The first thing we must do to have any form of discussion is agree on what we are discussing. Most people want to be healthy. I say most because I had one man mark on his case history that he wasn’t interested in being healthy. I asked why he marked that, and he said that if he marked that he was interested in health, I would tell him to lose weight and stop smoking, and he didn’t want to hear it.
So MOST, but not all, want to be healthy. What is health? A definition that I like is, optimal physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Just not feeling sick does not mean you are healthy.
What is optimal function? Optimal means not too much and not too little. It is proper adaptation for the conditions of the moment. Who or what decides?
I can think of two options. Your nervous system seems to monitor your body and send sensory information to your brain. Other nerves send signals away from your brain to control body function. One option is that your brain processes information like a computer. Your brain takes input, processes it and creates output. Your brain is in control. Another option is that your brain is like a computer, but you are the intelligence behind the brain. You use the brain and subconsciously control your body.
I like the second option. The idea that I can control my brain allows me to make decisions. I am not just my brain or just my body. I am something more.
Some are trying to make us believe that we cannot affect our health. They tell us that healthy people get measles. Healthy people get Covid. To be blunt, healthy people get sick.
However, when we look at the people who die (complete failure to properly adapt), we find they usually had comorbidities. They were too fat. They smoked. They had other diseases. They were old.
A great way to reduce the cost of healthcare is to reduce demand. Unlike my patient who was not concerned about his health, you can do things to be healthy. Yes, something might happen to you, but you will be more likely to adapt and have lower treatment costs.
Remember, when I had a lung collapse? One of the nurses said nobody had ever seen a recovery as fast as mine. A doctor told me that I could take credit for my recovery because I had taken good care of myself.
That could be you. I have been under chiropractic care my entire life. Some may question the benefit, but the evidence is mounting that it is helpful.
There is no question that being active is helpful. I walk three to five miles per day. It is now 8:51 pm. I just checked my phone. I have walked 3.8 miles today.
You can be too thin. Tall, thin, males are more likely to have a spontaneous pneumothorax (collapsed lung). I am 69 inches tall. My weight at the time of my pneumothorax was 147 pounds. When I could begin exercising again, I bought a set of selectable dumbbells. I now weigh 162 pounds. My waist is the same as it was at 147 pounds. I’ve added muscle. I’m in better shape.
Things are easier when you are stronger. I can mow the grass easier. I feel stronger while walking my dogs. I enjoy that feeling. Whether I will get sick less or not, I am having a better experience.
I have also found that I feel better if I eat more protein. I usually have eggs for breakfast and a large meat and cheese sandwich for lunch. My digestive system seems to work better when I eat a little more than I was at my low weight point.
Another thing you can do is learn to control your mind. I am not into guided meditation. I don’t want someone else telling me what to think. I created a five-minute meditation video for students in my Udemy course. I just have students focus on a thought. I interrupt every 30 seconds to remind students in case their minds are wandering. Getting control of my mind is the most important thing I have learned. Although it is not always in control, it is never out of control for long. I am happier because I can choose to be.
Insurance didn’t cover my dumbbells. Insurance doesn’t pay me to use them. Insurance doesn’t pay for my food. Insurance has no effect on my brain. Insurance does not pay for me to meditate. Insurance does not make us healthy.
When I got sick, insurance covered treatment for my illness, as it should. According to the medical professionals, my bills were less because I take care of myself.
I’m trying to encourage you to do things that will help you have a better life. You will feel better. You will have a higher-level experience. You might even help reduce the demand for treatment.
Imagine if we all chose to be healthy. What a change we would see in the world.