Taking Responsibility for Your Health

being responsible for your health

The social healthcare of Canada is an incredible benefit to its residents, yet it can sometimes create an attitude within people that prompts them to lean heavily on medical care instead of taking responsibility for their own health. For example, someone with acne might go to the doctor for antibiotics but fail to control their drinking habit that is worsening their condition. Or, someone who never exercises or stretches may go to the doctor complaining of joint stiffness and ask for medication. This is not to make light of a substance abuse problem. Canadians who struggle with something like problem drinking need the services of an alcoholism rehab Pickering, Vancouver or Toronto. However, while social healthcare is a great privilege of being Canadian, it should not be used as a crutch. Contributing toward a communal healthcare budget is all the more reason to take the best care of one’s self possible and adhere to simple yet valuable health advice.

The best medical treatment a person can give themselves is a day-to-day healthy lifestyle. Everyone should make careful, well-informed decisions about their diet, for starters. No two people have the same body chemistry and an individual’s perfect diet is developed through critical thinking about food and trial and error. People with heart conditions require heart-friendly foods, people with a gluten intolerance require gluten free foods, and so on. There are basic diet choices that nearly everyone can follow for good health and weight management, such as limiting fats and eating plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Getting enough exercise and doing stretches is also critical to a person’s health. Working out is how we build muscle, shed calories and increase circulation, and doing stretches is how we retain our flexibility. Building muscle mass is important to preserving strength for good joint health and protection of our bones. Burning the calories we eat is important to weight management and to a balanced metabolism. Good circulation is important to the renewal of all our organs and bodily systems, and flexibility keeps us agile as we age.

And lastly, getting enough regular sleep and managing stress is very important to good health. Our bodies use sleep to restore themselves to good health. Missing out on sleep results in diminished physical health and brain function. Having a stress release is also critical to good health as stress is physically debilitating and has been proven to cause physical symptoms.