Movember

After Halloween last month, it might be interesting to note that in Ireland, we have All Saints Day on the 1st November (also World Vegan Day), followed by All Souls Day on the 2nd November. Regardless of faith or belief, it is nice to remember those who are no longer with us, who have left their mark on our hearts and whom we miss.

We are all going to die.  When we are healthy, we may not spend too much time thinking about dying. We know it will happen, and typically we do not know when. Why not try to experience as much of life as possible while feeling fit, well, and while young enough to enjoy it? I’d suggest not waiting until retirement because we do not know what is around the corner. Life is unpredictable and messy.

If you want to go somewhere or do something and it is within your means, then why not go for it?

This month is referred to as Movember, when people grow moustaches to raise awareness of men’s health and cancers. In Ireland, a person is diagnosed with cancer every three minutes, which is a staggering statistic. So, make an invaluable investment in your long-term health and make one positive, healthy change for the month ahead. If you’re a smoker, there’s no need to wait until the New Year to give up, instead, you might consider chatting with your pharmacist or GP about accessing help to kick the habit.

Eating a healthy diet and being physically active are both beneficial to our health and wellbeing. With exercise, any activity is better than none. You don’t have to join a gym or leave the house, you can dance or jump or march on the spot. Stop the excuses and get moving!

Limiting our alcohol intake is healthy. Regarding drinking, consider that less is best and none is better. However, our culture dictates that we take alcohol for granted although it is a mind-altering drug and cancer prevention guidelines for women are less than six large glasses of wine in a week.

Now that I’m mentioning cancer prevention, remember to protect your skin from sunburn because people who regularly get sunburned are more likely to develop melanoma than those who have not. Attend your GP for routine health checks and have them examine any unusual-looking moles – don’t ignore what you’re not certain about.

If you or someone you love has had a diagnosis of cancer, you might please contact ARC House which can provide you with information, practical help and emotional support https://corkcancersupport.ie/

If you have something on your mind, please share it with someone whom you trust. We do not need to suffer in silence or to face our problems alone. Sharing a worry helps us gain perspective. For every problem, there’s a solution that we just haven’t yet found!

Support Movember in your way – you might remind people you love that they may benefit from a health screen or from adopting healthy habits and then take your own advice!

www.carolinecrotty.ie
Caroline Crotty BSocSc MA MSc Psych MPsychSc