When You Cause Your Own Health Problems
What Happens When You Abuse Your Own Health
Janie is over fifty years old, a diabetic, and at least 100 pounds overweight. In addition to that she has asthma and smokes.
Sandra is in her forties. Last year she had a mild heart attack. Her doctor put a stint in one of her arteries. She went for a checkup a few weeks ago and her doctor recommended she get a second stint. Sandra is a smoker too.
A few years ago I volunteered to work at a Bingo hall to help raise money for a worthy cause. There were several people who came to play who were extremely overweight and heavy smokers and get this, they were toting oxygen tanks with them!
These folks are playing Russian Roulette with their health.
It doesn’t matter what their family says to them. It doesn’t matter what their friends say. And if they go to the doctor, it doesn’t matter what they say. They always have an excuse for what they are doing.
“I’m nervous and smoking relaxes me.”
“I know I am not supposed to eat sweets but I can’t help myself.”
“I know smoking is bad for me but I just can’t stop.”
There’s more than one way to ruin our health.
There are lots of ways to take risks with our health. Some people drink too much, others eat too much. Then there are those who won’t go to the doctor because “they are afraid of what they might find out.” And unfortunately there are those who don’t go because they can’t afford it. I have a friend who only takes half her medication because it’s so expensive and that’s a way to make it last longer.
Every poor choice we make about our health (especially if we keep repeating it) will most likely have a bad consequence. If it’s in our power to make better choices and we don’t do it when something bad finally happens we have no one to blame but ourselves.
I have heard people say, “My grandfather lived to be one hundred and he drank moonshine and smoked a pack a day.”  Maybe so but that’s still not a guarantee that his grandchildren will.
And yes, I know that people who don’t drink or smoke, who aren’t overweight, and who exercise and eat right, still get sick, still get cancer and still die of heart attacks. Believe me, I know. My mom never smoked or drank but she got colon cancer and died at the age of 51.
But why would anyone deliberately ignore what doctors have told us is NOT a healthy way to live. Why do so many people play Russian Roulette with their health?
I don’t know, but I do know that there are people who love them and care about them and  who really wish they would stop before the bullet finally hits them.
Resources
Tina, I visited your blog and read about your ordeal. What a faith filled woman you are, and a beautiful one! It’s an honor to meet you and I do hope you will come back again so we can get to know each other better. Blessings to you!
I don’t know how much of my blog you have read, but you are welcome to read this one. http://akagramma.blogspot.com/2010/12/just-to-answer-few-questions.html
Yes, I have cancer. It’s a tough one to describe, but my post will help. So far things are good. God is taking very good care of me.
But, I do understand what you saying about folks playing Russian Roulette with their health. I am constantly on folks who complain, but don’t do anything about it.
I found out 10 years ago that I had diabetes..I’ve lost 80 pounds during this 10 years and I have a few more left to go. That’s one of the reasons I’m starting up at the gym. I really need to tone up too. Losing weight without exercise leads to a muffin top I’ve never had before! 🙂
Thank you for stopping by my blog. Thank you for this post. I hope more folks get the chance to read it!
Great post! As an adult, I tried to eat natural foods and live a healthy lifestyle, but it still was a wake-up call when I turned 50. It was hard to ignore the people my age who had chronic diseases or were already dead. So I started adding a new healthy habit every year. For the last five years, I’ve worked out for an hour three times each week. It’s made a great difference in improved sleep, more energy, added strength, and looking more toned. I can understand how people get into bad habits without really thinking about the consequences, though. I’m your newest Facebook and Twitter follower from Follow Friday 40 and Over!
I am now being a lot more conscious of my health and will once again start writng about it on my blog. Great post!
I am now following you from Follow Friday Over 40 and would love for you to follow back. http://www.soulfulsandstone.com
Nisey