Health Essentials
Spicing Christmas with beautiful messages
Christmas has its own “swag”. There is no other time of the year that is filled with as much magic as Christmas. Christmas carols, décor, loving hearts and giving. There is insane traffic in some areas and window shoppers are also in abundance just like food and drinks.
All the above create an atmosphere that may lead to regret when managed poorly. In the midst of all the fun do remember to keep your family safe and make time to talk about the following;
Cooking areas/kitchens are not an extension of a child’s play area. It can be a recipe for disaster; tripping, burns etc.
Do ensure the handles of pans and pots on your stove point away from your work area to avoid accidentally bumping into them and causing a spillage
If you have decorations be sure there is no fire / lighted candles close by. Also watch out for small parts , toys that can easily be swollen by children
As we try to create a different atmosphere at home we may end up running cables on the floor. That is a trip alert especially for the elderly and children.
The excitement, alcohol and hormone spikes may lead to adventure from our young adults and some end up in unprotected sex which opens many floodgates including STIs, pregnancy and HIV among others.
Be wary of what your children especially eat or drink when they leave home because drinks, pastries etc. may be spiked with hard drugs
“Ambitious” children may sometimes even want to sneak out with your car even when they are not licensed to drive and we all know what may happen.
Finally make time to connect as a family. Spend time together. Catch up on what is happening in your lives. Eat at least one good meal together each day. Do not keep yourself so busy you have to be out every day.
As adults we are role-models to our children and other young ones. Let us set the right tone and leave memories that are worth emulating from generation to generation.
As we enjoy the love and spirit of giving that comes with this season, we can think through messages shared by friends and colleagues over a period of time. I am sure many will impact positively on our lives.
“Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year. Eat wisely over the holidays. Remember to take a walk to visit two neighbours each day through the holidays. Dispose of your waste wisely and let us make our environment a cleaner place” –Harold Esseku, Sanitary Engineer
“It’s the season of love. Let the only fire that burns be the fire of love not domestic fires” –Victor Etwire, Paediatric Surgeon. Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
“Christmas, the season to share with one another and enjoy great and mouthwatering dishes. Don’t forget your fruits and vegetables. Sanitise your green leafy vegetables with vinegar to avoid food poisoning. Enjoy the season to the max” -Gifty Dufie Ampofo, Public Health Specialist.
“As we celebrate the birth of Lord Jesus this Christmas let us make sure we cross over to the New Year with all our loved ones. Be safe on the roads, avoid drinking and driving and teach the children to use Zebra Crossings when crossing roads. Merry Christmas! –Brenda Addo-Quarshie, Paediatric Doctor
“As the Irish proverb says; a good laugh and a long sleep is better than medicine. May laughter and rest be the cure to all your ailments. Remember health means wealth!”-Anita Arthur, Human Resource Professional.
“If you are on medication, please do not go on a drug holiday so that you can spend the money on pleasure. Remember these are not the last days of your life; you will be here in 2022. Do not start the new year with financial stress and complications of your illness”-Kojo Cobba Essel, Wellness Entrepreneur.
“Santa has been the same size since inception because he loves to fit in his suits. Let’s all in the season of love adopt this model and watch our portions. Keep your teeth extra happy this season and remember to brush them appropriately.”-Josephine Opoku-Bekoe, Human Resource Professional.
“The intergovernmental panel on Climate Change have reemphasised that climate change is ongoing and the impact will get worse if nothing is done. The situation looks dire but there is always a light of hope. More importantly as we celebrate the birth of Jesus let us be reminded that He came to help us resolve our most difficult situations.”- Ama Kwansima Essel, Climate Change Expert.
As we unwrap our gifts this season remember that the first gift of Christmas did not come with pomp, neither was it wrapped yet it is the greatest gift a Father could ever give to His children; the gift of LOVE. Jesus was and is still that gift. This season seize the opportunity to boost your “happiness level” by giving especially to the less fortunate in society. I guarantee that such an act will make you more content and healthier.
If no one is kind enough to give you a gift of an annual medical examination, please make it a point to reward all your labour with at least the basic medical tests after discussing with your doctor.
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 Ltd
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 – “During the holiday season remember to focus on Christ and catch up on sleep; sleep deprivation does not only make you accident-prone, it increases your risk of putting on extra fat and in addition may predispose you to conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure”
Sleep is powerful and definitely one of the major legal performance enhancing drugs of all time but even sleep answereth not all questions related to adequate rest.
“Doctor, I am so tired. I still feel drained even after a 10-hour sleep.”
“I feel lonely, unappreciated and extremely tired. Help me doctor.”
These are two of the numerous examples that clients complain of on a daily basis. We are in “an energy crisis that has nothing to do with oil and gas” and unless we learn to take the necessary breaks and make minor adjustments to our way of life we are heading for a generation that has burnt-out high achievers. I am only drawing attention to a crisis that is often overlooked.
Deep, adequate sleep is an extremely powerful life-changing natural phenomenon that many people trample upon. If you had to make a single change to your life to grow healthier I will suggest you sleep more if you sleep less than seven or eight hours a day. Yes, napping also has an energizing role in our health quest. Rest is such a broad and grey area and it appears sleep is only part of the whole enigma of REST. Now you will understand why an evening with family or friends out of home after a tiring week invigorates you. Also there must be some magic spending time by the seaside even if you don’t sleep. How about playing music with friends? Rest is much more than sleep and though sleep is extremely important all the other forms of rest do matter as well.
