From an early age, I was an advocate for preventative medicine (play, aka exercise, nutrition and managing stress) and listening to my body.  

There was a time in my 20’s I didn’t abide by my advice. I had internal bleeding which almost killed me.

I took my health for granted.

That experience is part of the reason why I became a health coach. Listening to yourself and what your body needs are critical. 

When I had children, I made sure that they understood the importance of health prevention, which is why this week, my daughter ended up in the emergency room.

Despite doing our part to stay home and social distance in the middle of a pandemic, my daughter felt it was necessary to go to the hospital because of extreme pain.

Have you ever had an ache or pain that you think will get better on its own?

Off and on over the past couple of months, she has had stomach and back pain. We couldn’t figure out why the pain became unbearable on Monday, so we got in the car and drove to the hospital.

We were both nervous because of COVID-19. No one wants to go to the hospital right now unless they have to. We pulled up, and there was a security guard with protective gear on who was screening those who were entering.

And that’s as far as my journey went. I had to wait outside while she went in on her own. It was a long afternoon! I’m happy to report that she was well looked after by our excellent health system, had some tests done and is going to be okay.  

Which brings me to my point.

When your body speaks, you should listen.

Prevention is key. Most people aren’t very good at it, though, and it’s tempting to ignore a problem that could signal something worse. 

Even if you do pay attention to your symptoms, it’s not easy to know what they mean. That’s why a doctor is your best line of defence.  

All medical professionals agree, though, that a positive, proactive approach to longterm health is play (exercise), eating well and managing stress.

People who approach their daily habits this way will tend to live longer than those who don’t. 

And even when you do live a healthy lifestyle, like my daughter, it is still possible to end up with mental and physical ailments. 

However, did you know that 70% of lifestyle-related diseases are preventative with better lifestyle choices? Why don’t more people follow these necessary steps for a longer, better life?  

Sometimes it’s hard to know where to start, but finding ONE healthy habit to adopt is a start. Choosing one will make you feel good, both physically and mentally – good enough to want to change another.  

While health setbacks are part of life, not paying attention to the signs your body is sending you can be worse off in the long run.

How can you treat yourself with a preventative mindset?

Know that it’s a practice to listen to your inner voice, and it takes time to apply the kindness to ourselves as it does to others.

Where will you start? Your life, your health.

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