Rich in Wealth or Rich in Health?

If you had a choice between a million dollars and being healthy which would you chose?

Last week, I received a call from a friend and got some bad news. He called me to tell me another friend of ours was getting a piece of his foot amputated from complications due to diabetes.  At first, I was in shock, but I am slowly realizing I am approaching the age where health complications can arise. Its easy to get fooled by the invincibility of youth but turning the big “four o” can firmly plant your feet back on the ground. I personally think 40 is the “make it or break it” age and you can either add years to your life or drastically reduce it.

A Family Affair

Family can play a large part in your health. For instance, my friend who recently got part of his foot amputated parents had diabetes. His father died from gangrene which is the one of the complications of the disease. If you knew both your parents suffered from a life threatening condition, what’s your excuse for not taking better care of yourself? Family medical history is one of the greatest predictors of health issues which could arise as someone gets older. I have seen many people ignore their family medical history only to have it kick them in their pants.

Change what you do

If you know your family medical history, you can immediately change some of the things  you do. For instance, my family has a history of hypertension, so I stay away from foods high in salt content and I reduce my stress by exercising.Yup… exercising does reduce stress. I also know my mother had a heart problem and I have a heart murmur, so I make sure I do my “cardio”. It helps to keep my heart in shape. Did you know the heart is a muscle?

For the Health of it

Is exercising just for the “look” of it? You’re probably wondering what I mean by that, right? There are some real health benefits to exercise and not just to have a firm “booty” or a six pack. For example, I had the pleasure of hearing some good news from a client of mine the other day. She recently had a doctor’s visit and found out her cholesterol count was lowered and she avoided having to take medication for her heart. I was thrilled about it and so was she!!!

Problems Problems

Health problems can be avoided. If you know your family history, take advantage of it. You can use it to change your eating habits and start exercising. No one has to suffer from disease unless you’re just a “glutton” for punishment. If you know your risks firsthand, you can significantly reduce your odds for potential problems. Have you avoided any health problems yourself as a result of family history? Are you changing your exercise and eating habits because of this? Any comments?