Health Essentials
Battle of the pandemics
It’s another brilliant day in Sikaman but I am at a loss as to why so little is said about Climate Change especially, at this time when thousands of Climate Change experts, pretenders and world leaders are deliberating on the way forward. The weather in the mornings is terrific and everything looks serene. You will not believe that a few hours later chaos will once again take hold of our roads and create scenes that mimic a jungle.
A little over six years ago when I wrote on “Dr. Essel’s Pick of The Fatal Five” COVID-19 did not earn a call up simply because it was not known. At the time my FATAL FIVE were:
- Cardiovascular Disease (heart and blood vessel disease)
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Malaria
- Diarrhoeal Diseases and Ebola
If I had to reproduce this list in 2021, I will need to replace Ebola with COVID-19 and probably drop diarrhoeal diseases because of the miracle of handwashing but I am not sure yet. Then the almighty Climate Change and Road Carnage will be knocking on my door for consideration. If we have to look for an international flavour then maybe Climate Change will need to replace Malaria. Why? Climate Change like most of the others affects everyone in the world and has far reaching consequences including worsening instances of malaria that may make the malaria vaccine not optimise its benefits, increase the incidence of diarrhoeal diseases, respiratory infections, heart diseases, loss of jobs and incomes and poverty. This is scarier than we are making the world to understand.
It is amazing how people continue to disrespect our laws to the extent that some even drive facing oncoming traffic and the annoying aspect is that they are in a hurry to do nothing. Why will you cause accidents by driving without a brain in potholes interspersed with strips of tarred road? We intentionally make life difficult or are we simply tired of living and hope that by “committing suicide” we will re-incarnate as citizens of another country where milk and honey flow on gold-plated streets?
There are many pandemics that we have neglected for years and I noticed a trend since September where all these Fatal Conditions seem to be shouting hoarse for attention. World Heart Day came up in September reminding us of heart and blood diseases and the fact that it claims almost 18 million lives annually while keeping many others from being productive and wallowing in pity and poverty. Then Breast Cancer Awareness Month hit the scene in October throwing light on many cancers but with a focus on the breasts. For years at least one person is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes and even that is a huge understatement. Fast forward to November and World Diabetes Day is just around the corner while the world attempts to reach a consensus on Climate Change; we all know too well what to do but keep shifting the posts.
We have been living with all these pandemics for years and we do not appear to want to change the status quo. I sometimes wonder if it’s easier to invest in prevention or to wait till complications set in and we have to drain our pockets and national coffers and stretch out open hands for hand-outs?
Will it be easier to fix roads and ensure discipline? Should we all choose to be more physically active, watch what we eat with emphasis on increasing fruit and vegetable intake while limiting salt, sugar and oils? Should screening for cancers be more aggressive?
Is the marketplace, an office or even a shop safer than a hospital or clinic when it comes to the spread of COVID-19? I see the precautions people take when they enter a health facility where protocols are relatively tight and clients are screened. Clients will maintain appropriate distance from others, keep masks on and rarely speak BUT these same people will enter a shop a few minutes later, pull their mask below their mouth, talk like there is no tomorrow and touch so many products on display while taking breaks to rub one’s eyes. I am sure you get the picture. We need to maintain the same discipline everywhere. Quite often we let our guard down where it matters the most.
I have more questions than answers and I hope you can help me out.
AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, 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
Health Essentials Ltd/ St Andrews Clinic/Mobissel
Dr. Essel is a medical doctor, holds an MBA and is ISSA certified in exercise therapy, fitness nutrition and corrective exercise.
Thought for the week–“80 per cent of heart disease is curable.”- Essential Heart Guide 2012 (Mayo Clinic)
Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
Don’t we all dream of a life that is filled with laughter? That may be a reason for chasing big bucks, which like the golden-fleece eludes the majority of us. Financial Wellness is extremely important but there are other factors that make us happy and healthy and eventually wealthy.
You definitely do not need to live in Finland to experience happiness even though many people agree that is the “headquarters” of happiness. The happiness in Finland for instance is based on the provision of basic infrastructure and services, minimal corruption and strong social support among others. These go a long way to minimise anxiety making room for one to enjoy the good things of life.
Then when you live in Sikaman and any of its other cohorts, it is challenging to have those in authority create the environment where you can be happy. That’s why you need to “happy yourself” and the happiness hacks below will help you do just that. Even if you live in Finland, you will gain much more by following these steps.
- Wake-Up Ritual
- Say to yourself that today will be a beautiful day or a great day
- Ask God what He has in store for you. Use me Lord (if not a Christian what you believe in will be useful as well.
- Remind yourself of your purpose in life and get out of bed
- Do not grab your phone as the first thing for the day.
- Pray
- Talking to God has a way of calming our nerves. It brings about unexplained peace and when we add praise and worship then the floodgates open. That is how to win battles against unhappiness.
- Smile
- Definitely floods your body with feel good hormones and insulates you from stress
- Smiling is infectious so the more you smile the better and you set off a smiling OR happiness domino effect.
- Meditate
- Extremely good for your brain and an easy way to start is to do deep-breathing and just focus on your “breath” excluding all others. That is what some will prefer to call mindfulness. Being in the moment has immense benefits. Things you never knew existed suddenly spring up.
- Exercise
- That wonder drug that trumps virtually all others. Like smiling it does pour out feel good hormones. Strength training even goes an extra mile causing our muscles to act as “pharmacies” that pour out life-changing signals every time they contract.
- Be kind to yourself & to others.
- We are often too harsh on ourselves. Give yourself a break. Self-care is the real deal!!
- Being harsh to others has no benefits.
