Mind your health

The Monitor Editor | Tuesday February 27, 2024 06:00

They've repeatedly warned that hypertension, or high blood pressure, often termed a chronic lifestyle disease, is a silent killer. It's crucial for everyone to be aware of their health status. Nowadays, many companies host wellness days, offering free disease screenings to employees!

Unfortunately, even with such services, some choose not to take advantage of the opportunity.

The Dutch Reformed Church in Botswana recently organised a Wellness Day, open to church members, individuals from other churches, and the community. This well-attended event had the support of the Botswana Medical Aid Society (BOMAID). Despite efforts to educate the public on chronic lifestyle diseases and the risks of delayed treatment, many still take their health lightly. High blood pressure often goes undetected, posing a serious and potentially deadly challenge.

Some people fear the unknown and proudly claim they'd rather not know their health status. That's not a wise approach! While we don't know how much time we have on earth, taking care of ourselves is vital. Imagine leaving your children as orphans due to something controllable with medication or a proper diet.

We owe it to ourselves to take excellent care of our bodies.

Recently, many have succumbed to heart disease and other ailments. There was a myth that lifestyle diseases only affect older people and while the chances increase with age, young people are not immune. Screening for lifestyle diseases doesn't consume much time. Some private doctors even offer free screenings for such diseases!

Knowing your health status is crucial; the country still needs you and your family relies on you. Let's make screening for various diseases a part of our lives to address complications before they endanger us. Let's all strive for a healthy lifestyle—eating well, exercising, and incorporating health screenings into our routines.