PREVENTIVE HEALTH PRACTICES OBVIATE HEALING COMPLICATIONS

There is nothing in the world like the recovery from an illness or an injury.  The more extensive and wearying the disease, the greater the satisfaction when the episode is past.  Fear is replaced by hope.  Joy supplants pain.

But reclaiming health is not the same as restoring the premorbid state.  As described in an earlier blog (LIFE’S SCARRING PROMOTES POOR HEALTH – June 24, 2020), all healing is imperfect.  A remnant of the trauma suffered becomes a permanent intrusion.  There will be some anatomic, functional, psychological, or biological alteration persisting.  This blemish may be an important symptom, or it may not even be noticeable.

Everything we experience in life affects us.  This is how we learn and grow.  This is also how we age.  We decide if something is for good or bad.  Or we can choose to ignore things.  

Encounters with illness have some positive residual effects.  Recovering from an infectious disease stimulates and enhances the immune system.  But most diseases have no redeeming attributes.  They leave behind some disability.  

We are constantly being attacked in life.  Infections, falls, physical injuries, emotional trauma, insects, the sun, pollution, natural radiation, legal and illicit drug use, anxieties, and sleep altering factors are some of the assailants we can encounter.  Negative emotions like fear, anxiety, and anger frequently assault people.  Confrontations with any of these or other stresses exact their toll on our physical well-being.   We pay the ransom with energy loss, subtle or obvious impairment, and stimulation of inflammation.  Every accoster will contribute to advancing our aging process.

Can we avoid stressors in life?  No.  

But we can act to minimize the impacts arising from living in the world.  We have tools and the ability to mitigate the mischief inevitably introduced by the environment.   These same compensatory measures will lessen the deterioration associated with aging.  And, yes, preventing the hidden repercussions from attackers takes a lot of time and effort.  Fortunately, actively enhancing resistance and repair capabilities augments all of our outcomes and pleasures.

Those lucky enough to live in a society that provides clean water, sewage disposal, good health care, a healthy food supply, and freedom from imminent harm by war or crime begin life advantageously.  Having a stable government that provides these basic needs makes life precarious.  The absence or inadequacy of any of these human rights can be found in all countries to some degree.  This is a horrible state of affairs that desperately mandates correction.  My hope is that, in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world will grow to realize that we are all together on the planet.  Each of us benefits best when all of us benefit.

My advice in this article is what a person can do to make his or her own body stronger against the inevitable confrontations.  There are many avenues to follow.  Many of these ideas are discussed at greater length in other blogs.

Stretch.  Besides feeling good, flexibility increases energy in general.  It also reduces the risk of injury.  Every illness adds to musculoskeletal damage.  There are many books, tapes, videos, and classes on this subject.

Aerobic and strengthening exercise habits lessens the damage from disease.  Many serious illnesses can be avoided if this measure is part of your lifestyle.  A regular exercise regiment creates a foundation for facilitated healing.

Take high doses of vitamins and minerals from as early an age as possible.  These compounds are the backbone of cellular health.  The cells are where the recovery process proceeds.  Vitamins and minerals deplete with aging and illness.  Maintaining intracellular levels with supplementation is key to vigor.  Micronutrients slow the natural cellular deterioration associated with poor health outcomes.

Ingest a wide variety and quantity of probiotics.  These microbial partners work symbiotically with the immune system to enhance health.  The primary ones are Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Lactobacillus Bifidus, and Saccharomyces Boulardii.  As with most nutritional supplements, an upset stomach means you need to reduce the dose. 

Digestive enzymes help many people.  Taken over a long period of time, they reduce inflammation.  Gastrointestinal and other benefits are often observed.

Lose weight if indicated.  Easier said than done.  It requires great effort, consistency, and emotional and time commitment.  Many weight loss programs work if they are adhered to.  Achieving the goal necessitates continuing the effort indefinitely.

Meditate daily.  My blogs on spirituality discuss the aspects and approaches to focused activity.  Other benefits of concentrating mindfully while avoiding distraction are reviewed.  Options and methods to learn meditation abound in written and recorded media.  

Smile a lot.  Assure good sleep.  Specific blogs address both of these necessities to good health outcomes.  These are the following:

SLEEPING WELL #1 – May 19, 2020

SLEEPING WELL #2 – May 25, 2020

SLEEPING WELL #3 – may 31, 2020

SMILE FOR HEALTH AND VIGOR – June 29, 2020

Observe where you step.  There are many obstacles and barriers that seem to pop up.  Make sure the path is clear and straight.  Sightseeing while navigating natural or artificial turf should be done only after a halt.  Being sure-footed is the first priority when taking a stroll.

Importantly, health enhancement measures like the ones discussed above will also protect against the COVID-19 virus.  Strengthening the body in these ways will make you less susceptible to all infections and reduce the severity of any you may be exposed to.  Enhancing cellular wellness lessens the likelihood, duration, and severity of the After-Covid Health Expunging Syndrome.