326 Where There Is No Doctor 2011
Words to Younger Persons
Who Want to Stay Healthy When They Are Older
Many of the health problems of middle and old age, including high blood pressure,
hardening of the arteries, heart disease, and stroke, result from the way a person has
lived and what he ate, drank, and smoked when younger. Your chances for living and
staying healthy longer are greater if you:
1. Eat well—enough nutritious foods, but not too much rich, greasy, or salty food.
Avoid getting overweight. Use vegetable oil rather than animal fat for cooking.
2. Do not drink a lot of alcoholic drinks.
3. Do not smoke.
4. Keep physically and mentally active.
5. Try to get enough rest and sleep.
6. Learn how to relax and deal positively with things that worry or upset you.
High blood pressure (p. 125) and hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis),
which are the main causes of heart disease and stroke, can usually be prevented—
or reduced—by doing the things recommended above. The lowering of high blood
pressure is important in the prevention of heart disease and stroke. Persons who have
high blood pressure should have it checked from time to time and take measures to
lower it. For those who are not successful in lowering their blood pressure by eating
less (if they are overweight), giving up smoking, getting more exercise, and learning to
relax, taking medicines to lower blood pressure (antihypertensives) may help.
Which of these two men is likely to live longer and be healthy in his old age?
Which is more likely to die of a heart attack or a stroke? Why? How many reasons can you count?