Growing Healthy

About the Book

Health is our biggest wealth and healthy citizens are more productive citizens. To know the facts about exercise, diet and health promotion will empower each of us to prevent common illness such as heart disease, diabetes mellitus and cancer. Smoking, lack of exercise and poor nutrition account for one in three premature deaths. Lack of exercise and poor nutrition lead to obesity. In children, regular Ôfast foodÕ may lead to lack of attainment of real potential, and to hyperactivity. Lack of sleep has been linked to obesity, diabetes, heart problems, psychiatric disorders and dementia and increases a personÕs chance of having an accident. While regular exercise and sensible eating is important, it is essential to keep mentally active as well! Poor communication is a barrier to health and there is a significant correlation between low literacy rates and poor health. Everyone should get involved in their own health promotion and aim to remain mobile, active and healthy. All should avoid obesity. Young people must adopt a lifestyle where alcohol if used is not abused. Stress, often precipitated by alcohol excess and leading to further alcohol abuse, gives rise to unease, low productivity, increased risk taking, accidents, high sickness absence, addictive behaviour and mental health effects. This book outlines the way to be healthy and to avoid unnecessary illness. There is a beginning which should arouse curiosity at least, a middle when interest will be generated and hopefully, a happy ending when each will feel in charge and realize that relatively small lifestyle changes can cause big improvements in both mental and physical health. Alcohol excess, one of the biggest threats to society, must be replaced by a different culture. Change can be viewed as a challenge which should create a heightened sense of personal responsibility and perhaps be the catalyst for increased originality and productivity.

About the Author

Dr. Mitchell has a lifetime of experience in medicine. She is a specialist in general medicine, diabetes, endocrinology and metabolism who has also worked in chemical pathology, toxicology, clinical pharmacology and regulatory medicine. She is a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin with honours degrees in Physical Chemistry and Medicine and a MasterÕs degree in Molecular Medicine. She has worked in Ireland, Britain, USA and Canada and has lectured widely in medicine and regulatory medicine. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. She holds membership of the UK Royal College of Physicians and American College of Physicians, is Board Certified in Internal Medicine from the USA and was awarded Fellowship in Pharmaceutical Medicine by distinction, by the Royal College of Pharmaceutical Physicians of London. She recently received a Diploma in Management for Medical Doctors from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and the Institute of Public Administration.