- Spend some time doing nothing
- We need to re-set from time to time. Spend about 10 minutes a day doing absolutely nothing. There is happiness and innovation in “idling”. Do not abuse idling though
- Spend time with loved ones
- This is another powerful happiness “hack”. You have to make time and be intentional about this; talk on phone, send messages, arrange to meet for a drink or meal. Social Wellness ranks very high on the happiness index and it’s fairly easy to plug into it.
- While spending time together remember that your choice of food and drinks also impacts on how happy or sad or anxious you may feel.
- Indulge in a hobby
- Our bodies and brain love variety. Do you have a hobby? Get one
- Write in your gratitude diary
- That is all it takes – keep doing it regularly.
This list is not exhaustive but definitely a good start. Share your happiness hacks with me via email and together we can keep the world smiling and happy.
At the end of each day ask yourself if you did better than the previous day. That is all it takes. Doing better than the previous day for 365 days, for 5 years, 10 years… How amazing that will be!!!
AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, 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
Health Essentials Ltd/Medics Clinic
(dressel@healthessentialsgh.com)
*Dr. Essel is a Medical Doctor with a keen interest in Lifestyle Medicine, He holds an MBA and is an ISSA Specialist in Exercise Therapy, Fitness Nutrition and Corrective Exercise. He is the author of the award-winning book, ‘Unravelling The Essentials of Health & Wealth.’
Thought for the week – “There is no magic formula to being happy but making a conscious effort to be happy goes a long way.” – Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
By Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
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There are thousands of diet plans and some people change them almost as often as they change their underwear. We have fallen in love with pills and injections all in a bid to fast-track the wellness dream. The plastic surgeon’s blade and even prayers have all been called upon to perform miraculous acts. Is there a single path to achieving Wellness or has man found that wonder pill yet?
Is the result of an annual medical examination all that is needed to determine how well one is? Can you have great reviews in the clinic yet feel tired and unhappy? Does wellness obey the all or none law or is it a whole spectrum where majority of us fall within?
Wellness involves at least six (6) areas or pillars that we need to balance since they all work together to make us the best versions of ourselves.
When we fall short in any one of them, it may have consequences in other areas but we don’t need to be perfect in any area; balance is all that is needed. The era of lockdown for instance brought to the fore the importance of Social Wellness; many of us felt isolated when we had to avoid our work colleagues for weeks on end. Even the output of some of us dipped. Oh, you surely are not alone. Even people you detested meeting in the office you now longed to spend time with. Breathe a sigh of relief; that feeling is normal, nothing untoward is happening to you. The majority of us humans are social beings and we blossom when surrounded by family and friends and hugs and handshakes are the norm.
The Six Pillars of Wellness.
- Physical
- Mental
- Social
- Financial
- Digital
- Spiritual
Physical Wellness
Are you taking proper care of your body? Do you exercise, eat right and get your regular medical examinations?
Avoid awkward postures like sitting slouched forwards or bending at the waist to pick an object. Surely you are washing your hands regularly with soap and water. Have you noticed the loud silence from cholera when handwashing was fashionable during the pandemic?
Mental Wellness
The way you think, act or feel falls into this category but it is definitely not an island on its own. Your physical well-being and all the others impact on your mental health.
Time to relax, sleep, manage your time, enjoy nature and be kind to others. These together with deep breathing and laughter, go a long way to keep your mental health in great shape.
Social Wellness
The relationships we have and the way we interact with others. Your mental health, physical health all impact on your relationships. When you exude happiness, people give it right back to you. Build strong relationships; just a few trustworthy people who you can share your challenges with will go a long way to stabilise your mental health and pave the way for all others to flow. When you feel unduly stressed do you have anyone you can speak to before getting professional help? Do not be a loner.
Financial Wellness
How secured is your money? Are we prepared for emergencies in an uncertain future? We need baseline financial security to be able to get all the other pillars working seamlessly. How can you eat well or get medical examinations done with no financial backing? Finances tend to be one of the greatest stressors in life. Do not ignore the need for financial stability, you need it more than you can imagine. Speak to someone who can assist you plan your future TODAY.
Digital Wellness
What measures are you taking that aim at regulating and improving healthy use of technology? If you set virtual meetings, training programmes etc. all day because you are working from home, then when do you get to rest your mind, eyes and back from prolonged sitting among many others? One thing will lead to another. Many of us can hardly unplug. Our phones are on 24/7 and we think sleep is a luxury. NO! Inadequate sleep will open the floodgates to a tonne of health challenges including stress, overeating, alcohol abuse, fatigue and even accidents from fatigue.
Get sleep; it’s a lifeline!
Spiritual Wellness
Are you connected to a greater being who provides us with a sense of purpose, values, principles, morals and beliefs among many others?
If you asked for my opinion, I recommend God. Speak to him daily (prayer) and he will set you on the right path.
In all things do not specialise in one or a few of these pillars of wellness. We should all aim at getting a fair balance in each area and we can be the very best of ourselves. Now do not put unnecessary pressure on yourself; everyone has challenges but taking one step at a time and always remembering that we need different aspects to make life the best that it can be.
AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, 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
Health Essentials Ltd/Medics Clinic
(www.healthessentialsgh.com)
*Dr. Essel is a Medical Doctor with a keen interest in Lifestyle Medicine, holds an MBA and is an ISSA Specialist in exercise therapy, fitness nutrition and corrective exercise. He is the author of the award-winning book, ‘Unravelling The Essentisals of Health & Wealth.’
Thought for the week – “Defining health and wellbeing; The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines health as ‘a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’ (WHO, 1948).”
SKIP THE QUEUE, TAP THE NEWS
You can now read the Ghanaian Times and The Spectator newspapers from the comfort of your device via TimesNewsPlus.
Join our WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
