Good health is not an accident

by Tilly Davies

Good health is acquired and maintained only through correct living.

You could not imagine yourself living on a diet of candy, pastry, and soda pop, working long hours indoors, getting very little rest and sleep, and still looking the pic­ture of health and feeling fine. This is simply impossible. We are created by nature according to certain definite and infallible laws, and when we break these laws we must suffer the consequences-disease and premature death.

When we look closely at our present-day living we will admit that we have strayed rather far from living according to nature’s laws. The primitive man lived a simple life: he ate foods in their original form just as nature grew them; he lived outdoors where he had plenty of sunshine, pure air to breathe, bodily exercise to keep his outer, as well as inner, muscles in good shape; and he had hardly any worries.

In contrast to that, we now live in an age of great comforts and little physical exercise; we breathe in the polluted air of our cities; we hide from sunshine and the outdoors; and, worst of all, we gorge ourselves with devitalized, manufactured-for-profit foods; we indulge in stimulating drinks, and waste our nervous energy on modern pleasures. Is there any wonder that we have to pay a heavy price for this wholesale breaking of nature’s laws? Take a look at our over­crowded hospitals and you will under­stand what havoc our modern living wreaks on us.

The average person’s reasoning is as follows: As long as I am not sick, why bother? or I do have medical insurance, why bother?

But what does the word “sick” mean? Must one be laid up with fever or contagious disease to be classified as sick? Ordinarily, when you tell someone who is up and about that he is sick he will become offended.

Perhaps, if we used the term “deficient,” it would make a much stronger appeal to the afflicted person. In fact, most of us are deficient in one thing or another; quite a few — in a number of badly needed body elements. We are not sick in bed, yet our digestion may be poor; we are constipated; we suffer from gases, belching, bad mouth odors; for seemingly no reason we get blotches, pimples, boils, infections, headaches; we feel tired, sleepy, dizzy, our hair keeps falling out, our eyes weaken, our teeth develop cavities, we experience scores of other unfavorable reactions, yet we go around maintaining that we are not sick. True, we are not sick in bed, but we have de­ficiencies which slowly but surely lead to more serious complica­tions. Are we able to enjoy living in such conditions of health? Definitely not!

Today enjoying life in the conventional sense of the word means possessing much worldly wealth, going places, eating and drinking, gambling and dissipating freely. This is called hav­ing a good time, and is the ultimate goal of most people. But how long can this last, and what does it leave for us or our children? This kind of living destroys the person and breeds sick children, our future generation.

To me, the real enjoyment of life is found in the constant feeling of supreme vitality, the exhilarating consciousness of youth no matter what my age, the lightness of step, the feeling of strength and adequacy to any task, the feeling of cleanliness of body and mind, the desire to do things, to accomplish something big and worth while.

And only good health produces such emotions!

Forgive yourself for Smoking!

Smokers and
Non Smokers
Lungs
I forgive myself for ever starting the smoking habit!

I forgive myself for ever starting the smoking habit!
I forgive myself for ever starting the smoking habit!

Quite a profound statement! But think about it for a moment. Think about your lungs, your health, your loved ones. Then see if you will agree with me that you might have been rather selfish in your puffing habit.

I was sitting in my car at a intersection the other day, rather in a rush, but patiently waiting for the traffic light to turn green. I turned my head to the left mainly to avoid the street vendors when the woman in the car next to me caught my attention.

All her car windows were closed – it was bitterly cold outside after all! She had long curly red hair, natural I thought. But she had her head tilted backwards in an odd way. In her right hand was the burning cigarette. She had the cigarette positioned about a centimeter from her mouth. Then she did a very strange thing. She put the cigarette in her mouth, suck her cheeks in quite deep let go and then did it again and again. She then tilted her head even further backwards and released this cloud of blue smoke that seemed to fill the entire car inside.

“How odd” I thought

She did this twice again and I was totally fascinated by her gestures and for the moment forgot where I was. The light must have changed because she started to move forward. I realized that I should get my car in gear in order to get going. I was just about to turn my head towards my gear lever, when in my peripheral vision I caught the last glimpse of her car. There in the back of her car was a baby chair with a probably six month old baby sleeping soundly – covered in blue smoke!

