BREAKING OUT OF JAIL Written by Terry L. Sumerlin
One of fringe benefits of doing “enrichment lectures” for Princess Cruises is that, at various times, Sherry and each of our children have accompanied me. We’ve had wonderful times together.Once, when our youngest daughter, Amanda, was with me she asked a question that has sort of stuck with me. The conversation took place some years ago but, if my memory serves me correctly, it took place while we were having breakfast in beautiful Horizon Court of Sun Princess. She suddenly asked, “Dad, do you feel old?” I was so taken back, all I could say was, “WHAT DO YOU MEAN ‘Do I feel old?’” “Well, you are getting up there,” she replied. Of course, to someone who at time was in her early twenties I guess everyone over thirty was “getting up there.” The thought was planted, though. Somewhat like golfer whose friend asked on tee box, “Do you inhale or exhale at top of your swing?”, her question pops into my mind at odd moments. Recently, I thought of it while writhing in pain. It all started innocently enough, while I was at Mom’s house tending to her dog, while she was in hospital. I’m never quite sure if her chow is going to lick me or devour me. Normally, when feeding him, I open sliding glass door just enough to permit me to stand in opening and drop his food in dish. That way he doesn’t slip through door and into living room. This particular day, I had to go completely outside to check his water bowl at back of house. When I returned to door – surprise! I’d locked myself out! The key I had would not unlock that door, and there was a pad lock on gate to fence. I was in jail!
| | How Healthy Is Your LifestyleWritten by Loring A. Windblad
Copyright 2004 by http://www.organicgreens.us and Loring Windblad. This article may be freely copied and used on other web sites only if it is copied complete with all links and text intact and unchanged except for minor improvements such as misspellings and typos. Compelling evidence shows that certain lifestyle behaviours can improve health, prevent premature death and may even prolong life. The problem is that people often drift along, continuing their unhealthy ways - maybe vowing to stop smoking or drink less "some day soon" - until a disease or health problem strikes and it may be too late to reverse damage. Assessing your lifestyle and how it affects health before illness occurs is a wise precaution. (However, changing one's lifestyle even after illness can sometimes improve health - for instance giving up cigarettes and exercising more after a heart attack.) Why assess lifestyle risks? Accumulating scientific evidence shows that a few simple lifestyle habits can directly improve health and decrease disease risks. Much disability and premature death from today's foremost killers - heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, liver cirrhosis, suicide and unintentional injuries - stem from everyday habits. Over half premature deaths in North America are blamed on unhealthy behaviours such as cigarette smoking, insufficient exercise, excessive alcohol intake and a fat-laden diet. Only six per cent of premature deaths are considered avoidable through better medical care. A California study has demonstrated that disease risks can be reduced by not smoking cigarettes, moderating alcohol use, eating breakfast, having regular physical activity, maintaining desirable weight, getting enough (7-8 hours) nightly sleep and having close social networks. The effect is cumulative: greater number of good lifestyle habits, greater chance of better health and a longer life. A recent Canadian study confirmed a lower chance of premature death by avoiding cigarette smoking, high blood pressure (related to obesity and insufficient exercise), adult-onset diabetes (due to obesity, poor diet, lack of exercise) and excess alcohol consumption. (However, some everyday influences are an unavoidable part of environment, over which individuals have little control - such as air pollution or traffic noise.) To evaluate your lifestyle, ask yourself a few key questions about everyday activities such as amount of fat you eat, smoking and drinking habits - see checklist below - and evaluate which might be improving your health or perhaps damaging it. Consider seeking advice from a health professional about habits you wish to change. Quick, easy computer programs help rate your lifestyle To help people assess health impact of various lifestyle activities, a new Computerized Lifestyle Assessment (CLA) program, developed by Addiction Research Foundation and University of Toronto, provides a practical, quick, confidential and easy method of evaluating lifestyle strengths and weaknesses. The computer program, which takes 20 minutes to run, asks detailed questions about 16 lifestyle activities, with graphic feedback along way and a printed report at end. Identification and feedback about risk activities that undermine health often lead people to improve their lifestyle and seek advice from a health professional. For details about CLA program, call (416) 978-8989 or contact publisher, Multi-Health Systems, at 1-800-268-6011. The computer program asks questions about. * substance abuse; * health maintenance; * preventive activities; * social and intimate relationships; * mental and emotional wellbeing. The program feeds back information about: * lifestyle strengths or activities to keep up * areas of concern or factors that can threaten health * risk areas requiring action to prevent disease The final printout pinpoints health-harming behaviours, some of which may come as a surprise, others that may be known to person who might be "thinking about" changing them. For example, a woman who thinks she leads a healthy life - doesn't smoke, drink or take other drugs, eats a low-fat vegetarian diet and exercises three times a week - may have emotional problems stemming from poor social relationships and a perfectionist attitude. Or, a man who doesn't smoke, drinks little alcohol and has good work and personal relationships may endanger his health by being overweight with beginnings of diabetes, hypertension and a potential heart problem.
|
