In order to reach our goals related to fitness and overall wellness, we sometimes go to extremes to achieve the results we want. However, while someone’s motivations might be in the right place, it’s possible to do more harm than good. This is especially true when people choose to employ their own wellness solutions rather than seeking advice from a healthcare professional.
Here are some tips and considerations to help individuals avoid injury/illness while aiming to maintain a healthy lifestyle:
Chronic Conditions
Self-management can be easily defined for some people with chronic illnesses, and not so clear cut for others. For example, if someone has diabetes, they can measure their blood glucose level. If they have hypertension, they can test their blood pressure. These parameters can be monitored by the patient and they can adjust accordingly.
But for other types of illnesses, it’s more difficult to self-monitor and a patient’s willingness to do so probably has something to do with whether they can control their condition or not. Attitude about their illness and coping skills also plays a role.
Here’s an example of someone with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) who wants to test her physical strength and build up fitness, and thereby tries various exercises through trial and error:
“Trying boxing this morning was a mistake,” the woman wrote in a Facebook post. “What a bummer. I used to be super good at it. I just tried going at the bag for about 15 minutes but the impact caused a massive flare up with my EDS. Getting into shape with chronic illness is a beast. It is a matter of just testing my limits to build my strength and get stronger while also trying to not cause a flare up that leaves me bedridden. It is a necessary evil I guess. The only way to get stronger and cause less flare ups is to risk causing a flare-up. I need more ice packs in my life.”
EDS is a genetic disease that weakens the body’s connective tissues, such as tendons and ligaments. EDS makes the skin thin, and it can be easily bruised as a result.
As more and more people with a wide range of illnesses take ownership of their health and healthcare as a way to be more independent, advances in technology and the Internet of Things could potentially play a bigger role in their lives.
Once chronic patients identify their goals, their nurses can monitor them remotely with technologies designed to assess their condition, relay readings to healthcare providers, send emergency alerts, and track progress over time.
Oral Health Care
Sometimes people try to overcompensate for dental problems on their own rather than seeking professional care. For example, over brushing can do more harm than good and may create larger problems that will be more difficult to cover on a patient’s private dental insurance than regular preventive care.
Regular preventive care such as getting a teeth cleaning twice a year at the dentist should be part of a person’s wellness plan — and for good reason! Oral health is inextricably linked with overall physical health. Many conditions can be caused or exacerbated by poor dental hygiene.
As for a proper brushing technique every day, people should be using a soft-bristled toothbrush with the tips of the bristles at a 45-degree angle to the gumline for two to three minutes.
Physical Fitness
A “brand new year” may mean ascribing to a “brand new you” motto, but for people who don’t have experience exercising, this gung-ho mentality can lead to injury. Incorporating some form of exercise such as walking, jogging, or swimming throughout the week is a great way to improve one’s overall fitness without going overboard.
It’s best to take a conservative approach when first starting out. A short bout of high-intensity physical activity is known to help people lose weight, but people need to pay attention to common overuse injuries that involve running. Including plantar fasciitis, shin splints, and Achilles tendonitis.
For people who don’t like to exercise or go to the gym, they should be encouraged to take advantage of their urban surroundings by walking places instead of driving or taking the stairs instead of elevators. The opportunities to make healthier choices are there if you’re looking for them. Let’s also remember that part of not getting injured means keeping safe as a pedestrian, especially at night when drivers can’t see you. Newbie runners may not realize they should be wearing a headlamp and reflective clothing if they want to be seen.
So, as we barrel toward 2021, let’s aim for high motivation and good intentions while encouraging people to be smart, be safe, talk to their doctors, and take advantage of preventive care.
