Health often seems like a very personal, individual thing. After all, it’s related directly to our own personal mind and bodies, so we must be the one that is responsible for it all the time, right? Well to an extent this is true in everyday life, and there are a million blog posts out there giving us suggestions on what we can do to get healthier, stay fitter, and protect ourselves from injury. However, there are times when other people and even institutions have responsibility for our health. Times such as when we go into hospital, work, or are in public. This, therefore shows that we are not 100% responsible for our health at all times. With this in mind, let’s look at the ways we can take responsibility for our health, and what expectations we should have for others to do the same.
What can we do to take responsibility for our health?
We definitely have an important part to play in safeguarding our own health and well-being. The best way to do this according to current research is to exercise regularly, eat a healthy, varied diet and get enough sleep. As these three things not only improve how our physical bodies work but can also have a positive effect on our mental well-being as well.
Current guidelines suggest that working out for 30 mins five times a week is enough to keep fit and lower your chance of diseases like obesity and heart failure. Although for folks that are struggling to do five days there has been some research on one or two-minute interval training, that is also very promising. You can read more about this here.
In terms of diet, most folks know what the recommended caloric allowance is for weight maintenance, but confusion often sets in with regard on what to actually eat. This is largely due to the heavy marketing of high-calorie, low nutrition food by its producers. Combined with the confusion of diet plans that are available on the internet. To navigate this quagmire, it’s always best to look out for plans that discuss portion sizes, as well as the type of food you are consuming. Also, steer clear of programs that demonize any particular food group such as carbohydrates. As its well know that the body needs nutrient from all the essential food groups to function properly.
So, that is how in a very simple way you can take responsibility for your own health and well-being. But what about the responsibility of others?
What should we expect our employers to do?
With around 900 fatal accidents in private construction alone at work each year, there is most definitely a responsibility on employers to take care of our physical and mental health while in the workplace. Although, the measures that they are required by law to put in place; vary between different types of environments.
In an office environment, employers need to take care of the physical well being of their staff in relation to things like repetitive strain injury, fire hazards, and eye strain. Whereas on a construction site employers have to consider other factors like risk from electricity, falls from height, working with heavy machinery, and protecting their workers from hazardous substances.
In particular, one of the chief responsibilities of construction employers is to prevent their workers coming into contact with the dangerous material Asbestos. This is an insulation that was installed in many building in the 60s and 70s and has been known to cause cancer when inhaled. The problem is that many people were exposed to this deadly hazard, leading them to contract mesothelioma cancer. Something that has a serious effect both of quality of life, and life expectancy.
While there are laws and procedures governing asbestos work now, this has not always been the case. Leaving many to deal with the effects of their work on their health. Luckily, there are folks like the experienced mesothelioma lawyers of Madeksho Law around to help win compensation for people that have been affected. Something they can use to help fund their medical bills and improve their standard of life while living with the disease.
What should we expect medical institutions to do?
Lastly, what responsibilities for our health and well-being have medical institutions got when we are their care?
Well, as we are ill and therefore vulnerable both physically and psychologically when in medical institutions, they have a responsibility laid down in law to protect us from negligence and abuse.
You can find out more about the laws that protect online, and also get some information on how to request a second opinion, report a complaint, or seek help with a personal injury claim against a medical provider. Allowing you to ensure that the institution you have put your faith in, is taking the responsibility of your well-being seriously.