A look at the 7 types of rest
1. Physical rest
a. We all know that feeling when you just want the body to take a break. It turns out physical rest can be broken down into two
i. Passive Rest ; lying down, sleeping, napping
ii. Active Rest; yoga, massage, stretching etc.
2. Mental rest
Typically one feels irritable, forgetful and unable to concentrate at work etc. May get eight hours of sleep yet feels horrible. This may be tell-tale signs that you need mental rest
How to fix this;
- Switch off your brain. Take short breaks every two hours talk about or write down your feelings so you are not carrying them around
3. Sensory rest
With the noise all around, bright lights, screen time and a host of others, our senses feel overwhelmed.
How to fix this;
- Simply close your eyes for a minute
- Unplug intentionally; Take a break from computers, phones, bright lights, noise and conversations
4. Creative rest
It is important to awaken the excitement deep within us. The glitter in our eyes. That is another realm of rest.
How to fix this;
- Walk in a beautiful place in nature, watch a movie, play a musical instrument, garden or do art. The good news is you do not even need to be good at it.
5. Emotional rest
Often we are unable to say NO when that is exactly what is needed. We accept additional engagements only to sit in our corner later and feel lonely and unappreciated.
How to fix this;
- Cut back on people-pleasing “adventures”
- Create time to freely express your feelings and emotions. “ME-TIME” and SELFCARE can’t be over emphasised
6. Social rest
It is rare to find someone who needs emotional rest BUT has no social rest deficit. They often come as a “couple”. We need to be able to differentiate between relationships that energise us and those that drain all we have.
How to fix this;
- supportive and positive people, rather than people that exhaust you.
- Engage in conversation and stay focused. Paying attention does wonders to our brain
7. Spiritual rest
We all need to rely on the power of a superior being and for me it is GOD! We need that sense of belonging (child of God), love and a PURPOSE. That gives us the needed rest
How to fix this;
- Prayer
- Praise and worship to The Almighty
- Meditation
- Service to the community
My advice is let us put all these into practice as often as possible. Every day is possible. Do not wait till you are too tired or feel totally broken before you search for these tips. The time is now and remember SLEEP is supreme but we need the other forms of rest to be complete. Seek professional medical care if you continue to feel “unrested”.
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, 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 – “Whatever you practise grows stronger, what are you practising now?”
References:
1. Saundra Dalton-Smith, MD – ideas.ted.com
2025 appears to be in a hurry, but isn’t that what we say every year? Information overload is real and when it comes to health and wellness not all we come across is backed by science
I have been thinking about CERVICAL CANCER AWARENESS and a number of the nuggets will look at this preventable / manageable cancer. My goal regarding cervical cancer prevention is to encourage, coerce all ladies in the age group to be screened.
The watch word(s) should be prevention and early detection of changes.
1. Cervical cancer is the most preventable of all female cancers. Do the following.
a. Have regular cervical screening tests e.g. once every three years depending on findings
b. Get vaccinated against Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
c. Practice safe sex
d. Live a smoke-free life
e. Eat a balanced diet to help support your immune system
2. Signs and symptoms of Cervical Cancer you should not ignore
a. Vaginal bleeding that is abnormal for you
b. Bleeding after sexual intercourse
c. Bleeding between periods
d. Heavier periods than usual
e. Changes in vaginal discharge
f. Pain during sexual intercourse
g. Persistent pain in your pelvis or lower back
3. Risk factors for Cervical Cancer
a. Any woman with a cervix
b. Anyone who is sexually active
c. Anyone with an HPV infection
d. Anyone who smokes and drinks alcohol
e. Family history of cervical cancer
4. The Human Papilloma Virus is the most common sexually transmitted infection and is the cause of almost all cervical cancer (WHO).
5. Exercise has that immediate effect of improving your mood, focus and attention. With increased exercise over your lifetime, you slow the expression of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
6. The best way to burn off the stress hormones without having to change your thinking is to move and sweat. Run, dance, jump, swim, stretch or skip; do something vigorous and lively. Yoga is also fabulous, as it combines movement and breathing.
7. Self-Care Check List 1
a. Listen to your body
b. Move more
c. Eat healthy
d. Breathe right
e. Avoid harmful substances and excess of anything
f. Get enough sleep
g. Cultivate gratitude and joy
8. Your thoughts, your feelings, your emotions, your beliefs literally communicate with every aspect of your biology every second. Yes your thoughts communicate with your cells. They all help to determine so much about your health.
9. Some Longevity Principles
a. Avoid ultra-processed foods
b. Get quality sleep
c. Strength exercises is a MUST!
d. Build community and purpose
e. Practice stress management
10. Food is not only a source of energy, joy, connection and pleasure; it can also rejuvenate us and even reverse disease. Would you rather be powered by junk food?
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 – “with better access to vaccination, screenings and treatments, cervical cancer can be eliminated.”- WHO
Reference:
1. Cervical Cancer Awareness – The Bank Hospital
2. Cervical Cancer Awareness – Medpluspharmacyng
3. World Health Organization (WHO)
4. VK Fitness
5. Dr Mark Hyman
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