How we feel about out health dictates our choices – food, exercise, alcohol, sleep, and sex – as the mind and body are connected.
Self-love is a large part of good health and facilitates happiness. Optimistic people live longer, have better health outcomes, and are more resilient if a diagnosis is made.
Lack of self-love is physically demonstrated unhappiness, which shows up as:
- Inconsistent exercise.
- Irregular sleeping patterns.
- Overindulgence in pleasures of the flesh, such as alcohol, food, illicit drugs, or sex.
- Ignoring changes in the body – prolonged joint pain, shortness of breath, or chest pain.
- Not taking medications as prescribed or neglecting to refill.
- Denying presence of disease once diagnosed – for example, diabetes or high blood pressure.
Unhappiness is a disease because it alters mind, body, and/or spirit. Uneasiness or dis-ease can manifest in all parts of the body and mind with harmful consequence from disruption of normal habits. Though changes are seemingly small, this furthers the dis-ease causing harm to self and possibly others. For example, uncontrolled diabetes leads to hemodialysis, blindness, or limb amputation. I have also seen a number of patients with an early diagnosis of cancer who only seek treatment later when experiencing life threatening symptoms after the cancer has spread.
Health as a demonstration of happiness can be achieved with a little practice. Consider the following:
- Know your medical history. See your doctor for annual exams.
- Notice and act upon symptoms; persistent pain or change in bodily fluid is your body’s warning that something is wrong.
- Communicate honestly with your healthcare provider. Physicians can only treat correctly if all information is shared candidly.
- Take medications as prescribed, which includes completing the prescription, as well as not taking other people’s medications.
- Get plenty of rest, which includes 7-9 hours of sleep and, if possible, a quick 15-minute nap or quiet meditation break each day.
- Exercise daily for at least 30 minutes. Exercise releases endorphins elevating overall mood.
- Keep a healthy weight. Eat 9 fruits & vegetables daily. Carry an apple or banana for a quick, delicious snack. Fill your plate with greens, then add a small amount of protein, beans, and other vegetables to keep your waistline in check.
- Stop smoking to prevent heart attacks, strokes, and emphysema.
- Use alcohol in moderation to avoid liver disease, DUI, or death.
- Practice safer sex. Know your HIV status and use condoms to prevent sexually transmitted infections.
- Maintain healthy relationships. Talk at regular intervals, practice forgiveness, and avoid holding grudges. Anger releases stress hormones that escalate blood pressure and increase risk for heart disease.
- Encourage friends and family to know their health history. Make health an easy part of conversation.
Altruism and gratitude have been shown to improve quality of life. Practice self-love by doing small things everyday to improve your health. Choose optimism and happiness, and share it with your community. Be well.
