Healthy living, necessity or luxury: Celebrating World Health Day

A Tale of Two Priorities
As the world celebrated World Health Day, the streets of Lagos bustled with life. Amidst the hustle, two friends, Tunde and Femi, stood out.

Tunde, a football and car enthusiast, spent weekends polishing his ride, upgrading gadgets, and fine-tuning the engine. His car gleamed, but his health didn’t.

Femi, on the other hand, prioritized his well-being. He exercised regularly, ate balanced meals, and invested in a blood pressure machine for regular check-ups.

One day, Tunde fell ill, and his “high-maintenance” car couldn’t take him to the hospital, he collapsed. Femi, with his “low-maintenance” lifestyle, quickly rushed Tunde to a nearby general hospital where they saw the physician.

The diagnosis? Tunde’s neglect had taken a toll on his health, though in his 40s, he never knew that his Blood pressure had been elevated, worsened by his lifestyle of constant smoking and drinking of alcohol. Femi’s proactive approach had saved him from similar issues.

As Tunde recovered, he realized his priorities were misplaced. He vowed to rebalance his life, quit smoking and alcohol, investing in his health alongside his car.

The moral? Your body is your most valuable asset. Maintain it, invest in it, and prioritize your well-being. Happy World Health Day!

A healthy beginning is a word heavily underrated as one believes that once one wakes and is able to handle the bustle and hustle, have a good meal in the middle of the rush hour, have short naps in between and junk for the rest of the day, life is good. The working class needs money to fund their lifestyle even at the expense of their health while the other class pray to be better. Sadly, this causes serious burnout and exhaustion due to wear and tear of the busy life and in the middle of it all who really cares?

One would ask what really is healthy living?

The WHO defines health as”state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”.  This implies that living healthy does not end with luxury living and a hectic work design.

Healthy living can be described as making conscious choices to promote physical, mental, and social well-being through practices like balanced nutrition, regular exercise, sufficient sleep, and stress management. The early years of life, from conception to adolescence, are crucial for growth, development, and long-term health outcomes. During this period, individuals are most vulnerable to various health risks, including infections, malnutrition, and injuries. These concerns piques the need to embrace the practice of making conscious healthy choices to improve longevity. However,the challenge of poor nutrition, infectious diseases, mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, and substance abuse, can have long-term consequences if left unaddressed.

On the bright side, there are effective ways one can maximize good health to the fullest. Investing in healthy beginnings, a brighter future for individuals, communities, and societies can be developed.

Provision of Integrated healthcare services charged with the responsibility of ensuring that  preventive, curative, and rehabilitative care, can improve health outcomes through nutrition interventions, education and empowerment, innovative technologies.

Healthcare providers have a role in providing comprehensive healthcare services, including preventive, curative, and rehabilitative care. This way, healthy living can be moved to better heights.Individuals and families need to prioritize healthy practices, such as balanced nutrition, regular physical activity, and stress management. Communities can support initiatives that promote healthy living , such as health education programs and community-based healthcare services.

Education and empowerment of individuals, families, and communities about healthy practices and empowering them to take control of their health can lead to positive behavior change.

Innovative technologies which include leveraging innovative technologies, such as digital health platforms, can improve access to healthcare services and enhance health outcomes. It is important to prioritize good health. Always consult your health care provider, when health concerns arise. Health is wealth.

Rx. Iruoma ..

References

– World Health Organization. (2022). World Health Day.

– United Nations Children’s Fund. (2022). The State of the World’s Children.

– World Bank. (2022). World Development Report 2022: Finance for an Equitable Recovery.

– Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Healthy People 2030.