are being diagnosed however because of the secretive nature of our community they refuse to disclose this information?

 In our community we may hear that John died from complications of X, however the complications of X could have been caused or accelerated by Y, which put John at a higher risk for that disease X. Had John visited or developed a rapport with his physician, his life could have been prolonged. He could have started making a concerted effort in taking his health seriously. He could have begun a proper diet and exercise regimen. He could have been given medication. 

There is also the question of tests and the cost of the tests. I often hear people cry, Oh the test cost me an arm and a leg! You think it make sense to spend all that money to run a test and find out after that nothing wrong with me? I aint got money to waste. I got to go break a Bank to pay for that! A doctor may say that a test isnt mandatory however these tests could give us additional information about diseases that we are predisposed to, as with everything, a cost attached. After hearing the cost we refuse to have the tests run. We say, Well it aint a must and the insurance aint goin reimburse me. Why cant we view our health as an investment? Why do we invest in all these other things, when our health isnt in check? In the end we may not be around to enjoy them. 

There are few people who are deeply committed to a fit and healthy way of life. There are those, who used to live an active lifestyle but because of high metabolic rate or genetic predisposition, they dont exercise. They think that they dont need to lose weight. Being slim doesnt necessarily mean that one is healthy. Proper diet and exercise means a healthy lifestyle. There are those of us who exercise just to drop a few pounds and when we reach the desired goal, everything stops. Like the car when you drive it or service it, it works; when it is parked it rusts and ceases to function. Our bodies are similar.

Diabetes is prevalent in our society. We know that most people are predisposed to getting it. We know that this disease leads to blindness. In some cases it leads to amputation. Eventually it leads to death. Most of us either had a relative who died from it or know someone who is currently suffering from it. We could lower the risk of getting this disease. Prevention starts now. The life of a diabetic isnt an easy one Apart from the daily monitoring of ones blood sugar levels one has to take a drastic change in diet. It takes DISCIPLINE. It takes a proper diet and exercise. When John was told that he had diabetes, he looked the doctor in the eye and said, Doc, back to back belly to belly, a dont give a damn, a done dead a ready. Look here right, what you telling me mean that my life done, everything you asking me to stop eat, is what I luv to eat, I cant handle this thing, so let me tell you something I goin eat, I goin drink, dont worry bout me ok Sonny, I goin mek out. We all got to dead from something sometime ent? This is the mentality that most people have.

Visit the doctor at least once year for a thorough check up. Budget for it. Develop a rapport with your doctor. Buy medical insurance. Take time out to learn your bodies. Develop an exercise and diet regimen. Visit your community Health Center and ask the nurses for information. There is a wealth of information to be had there. Ladies over the age of 18, I have discovered recently from Nurse Christine Wattley that the Health Centers offers Pap Smears free of cost and a lot of other services. Please utilize these services.