BY Dr. Sanjiva Wijesinha

THE ‘BODY VEHICLE’

Soon after I bought my first car many years ago, I was told by a wise senior colleague that if I wanted to get the best use of it, I’d have to look after it. This seemed obvious; but once he elaborated, I realised the value of his advice.

He cautioned: “Many young men who buy their first car are so happy with the new purchase that they forget to take care of it. Don’t wait until the car is damaged or is obviously struggling to function before you take it to a garage or mechanic.”

He continued: “Make sure the car is serviced once a year – or whenever the manufacturer recommends that it should be serviced – so that small problems can be detected and rectified.”

And he added: “It is also important that if you detect any signs of malfunctioning – such as an unusual noise, a change in the smooth running sound of the engine or failure to start when you switch on the ignition – the is car checked by your garage’s mechanics before the problem gets worse.”

“Finally, find a garage you can trust – preferably one recommended by a close friend or colleague – and develop a good working relationship with the mechanic,” he advised.

So having worked as a doctor for many years, I have realised that my senior colleague’s words of wisdom constitute valuable advice that can be given to humans who start life with a healthy body.

Our bodies are not designed to last forever – even though young men and women, flush with the exuberance and self-confidence of youth – seldom realise it. Young adults believe they are indestructible. Sickness and death are so far away beyond the horizon that they don’t need to waste time even thinking about them.

But as we reach middle age, we suddenly realise that the years have flashed past! Our fitness is no longer what it was, we’re taking more medication than we would like to and have become conscious of our mortality.

So how can we transpose the advice about looking after a car to taking care of our bodies?

Invest in a preventive health examination when you begin your first regular job. The military and many organisations do this for new employees – but if it is not part of your organization’s policy, do it yourself.

Consult a physician who can ascertain if there are any conditions in your family such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, glaucoma and so on that can affect you as you grow older. Have a baseline check of your height and weight, blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol levels, and kidney and liver functions.

If the results are within normal limits, you can have your next checkup in about five years. But if there’s anything untoward, keep an eye on your health with regular blood pressure checks or blood tests.

Next, if you notice that something is amiss, don’t dismiss the symptoms – see a GP.

It’s better to consult your doctor, discuss the complaint and be reassured that all is well than ignore the signs until the condition that the symptoms were trying to highlight manifests as a disease beyond effective treatment.

Finally, find a doctor you can trust – a good physician or GP who knows you… and has the time to listen to you.