What my doctor told me after my recent test

During my birthday in August, I did my annual comprehensive laboratory test. When my physician reviewed the result, she made one comment that encouraged me. She said: “Whatever you are doing, keep doing it.” She explained that for someone in his mid-50s, my results were very good.

I was glad that my lifestyle choices were having some good effects. But I was also grateful that I was lucky not to be facing some illnesses, for I know that there are people who do more than I do but are hit by some diseases they have no control over.

Some time ago, a friend asked me why those who have enough money to take care of a community die earlier than those who just have enough to feed their families. I looked around my local community and noticed that many of the wealthy and moderately comfortable passed on either in their prime or in early old age. But there are many people in the lower financial class that have lived into good old age.

That got me thinking. In the rural and semi-urban societies, it seems rich people die earlier than poor people, especially in Nigeria, despite access to better healthcare. It also seems that poor people look stronger and healthier than rich people at old age. Looking at the lifestyle of those who have made it to ripe old age, I noticed that there is a trend.
The type of food eaten by the two classes of people may be a factor. The food eaten by those in the lower class is more natural. Anxiety and lack of contentment may also be strong factors. Those who are richer have more worries and they exert themselves more to get more wealth or maintain their level of wealth.

But my discussion with doctors and also my research also reveal that there is one key factor: exercise. Poor people and those who are barely financially comfortable, especially in rural areas, engage in activities that exercise their body, like walking, farming, splitting wood, cutting grass, fetching water from the stream (that may be up to three kilometres away), dancing, sweeping, cleaning the house, etc. Consequently, they exercise their bodies unconsciously. On the contrary, rich people drive around in cars, have servants and workers who do most of their domestic and office duties. Therefore, they sit down most times either in the office or at home, not giving their body enough exercise.

Urbanization has changed our lifestyles. It has changed the organic foods like yam, beans, millet, as well as the fruits and vegetables we used to eat daily. Our food is now less organic and more fried. The availability of cars and motorcycles has also made us not walk around much. But the heart and the body need to be exercised. The solution is that we should create opportunities to exercise them regularly.
10 Reasons Why You Need to Exercise
How to Start

Start with light exercises like walking and swimming. Then move on to jogging, dancing, skipping, aerobics, and cycling. Take the stairs rather than the elevator.

How Much Exercise Do You Need?

Don’ts of Exercise

Where to Exercise

When to Start Exercising
Start today. Start now. Don’t postpone it till the weekend or until you buy the right sportswear or shoes or until you are less busy. It is your life. It is your body. Love it; pamper it; exercise it.

 X: @BrandAzuka