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When I started taking biology classes in high school, our biology tutor gave a definition for disease that I’ll never forget. He said that the word ‘disease’ is a derivative of the prefix ‘dis’ and the noun ‘ease.’ Putting the two words together gives you ‘dis-ease’.
Therefore, we can view disease from this logical and literary perspective that it is a condition that brings about a feeling of pain, trouble and discomfort to the body.
In a broader sense, it sometimes includes injuries, disabilities, disorders, syndromes, infections, isolated symptoms, and deviant behaviors. To gain a firm understanding of diseases, it is pertinent to look at what it means to be healthy.
The World Health Organization defines health as state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. This definition is holistic enough to let us know the challenges involved in keeping diseases away and living healthily.
More so, the recent break out of epidemics such as Ebola and Zika viruses has proven beyond doubt that certain systemic measures must be put in place to combat these public health emergencies.
However, on the personal level, you can combat diseases and reduce your risk for infection by making healthy choices and embracing a better lifestyle.
1. Adopt good personal hygiene
Good personal hygiene will keep you safe and help prevent the spread of diseases. Hand washing is said to be the most effective way to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Bathing regularly, regular mouth washing, and the use of hand sanitizers will also help you prevent common diseases, and this allows you to achieve some milestones in personal hygiene.
2. Ensure environmental cleanliness
Keeping your environment clean is also paramount to the disappearance of diseases. A clean environment will prevent or limit the presence of disease-causing organisms in the home, workplace or other public places. Effective waste disposal, regular cleaning of drainages, pollution control, and fumigating of surroundings are general ways to improve environmental conditions.
3. Go for regular health screening
When diseases are detected earlier, they are often very easy to treat. To this end, the use of ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) has proved very helpful in the detection and measurement of antibodies in the body. This test allows you to determine your level of immunity from or vulnerability to certain diseases such as HIV, malaria, Hey fever, Lyme disease and general allergies. It is advised that whenever you observe unusual signs and symptoms in your body, always report to a medical doctor.
4. Eat healthy diets
A healthy, balanced diet is essential in combating and preventing diseases. Basically, what a healthy diet does is to supply your body with the nutrients necessary to maintain the proper functioning of its system. For example, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables will boost your immune system, thus guarding your body against some diseases.
5. Be active and fit
Engaging in regular physical activity helps to maintain a healthy weight. Also, being active prevents you from going overweight and overweight increases your risk of diseases such as diabetes, heart diseases and some types of cancer. You should make light exercises such as riding, walking, dancing, swimming and jogging a part of your daily routine. You’d be surprised how much fitness you’d gain within a short duration.
To make living a healthy life a reality, you have to build healthy attitudes and live by them. Remember, ‘a healthy attitude is contagious but don’t wait to catch it from others. Be a carrier.’ ~Tom Stoppard