How To Prolong Someone’s Life

So you know someone who has type-2 diabetes, hypertension, anxiety, or high blood pressure (which generally falls in all three illnesses), or you have it yourself, and want things to get better. Well, this week I’m going to talk about how to save a life.

The first thing, of course, is to see your doctor regularly and take any medications he or she prescribes. The next thing is to ease into physical activity if you have been sedentary. Many of you who read my articles know that I always preach that our bodies were never made to be sedentary. So, when we find ourselves becoming ill in part as a result, we have to take it seriously and make a change.

I know what many of you are thinking, and “no, that doesn’t mean you have to join a gym” (even though that would be a good idea). But it does mean you have to get used to moving. Walking, swimming, dancing or even yoga are all good ways to get the body moving. Start with 10 minutes daily and slowly work up to 30 minutes daily. Get the heart rate up (within the right range) and stay consistent with your daily exercise.

You should also strength train twice a week with either light weights or resistance bands. If you don’t have either, you can always do bodyweight exercises like lunges, body weight squats, or pushups. For diabetics, carrying carbs with you like fruit or fruit juice is also a good idea in case your blood sugar gets low.

Having a support network is essential. If you have someone close to you who is suffering from any of these illnesses, spend time walking with them, or jogging, or going to the gym, or pretty much anything physical. It’s a crucial step in the right direction with someone that’ll help reduce the anxiety and the overall fear factor that comes along with being ill. You can also be that support system, that ear that will listen when your relative or good friend has something to say. You can help keep them on track with a proper diet and eating habits, as well as physical activity.

I firmly believe that many people can and do make themselves even sicker from the weight that loneliness, stress, anxiety, and depression can take on the body. Over time, the weight of that kind of stress will show its face in the body in one form or another.

In the spring I like to paint a picture to anyone who has never walked a trail, hiked a mountain, or gone on a nature walk:

Imagine the Earth at sunrise in one of the most beautiful places on earth – the sun rising poetically in the east, the grass green and moist from the morning dew, the air fresh and brisk as you take a deep breath, the birds flying high in the air, and the weather being cool and very spring like in temperature.

It’s basically being placed smack dab in the middle of something that is greater than us, appreciating the beauty of the Earth that has survived 2 millenniums and will continue to thrive for many years to come. It’s the motivation that provides many of us a reason to get up in the morning and keep moving; to be grateful once again to witness profound beauty.

Now of course, we have other reasons to push ourselves out of bed in the morning: kids, job, household chores, etc. But those things are our responsibilities. We’re happy and grateful to have them, of course, but the mere thought of taking a beautiful nature walk is a gift; a way to remind ourselves that we are alive and a part of a magnificent universe. So many things in life can overwhelm us, and the scenarios I painted are by no means the perfect solution to everyone. But having a strong support network and experiencing the scenarios I painted can help.

Never give up on the hope and effort of living your best life. Sarah Ban Breathnach once said, “Life is not made up of minutes, hours, days, weeks, or years, but of moments. You must experience each one before you can appreciate it.” I believe that. Surround yourself with people who will help you do just that, and then get on with the business of living.

This article is a guest post by the Middle Town Transcript. Granite Fitness would like to thank the original writer of this piece, which can be found here.

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