| These days everyone complains that the days are galloping; has the pace not always been the same? Does a salaried worker who spends all his money in the first week of the month also feel the days are flying past too quickly for comfort? Years gone by pupils closed from school by 12.30pm and we had a lot of time to do many things, several years later I realized my passion in life had a close association to my after school activities. Those of us who have been procrastinating since January 1st have been hit with the reality that very soon this year will come to a close and we may not even have tackled number 1 on our To Do Health List. I believe that this timely reminder will help us all. Last year I coined the phrase “No Dentist No Christmas” but the best I did was to have a short telephone conversation with my dentist. Let us all make it a point to complete the list below, which we often take for granted – they come in very handy. 1. DUMP medicines and save lives “DUMP” is acronym for disposal of unused/unwanted medicines programme. Accidental poisoning of children at home, starting point of drug abuse by teenagers at home and uninformed self-medication have one thing in common; in all three unused or unwanted medicines are likely culprits. The harm we cause when we fail to properly dispose off medicines we do not need is crippling. Whether you are a part of a small or big company, an association or even a small family unit, it may be a good idea to identify a clinic close-by where you will regularly return unused or even expired medications. The relevant regulatory bodies will dispose off these medicines appropriately. Do not wait till you or someone dear learns about the harmful effects of such medicines the hard way, start DUMP immediately. 2. ICE your phone; it may save your own life ICE stands for IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. Choose two or three people who are pretty close to you and who you are willing to share some of your health challenges with. Save their name on your phone beginning with “ice” so a perfect example will be; ice kojo essel. Should you be in any form of danger and your phone is located, this person can easily be contacted. ICE concept can be most effective if more people are aware and practice it as well. Having more people aware means anytime the cell phone of someone in trouble e.g. one involved in an accident, sudden collapse etc anyone assisting will search for the “ice contacts” to seek more information and help. 3. Screen for Glaucoma – the silent thief of sight Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve (nerve of the eye) leading to loss of vision. It is most often but not always associated with an increase in eye pressure. In Ghana, glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness second only to cataract. Ghana appears to have many challenges with “vision” (note the pun) as we have been identified as the country with the second highest prevalence rate of glaucoma. Glaucoma is sometimes referred to as the “silent thief of sight” because it can damage your vision so gradually that you may not notice any loss of vision until the disease is at an advanced stage. Have your eye pressures checked NOW! 4. Get Dental attention – it is critical Many of us will see a dentist only when our teeth are literally falling out or when we are deprived of sleep by toothache. A number of chronic diseases such as diabetes and even heart disease have been associated with poor oral hygiene. It is recommended that we visit a dentist at least twice a year. This could mean doing the right thing to prevent dental decay, oral cancer, gum disease and erosion of our teeth. Once again let us aim for “No Dentist, No Christmas” and do not do what I did last year. Make sure you visit a dentist. 5. Make Hand washing with soap and water a must Making proper hand washing with soap and running water routine may be able to save us from about 80% of everyday infections. If we had mastered this art earlier, we would have been a step ahead of Ebola and cholera. This is a habit we need to develop and ensure that everyone in our household does the same. Spread the hand washing message and protect yourself as well since you may be exchanging more than you bargained for every time you extend your hand to shake someone. We certainly should not lose count of eating healthy meals and exercising appropriately and regularly but ensuring that we have the five points above covered before the end of the year will make our lives healthier and safer. AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI) Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel Moms’ Health Club (dressel@healthclubsgh.com) *Dr Essel is a medical doctor, holds an MBA and is ISSA certified in exercise therapy and fitness nutrition. Thought for the week – “Eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, not smoking and keeping blood pressure and cholesterol under control all benefit blood flow to the brain.” – Charles Hall, PhD. |