I nearly cried – the poor baby!

Smoking is a bad habit that kills. It might not take your life (yet!) but it does kill your health – and more importantly those around you, your loved ones. I understand that nicotine is very addictive but if you have been trying to quit many times and nothing seem to work – why not try our Stop Smoking Program. What if it works for you? What if it works for you as for so many others? What if you can also forgive yourself for ever starting the smoking habit – and finally stop!

And if you are not convinced yet then look at this video – and then join our Smoking Program.

Key to Healthy Minds and Bodies

Adolescents are increasingly falling prey to anxiety and depression based on the startling rise in South African teenage suicide rates. The various daily pressures experienced by youngsters and their inability to effectively deal with negative emotions and challenging situations often play a significant role in them feeling helpless and depressed, which affects their health and overall well-being over the long term.

The Medical Research Council (MRC) recorded 230 youth suicides in 2004, accounting for 9 ½ percent of all non-natural deaths among children and teens aged 10 to 19. More recent statistics are not yet available, but according to the MRC many in the mental health field expect the upward trend to continue.

There are however many methods through which teenagers can address their problems and deal with their feelings of depression. Many people already realise the important health benefits of sport and physical activity. Aside from keeping the body fit, they also promote a sense of achievement and well-being within an individual and can serve as a method of stress relief and enjoyment for youngsters.

Many schools offer learners the option to participate in a wide variety of sports and other physical activities. Unfortunately, there has been a massive decline in physical activity in schools worldwide with the introduction of more passive extra curricular activities, which have become popular amongst children and adolescents. The removal of physical education in schools has aggravated the situation.

Continuous physical activity has been proven to produce better performing schools and work places, while greatly reducing medical bills. It burns calories, helps build muscle and increases energy levels. Participation in activities can also promote physical and mental well-being, combat stress and anxiety, and encourage children to focus on improving themselves physically and mentally. Regular physical activity reduces the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. It also helps reduce blood pressure in people who already have high blood pressure.

All these benefits can help discourage teenagers from developing unhealthy habits such as eating disorders, smoking, alcohol abuse and drug experimentation. It can also help give them the courage to resist pressure from friends to experiment with unhealthy and dangerous substances.

However, parents should not force their children to play a sport or perform an activity that they do not enjoy. They should rather allow their children to experiment with different sporting activities and support their children in any activities they prefer to participate in. Parents can show interest by attending competitions or games and continuously encouraging them.

There are many fun ways for children to maintain healthy and fit bodies. They do not have to participate in sports and activities at schools exclusively. They can participate in alternative activities such as swimming, dance classes, gymnastics, cycling, hiking clubs, martial arts or yoga and fitness classes during their time away from school.

It is recommend that an individual does 20 to 30 minutes of aerobic activity for a minimum three times a week, or 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day, most days of the week.
According to the World Health Organisation, scientific evidence has shown that appropriate physical activity and sports provides people, both male and female, of all ages and conditions, including disabilities with a wide range of physical, social and mental health benefits.

Sport and regular physical activity combined with healthy eating habits are essential for a healthy mind and body, and reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, which accounts for a third of deaths globally. “It is vital for parents and care givers to instill wholesome eating habits from a young age and to encourage their children to participate in sports or other physical activities that they will enjoy. This will provide them with the foundation of healthy habits and a positive outlook on life that can benefit them in their adult lives, which they too can pass onto their children” says Shân Biesman-Simons, Director of Nutrition and Education at the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA.
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Issued by: Heart and Stroke Foundation SA
On behalf of: Jodie Kallis
Contact: Tel (021) 447 4222
Fax (021) 447 0322
E-mail: jodie@heartfoundation.co.za

Take courage and live!

By Tilly Davies

Life does not always seem fair! We face our daily challenges and sometimes these challenges become so part of us that we accept them as the norm.

