Are you listening to your body?

Tomlin Paul, 50 and living better

The Mercedes-Benz S Class 2014 model has the ability to scan the road and adjust its suspension in advance to ensure a smooth ride. That puts a whole new light on having to dodge potholes! Indeed, it's pretty smart technology for a car to have such sensitivity in picking up and responding to imminent challenges.

However, our bodies also have the ability to send us signals to help us prevent 'bumpy rides'. The question is do we always listen?

The sick signals

Often, what gets us going to see the doctor is a feeling or some sensation that is not the norm. The very term 'disease' literally means that you are 'not at ease'. So you feel a throbbing pain in your right eye all morning, or stiffness in your neck or you simply feel more tired than usual. All outside of your usual experience, and so you seek an answer. Some persons pick up the signals very early and do something about it, while others may just tune them out and move on. Studies have shown that men are notorious for ignoring 'sick signals' and toughing it out.

Hungry? Go eat!

Outside of sick signals, we all get some very basic signals that help to regulate our normal day-to-day balance. Top of the list are signals to eat, drink water, pass urine, sleep, and empty our bowels. I would call these the basic healthy signals. But the norm for many is to eat late, hardly drink any water, delay bladder and bowel emptying and cut sleep time. When you tune out the basic body signals, you just may not notice them after some time.

"Doc, I really don't feel hungry during the days and you know I don't pass urine when I am at work."

"Well Mrs Smith, I can see why you are having these stomach and bladder problems!"

Now, listen very carefully!

Here are two steps to help you get back on track:

STOP AND LISTEN!

If you constantly live in loud noise, eventually, you stop hearing the softer sounds. You need that quiet time, observation and reflection to pick up the body's signals. Sometimes you may just be too worried to hear. The more you stop and listen and avoid distractions, the louder you will hear the signals.

FEEL IT AND ACCEPT IT!

Our first response to feeling something different can be to ignore or deny or apply some judgement. Acknowledge what you are feeling, whether it's physical or emotional. Trust your gut and then ask why and move on from there. You figure it is gas pains you are having because you ate late or you feel anxious about what's happening at work. Just listen to the signal, assess and intervene accordingly.

Magic Body Control

So as you make that appointment to test drive the new Mercedes-Benz S Class with its 'Magic Body Control' system, take some time to get back in touch with your own body's signals. Listen carefully and keenly to both the healthy and the sick signals and respond in good time to avoid those bumpy rides that may lie ahead.

Dr Tomlin Paul is a family physician at Health Plus Associates in Kingston; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com