Neighbourhood shops and businesses, which find themselves under extreme financial pressure following the latest onslaught from the supermarkets, tend to put up posters proclaiming, “Use it or lose it”. It an unfortunate truth in today’s economic climate that it only takes a relatively small number of people to take their custom away for a formerly thriving concern to fall into the red and be forced to close their doors forever. I’ve been very close to that situation myself, so I can attest to the personal devastation that follows.

I mention this not to start an argument on supermarket power, but to illustrate a parallel in health. It has become fashionable to point out the same principle of ‘use it or lose it’ when referring to your brain. Hand-held computers are sold to the older generation (me) with special programs that, when used properly, are claimed to keep your brain active and hence stave off approaching dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

They are by no means the only way to keep an active brain, but they certainly have something to offer. I choose to write articles on health instead, and I’ll let you know when bewilderment approaches.

The same is true with all of your body. Nourish it, exercise it, and use it as it was intended or has evolved to do, in short, look after it while you can.

I’ve come to this line of thought because I’ve just listened to a radio program that involved a lady who had lost an arm due to cancer. Now, that has nothing to do with the above since events were not under her control. But, it made me think of how we take it for granted that everything works, until something goes wrong. It’s only when there is a problem that we suddenly find it difficult or impossible to do the simplest things.

I only have to remind myself of some of the health problems I’ve experienced. For instance, a bad back. I’ve had a few of these over the years and, according to the statistics, I’m not alone. Apart from the pain, it’s the lack of mobility that struck me. Once, on my way to recovery, I thought I would cross a busy road and started off to find a car bearing down on me. Try as I might, I simply couldn’t make me legs work fast enough to avoid a confrontation. My back hurt and so did my ego as the driver slowed, tooted his horn and mouthed some expletives at me.

Then, there was the bad leg incident, when I could hardly crawl around the house. It made me realise how much we take simple things for granted. If I had been single, I would probably have starved to death. (Don’t tell my wife, will you?) I felt old.

It reminded me, also, of a patient of mine who had had a lung removed due to cancer. He staged a remarkable recovery and was soon back to his chirpy best. One winter’s day he hove into view for his prescription and a chat, as was his wont. He wasn’t the complaining type, but on this occasion he took issue with the keen and bitter wind. He said the wind felt as if it was blowing straight through his chest. The space left where his lung had been felt empty and cold despite the layers of clothing.

Getting back to the lady whose missing arm began this train of thought, she recounted an incident on a transatlantic flight where she was forced to ask a stewardess to cut up her in-flight meal. You don’t appreciate two arms until you’ve only got one and suddenly even feeding yourself becomes a problem.

My patient came to realise what his missing lung really did. I found how a simple back strain and painful leg had such a significant impact on normality.

Your body works well when everything is in place, fuelled and used properly. Clearly, it isn’t always possible to keep all the parts in pristine condition until you die at a very old age. However, with judicious consumption of nutrients, regular exercise, effective relaxation and sleep you can keep it functioning at its best.

Look after that body and mind of yours. It’s the only one you’ll get.

Contact James at http://www.healthexplored.co.uk , subscribe to the no-cost newsletter,OR read the blog and leave your comments and questions.

Wishing you the best of health.