We bent under financial pressure and try to make ends meet. We watch the increase of crime statistics and try to implement structures to be safe again. We sigh when interest rates goes up and when government institutions go on strike. We shake our heads when the political party we didn’t vote for come into power. We shed a tear when the increase in school fees leaves us no choice but to move our children to cheaper schooling options.

Then we get sick! We try to understand the prognosis and accept the effects of the prescribed medicine. We tell our friends that we ‘caught’ something and call it ‘my disease’! We proudly discuss the symptoms and the life changes that we are forced to take, over a cup of tea.

And I say NO! We are always faced with choices, no matter what. Maybe we can’t change governments, politician, interest rates or crime but we can surely choose to live a full a life. We can choose to live a life by design and create a world for ourselves and our loved ones in which we can be all that we want to be. It is all about attitude!

And when it comes to our health I believe that we can choose as well. We can look after our bodies in such a way that our bodies will carry us well. And if we don’t know how, choose to get the knowledge!

Then, finally, life itself will become a melody, our own personal dance. Take courage in this video and live well!

The hearts of women should be protected!

There is often a misleading notion amongst women that heart disease does not pose as much of a threat to their health as it does to men. When in actual fact statistics show that 1 in 4 woman will develop heart disease by the age of 60, a figure that is rapidly increasing. Women are also more likely to die within the first year after suffering a heart attack. We know that this issue cannot be dealt with until it is recognised and labelled as an actual risk, which many women often fail to acknowledge.

The vast majority of women also fear breast cancer more than heart disease although many studies have indicated that the risk of women suffering from heart disease is 9 times higher than that of breast cancer. Based on this misconception there is certainly a lack of knowledge amongst women regarding their risks for heart disease. What makes matters even worse is that women are less likely to survive heart attacks than men, mainly because they are often not aware of the symptoms and therefore do not seek or receive treatment until it is too late.

These staggering facts confirm that it is crucial for women to educate themselves about the risk factors of developing heart disease and the importance of healthy habits to prevent this condition. What many fail to realise is that the symptoms leading to a heart attack in women are different than those experienced by men. Tell-tale signs of a heart attack that women need to look out for are shortness of breath, unusual fatigue, indigestion, anxiety, nausea and dizziness.

The most common risk factors contributing to heart disease are smoking, being overweight, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, a lack of exercise and stress, all of which can be controlled if the necessary precautions are taken and healthy lifestyle changes are made over the long term. “Following a healthy balanced diet that is low in saturated fats (mainly animal fats), salt and refined carbohydrates, but is rich in fibre, fruit and vegetables, will make a huge difference in controlling these risk factors,” says Erika Ketterer, Dietician at the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA (HSFSA).

The following steps can help prevent women from suffering of heart disease:

• Have your blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol levels regularly tested.
• Exercise is the key word when it comes to healthy living. It not only promotes weight loss, but also helps you reduce stress levels that can contribute to heart disease. At least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week is recommended.
• Maintain a healthy weight by replacing processed foods and saturated fats with healthier options (plant oils and wholegrain products). An apple shaped figure poses a bigger threat to a women’s heart health, than a pear shaped one.
• Know your family history as heart disease can be hereditary, which increases your risk of suffering from this condition.

Be aware of the symptoms of a heart attack in order to act immediately.

Cardiovascular disease has become an epidemic, being responsible for approximately 8.6 million deaths globally amongst women per year. The Go Red for Women Campaign was recently launched by the HSFSA, which aims to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease and promote the treatment, diagnosis and prevention thereof. “The Go Red for Women campaign will raise awareness amongst women of their risks and what they can do to address them,” says Hugo Coetzee, Marketing Manager at the HSFSA. It is important for women to be aware of their health status as the risk of heart disease increases three times once women reaches menopause. Birth control pills can also pose a threat to women who suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. It is therefore vital for women of all ages to take heart disease seriously.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Issued by: HEART AND STROKE FOUNDATION SA For further information:
Marlize Snyman Public Relations Assistant
Tel: 021 – 447 4222 Fax: 021 – 447 0322 E-mail: marlize@heartfoundation.co.za