My body is talking to me

There was a time when I would simply shrug off any pain my body felt, and it tended to go away pretty quick. This is no longer the case. The aches and pains seem to linger longer, as we progress through the aging process.

The one thing I have always been quick to jump on is, lingering pain. Sure, if I stub my toe, it will eventually heal. Headaches tend to disappear quickly, and colds and flus disintegrate on their own, but when something does not, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Pain is an amazing attribute our bodies possess. It is the body’s way of telling you something is wrong, and when it speaks, you should listen. Nothing is better for your health than preventative maintenance.

I am not suggesting you run to your doctor or the emergency room, every time you sneeze, but no one knows your body as well as you do. If it is telling you something out of the ordinary, pay attention.

If your back hurts, and it does not go away, go to a chiropractor or a massage therapist and get it fixed. If it still hurts contact your family doctor and get it looked at. Modern medicine is impressive and so many ailments can be fixed, as long as they are taken care of early.

Port Perry now has a CT scanner, which is an amazing device. It actually scans under the skin and shows any and all abnormalities. If that is not enough, there are MRI machines all over the place, which can photograph your bones and stuff, with surprising detail.

Think of your body as if it was your car. You would not continue to drive long if you heard a knocking or squeaking or if steam shot out from under the hood. Should that happen, you would take it in and get someone to look at it and get it fixed, before it was too late.

Your body needs the same attention. Listen to it when it tells you something, and if the pain does not disappear in a relatively short time, get it looked at and fixed, before it becomes unmanageable.

In this country, unlike many other nations, you can get all this done at next to no cost. Do not be a martyr or a hero because if something does not feel right, it means something is not right.

Jonathan van Bilsen is a television host, award winning photographer, published author, columnist and keynote speaker. Watch his show, ‘Jonathan van Bilsen’s photosNtravel’, on RogersTV, the Standard Website or YouTube.