The ABC’s of Self Care Y

Our series the ABC’s of Self Care is winding down. This week our series on the ABC’s of Self Care continues with Y.  

For Y, let’s talk about WHY or more specifically, Why Self Care? It just so happens this is the theme for an upcoming presentation that I will be giving in Toronto in a little over a week. This will be an incredible event with many talented speakers from all over the world. The event will kick off with the theme, Be Healthy by Choice. I must say that I am very honored and humbled to be the first speaker and set the tone for the rest of that day’s presentations.

You can find more information about this event at http://torontosummit.net/. Tickets are still available, and I invite you to join us for two days of great life changing information.

To answer the question, Why Self Care? All we need to do is look at the status on health care. We have blogged on this before in Health Care Crisis: Part. 1 and Part 2.

The incidence of chronic disease as our biggest killer and health problem is not segregated to the U.S., it is a global problem. Chronic diseases are the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Disease rates from these conditions are accelerating globally and advancing across every region and pervading all socioeconomic classes according to the World Health Organization. Currently, one in three adults worldwide suffer from two or more chronic conditions.

The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that as high as 80% of our world’s biggest killers can be prevented. I concur and am of the belief that just a few simple self care principles can lead to a vibrant heathy life.

Most people have become ambivalent towards chronic disease, thinking that they are just a normal part of aging. We are under a constant bombardment of advertising telling us so and that we shouldn’t worry because whatever disease they are talking about can be treated and managed. Here is a paraphrase of a recent advertisement from what use to be our corner drug store and is now called your local wellness center. The advertisement says, “there are 26 million Americans with diabetes, and 74 million are at risk, don’t worry, we can treat and manage your diabetes, so you can lead a normal productive life”. I almost fell out of my chair when I first heard this commercial. Then I got angry. It is a brainwashing, inferring that chronic disease is a normal part of life. It is not. 

Most chronic diseases can be prevented, however, most are treated and managed with pharmaceutical intervention. The U.S. fills 4.3 billion prescriptions annually and treating chronic conditions account for 86% of our nation’s health care dollar. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) states, “pharmaceutical consumption continues to increase globally driven by a growing demand for drugs to treat aging-related and chronic diseases.”

As many of you know, Be Healthy by Choice, not by Chance is the battle cry for the Self Care Awakening and is the core of the content and information here on the Self Care Hub.  Our health is our own responsibility and the choices we make every day can improve or impede our health. It is our goal to inform, inspire and empower anyone to be healthy. This is Heather and my WHY, it is our purpose and our passion for all to BE HEALTHY BY CHOICE.

We have a solution for the health crisis, health care needs to become Self Care. It all starts with our own individual plan for a healthy life. The Nikken Wellness Home and Active Wellness Products provides simple, easy and affordable choices to accomplish this goal. Our and fellow self care advocates mission is Every Home a Wellness Home.

If this resounds with you to be part of a dedicated passionate team in a worthwhile cause to help yourself and others, please contact the person that shared this article with you so everyone can Be Healthy by Choice. It may also become your Why?

Next installment will be the letter Z, time for some zzzz’s, then I’ll start to ponder what to write about. Sleep Matters.