The importance of a healthy body is not a subject that should be taken lightly. More and more people are searching for answers to their health concerns. Media and internet are sensitising the population. The government, corporate companies and NGOs are facilitating greater interests in healthy lifestyles and participating in wellness promotions. People know more about hypertension and diabetes and are managing these chronic diseases to some extent. In creating health for ourselves and by extension for others, Auguste says, we must first acquire the knowledge and understanding that this is a process that takes time to accomplish and be gradual in introducing changes, receive professional guidance on proper diet and exercise, monitor your health and be guided by medical advice, associate with persons of similarly interest in healthy habits.
She advises that you should first start with a medical health assessment. At this time, a doctor will review your social lifestyle looking for risk factors (e.g. smoking, drinking alcohol) and family background looking for hereditary factors (e.g. Cancer, heart disease, diabetes etc). During your review the doctor will also check the vital organs such as the heart, kidney, liver, --- identify risks and predisposition to heart disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes and other life threatening disease. This gives a generalized assessment, and will enable the have the pertinent facts to advise you on what lifestyle changes you would need.
Seeking professional advice is imperative and the advancement of technologies has made health care a full discussion on its own. In the context of the hospitals and private centres in Trinidad and Tobago, there will be focus on further expansion of the executive health assessment program that facilitates early detection of disease and management of wellness. In the case of vascular service where "academics in private practice" is the motto, patients are being screened for the presence of arterial and vein disorders. Early detection allows for implementation of programs to prevent stroke, gangrene, and loss of limbs.
"The Unit at St. Clair Medical Centre has pioneered and published several innovative procedures", says Dr. Dale Maharaj. Some centres are now offering a new treatment for diabetics with leg pain due to nerve degeneration (neuropathy). Innovation in health care has allowed such surgeries such as the "Keyhole surgery' which is used for treating blocked vessels and patients go home the next day, fully ambulant. Now, varicose veins and haemorrhoids are being treated successfully and more efficiently than with conventional open surgery.
At some point, we should all realise that if we want to create optimal health, we should be asking ourselves some very important questions, and make that decision to start now. Each body is unique and should be treated in such a way. "Your wellness lifestyle can to a great extent maintain your bodies in good health and control disease and in many instances retard the progression of the disease. It cannot stop the disease," says Auguste. When we organise our life in a pro-active fashion, this will most of the times allow us to do most things that support, what you really want. If we really want to be healthy, then we are going to now make those necessary choices that support that. And they are not necessarily going to be easy, but the benefits are so worth it.