 HEALTH IS WEALTH
To be in good health is every person's aspiration so a holistic approach to health is important.
A combination of factors including sound food habits, physical activities, healthy lifestyle, routine health checks and, above all, positive attitude and thinking contributes to good health.
Prevention is better than cure.
 Food habits: There is no fixed formula for diet. A balanced diet with a mix of carbohydrates (rice, chapattis, bread, potato, sugar etc), proteins (lentils, nuts and seeds, milk, meat, egg etc.), fats (ghee, butter, oil, animal fat), vitamins (leafy vegetables, fruits and salads, milk, fish) and minerals (vegetables, fruits, milk) is ideal. A vegetarian as well as a non-vegetarian diet can be nutritious and healthy. Locally available traditional food is always good as it has been tried and tested over the years. Special food requirements especially during pregnancy and child birth should be taken care of. Vegetables must always form an important part of the diet in order to ensure good bowel movement and freedom from constipation.
Obesity: In growing children the risk of obesity is less as the metabolic rate is high and food is rapidly broken down to release energy. But as we grow older metabolic rates decreases and energy requirements for growth are no longer there. At this junction in life if we continue to eat as before and assume a sedentary life style then the problem of being overweight looms large.
Obesity also carries the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, breathing problems and joint ailments because in obese people there is presence of high cholesterol (a type of fat) in the blood which clogs the blood vessels.
On the other hand one can cause serious harm to the body by excessive dieting instead of exercising in a bid to remain slim which is the modern day obsession. In the psychological condition called anorexia nervosa seen in young girls, there is an abnormal obsession to be thin. So after eating they induce vomiting which ultimately leads to excessive loss of weight and ill health, which in extreme cases may even lead to hospitalisation. Also many dieting regimes available on the Internet can sometime cause serious side effects like constipation and ulcers in the stomach.
Alcoholism adds to these problems. In addition, it can cause ulcers in the stomach (gastritis) and liver disease called cirrhosis. Social drinking, which is different from alcoholism (compulsive excessive drinking), is not harmful provided there are no other diseases .
Smoking is injurious to lungs, stomach, heart and blood vessels. Heredity plays a role too. If a person is genetically predisposed to a disease then these harmful factors are more likely to cause it.
Regular exercises help to keep the body fit by toning up the heart and muscles as it increases blood circulation to all parts of the body. During old age it helps prevent "osteoporosis" which is thinning of the bones due to the loss of minerals.
Adequate sleep is important because sleep is the time when the body takes rest and gets rejuvenated. In an adult anywhere between six to eight hours of sound sleep should be sufficient. Lack of sleep is considered to be the modern urban epidemic disease which can lead to many disorders like irritability, lack of concentration and headache.
Good posture at all times while sitting, walking and especially while reading, writing and working on the computers is important to prevent muscle strains.
Attitude: Above all, avoiding stress is very important. However, it is easier said than done! One has to strike a balance between abilities and expectations. The mind can affect one's health to a great extent. Stress related illnesses are called 'psychosomatic disorders'. It can lead to headache, bowel disorder called irritable bowel syndrome which manifest as alternate constipation and diarrhea, sweating, lack of sleep, loss of appetite and even overeating. Practices like yoga and meditation help the body and the mind.
 But in spite of the necessary precautions, one can fall ill. One should not wait too long before consulting a doctor. General physicians can refer to specialists when help is needed. One must avoid the tendency of "doctor shopping" i.e. going from one doctor to another. Both government and private sector hospitals can provide good service. The question is that of promptness of service and accountability.
People have the tendency to complain about 'too many tests". But the modern tests are extremely good and can almost look inside your body and diagonise the disease and its cause. So why not take advantage of them? In fact this is a boon to humanity by medical science. Of course they cannot replace the value of a good history taking, examination and clinical diagnosis by a doctor. They only aid the doctor in making a prompt diagnosis. Another complaint one often hears is that antibiotics should not be used. In fact some people have a phobia for antibiotics. Antibiotics are substances, which kill germs that cause the disease. A judicious use of antibiotics CAN BE LIFE SAVING. In fact most deaths that occurred in the past due to diseases like typhoid, pneumonia and meningitis could have been prevented if we had good antibiotics. Most antibiotics in our country are obtained without medical advice from the shops 'over the counter' as fever medicines and they are also the cause of antibiotic misuse.
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