Taking care of own health keeps the doctor away

LYANA Khairuddin’s “Rights to health in your hands” ( The Star, Nov 17) is timely and a good reminder that health is the foundation of a prosperous nation, especially as the number of Malaysians, both young and old, plagued with ill health is increasing.

Lack of regular exercise and bad diets have led to obesity, which brings on a host of chronic illnesses including diabetes, hypertension, stroke and kidney failure.

Alarmingly, more and more younger people are suffering from such chronic diseases that were previously confined to elderly folks. Many of our workers spend at least eight hours a day hunched at the computers in their workplaces and more hours monitoring their mobile phones after work.

Many do not enjoy good health and spend months, if not years, incapacitated in one way or another. Personally and at society level, this represents a loss of valuable economic and social input when they are sick.

It is not a pretty picture when combined with an increasing number of people of all ages also suffering from depression and burnout.

Pleas for the authorities to do more to ensure that people have solid information on medical practices and issues must be complemented with the public taking responsibility for their own preventive measures.

Preventive medicine, taking responsibility for our own health and adopting a healthy lifestyle are surely the concerns of not just doctors and the government but the patients themselves too.

Really, better health at all ages starts at home. It must start with the personal decision to take responsibility for one’s health, including getting regular health screening to help nip problems in the bud. Staving off costly interventions is good not only for the public healthcare system but also for people’s own wellbeing and ability to work and enjoy life.

With prevention through regular exercise and medical check-ups, sensible diet and a balanced lifestyle as the focus, the key to wellness is to accept personal responsibility for your health and wellbeing. Remember, the greatest wealth is health.

SZE LOONG STEVE NGEOW Kajang