Many people will swear that that were perfectly well till they were told they had a disease condition. Some cancers for instance seem to hit you with a vengeance once they are unmasked.
 

That is simply because we waited for far too long and only sought help when the body was overwhelmed.

I have seen people with blood sugars (diabetes) so high that they could feed a whole village, yet they will argue about going on medication; fear of a condition or simply not coming to terms with reality. I do understand what these life-changing scenarios mean to us all.

When your blood pressure is so high that it seems to be on a mission to burst through the roof and aim for the skies, yet you feel perfectly normal then it becomes a challenge to convince one that he or she is a walking time-bomb. The commonest way that hypertension presents is simply; NO SYMPTOMS – The Silent Killer!

Let us look at a few conditions that really make us cringe and impacts indirectly on the national coffers. Coffers and coffins have too much in common and especially in a struggling economy the similarities become more obvious.

The scourge of lifestyle diseases is real.  Our genes may have a role to play but we certainly have the power to positively influence our lives. HIV/AIDS, Ebola, Lung disease and problems related to childbirth are extremely important and may make your list. Unfortunately they did not earn a call up this weekend.

My pick of diseases may cause sudden death, sentence you to hours on end in a bed, drain not only your pocket and bank account but impact heavily on the lives of all those dear and close to you. My “prescription” is to work hard at living a healthy lifestyle that includes medical examinations in the hope of catching a condition early before all hell breaks loose.

The following points will help you fight or prevent these diseases;

1.      Commit yourself to be healthy for life.

2.      Be at peace with God and man – relieves undue stress.

3.      Exercise regularly and appropriately.

4.      Eat right and this includes a lot of fruits, vegetable and whole grains.

5.      Drink adequate amounts of water – don’t wait to feel thirsty.

6.      Get rest.

7.      Stop Smoking. Minimize Alcohol.

8.      Ensure Personal and Environmental Hygiene.

9.      Get regular medical check-ups or screening.

10.  If on medication, take as prescribed. If in doubt seek a second opinion.

And diseases that “earned” a call up are;

1.      Heart Disease

a.       Sometimes the pathologist will be the first to diagnose heart disease in a young man. We often take pride in saying “I do not fall ill, I have not been to a hospital in five years”, watch that friend; many conditions are silent killers. Who knows, your blood vessels could also be clogged up and it will be only a matter of time when the undesirable happens.

b.      How often do we hear of young, hardworking, fun-loving young men dying suddenly behind the wheel of their car? They looked perfectly well only a few minutes earlier.

2.      Stroke

a.       A very common cause of sudden death. Do all ten above and religiously monitor or control your blood sugar, blood pressure and blood cholesterol. Now people who have not celebrated even their 40th birthday are not spared.

3.      Cancer

a.       Many cancers seem to hunt us with a vengeance once we discover them. They will kill us if we do not hunt them and attack them anyway. In many cases medical science does a fairly good job when we detected them early.

b.      Let us screen for breast, colon, prostate, cervical and testicular cancers routinely and consider any others that we may be at risk for.

c.       Fruits and vegetables, low red meat and low fat diets together with exercise may boost our immunity and reduce our risk for some cancers. In my opinion once cancer is diagnosed these good choices should be used as additives and NOT for treatment. Remember the cancers may be too aggressive for these lifestyle changes which like good financial investments take time to make an impact.

4.      Diabetes

a.       A disease notorious for affecting many organs in the body makes this “black” list. Though our genes may play a role we can influence this positively with the appropriate lifestyle modifications (Type 2).

b.      Appropriate eating habits, regular exercise, regular medical checks and when required taking the medications as prescribed will go a long way to help one manage this illness. Prevention follows the same guidelines except medication will not be needed in such a scenario.

c.       Hypoglycaemia (blood sugar below normal level) which could occur while you are on medication to control diabetes can kill you instantly and warning signs such as tremors, headaches, blurred vision, sweating, severe hunger pangs and confusion should be known. It is important at such times to eat or drink something sweet IMMEDIATELY.

d.      In general white sugar, brown sugar and honey should not find their way into your meals if you are diabetic.

5.      Malaria

a.       The mosquito has cost some countries so much pain and hampered our development as well. Will the vaccine ever be the answer? Environmental hygiene currently remains an extremely important mode of prevention. Get rid of the pools of water and seek urgent medical care for all febrile illnesses.

b.      Children, pregnant women and those who do not live in malaria endemic zones (non-immune) often have the worst outcome.

6.      Diarrhoeal Diseases

a.       Poor personal and environmental hygiene such as not washing our hands with soap and water before meals, eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water may cause diarrhea and vomiting, which can lead to dehydration and even death. Remember the havoc Cholera can cause? Like Malaria, children are often the worst affected.

7.      Accidents/Unintentional Injuries

a.       This may not be considered a disease but the carnage on our roads and the associated high death toll is enough to get this on any list of fatal “diseases”. Unfortunately most of the victims are in the prime of their lives and may be contributing meaningfully to development. Accidents at home and in workplaces also occur and we need to be mindful of these and put in the right structures.

b.      Do not drive tired and do not drink and drive. Also make sure that whoever is driving you does not do these either. Wear your seatbelt.

c.       Avoid the cell phone like the pestilence while driving.

d.      Learn the appropriate way to react when there is a fire.

e.       Wear protective clothing at work where required.

f.       Use anti-slip mats in baths and watch electrical appliances.

g.      Always remember the kitchen is no extension of a child’s play area. The list goes on and on.

Go ahead and add a few more to make a list that is just right for you THEN make small healthy changes to your current life every day. Together we can grow a healthier and wealthier world.

AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)