A New Lease ... on Life
By Judit Rajhathy, B.A., RNCP, D.Ac.
Are YOU taking responsibility for YOUR health?
“Modern medicine saved my life but couldn’t make me well” (Wally Hersey, transplant recipient)
Drugs save lives. Thank goodness we have them. As a last resort in the same category as surgery we are blessed to have modern medical intervention. At the same time drugs can be hazardous – especially when taken improperly or in combination with other drugs.
The practice of medicine has become one of prescribing pills. There is a pill for everything – and unfortunately in many cases they mask the symptoms rather than address the underlying cause. It is not uncommon for the patient to then return with new symptoms created by the very drug that was given to alleviate the original issue! And then a different drug is given and the vicious cycle continues while the patient’s health gradually declines.
Taking an active role in your own health care can be overwhelming, especially if you do not have a medical background. Hence we rely 100% on our medical doctors to ‘save us’. The honest truth of the matter is that even the brightest, most up-to-date doc just can’t know it all - after all, they are humans too and that means mistakes can be made. Who knows your body better than you?
What steps can we take toward taking responsibility for our own health?
- In addition to your family physician, seek the services of a practitioner in the complementary healthcare field such as a naturopath, homeopath, acupuncturist or holistic nutritionist who can assist you in revamping your lifestyle and offer supportive therapies to help your immune system and try to get to the cause(s) of your ill health.
- Educate yourself with regards to your own body and its functions – we often know more about our cars than our bodies and this machine has to last us from cradle to grave.
- Make sure you are well informed about any medications or supplements you are taking, including dosage as well as side effects. The internet can be overwhelming at times but can be a great source of information.
- Track your lifestyle habits such as diet and exercise as well as symptoms and when they occur. Keep your own medical records by having a copy of every test result and surgeries – a good comprehensive history.
- Keep a list of all medications and supplements so that your primary care physician is aware of everything. In this era of specialization it is easy for one practitioner to be unaware of what the next practitioner is prescribing or suggesting.
- Never be afraid to ask for a referral to a specialist and once that appointment is made take your health file with you as well as a list of questions or concerns so that you are well prepared to discuss your health issues.
These are just a few suggestions that may help you take further responsibility for your health. On that note, see you at the gym!
Judit is the owner of Change of Pace Fitness Center and is the author of the Canadian best-seller Free to Fly: a journey toward wellness. She can be contacted at: 766-5800.
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