Take care of yourself__"The first wealth is health".

By Strive Masiyiwa 

A few weeks ago I went to the doctor. I will tell you what he said about my health at the end, but first read this: Twenty years ago, I arranged to meet a well-known British international businessman who invested a lot in Africa at the time. We agreed to meet for dinner at a leading hotel in London. 

After a good meeting, we started to walk out of the restaurant when he suddenly collapsed in the lobby. There was total pandemonium as they rushed to get medical assistance. Being London, an ambulance arrived in minutes. I jumped in the back with him as paramedics wrestled to keep him alive.

He had had a heart attack and had to have triple bypass heart surgery. Sadly he died a few weeks later. He hadn't been sick and his sudden death surprised everyone. And yet as I reflected on it, and later discussed it with a doctor friend who knew him, I realized he was very laid back about his health despite having a hectic business life.

Even during our dinner, he had quipped that he was too busy to exercise and was determined to eat what he liked as he consumed huge volumes of ice cream and other truly unhealthy foods.

His [eventually fatal] heart attack as we walked away from that enjoyable dinner meeting was a real wake-up call for me. You don’t forget something like that! It was not that I was scared or anything, but I realised that you can easily put your health at risk. You are never too young to die suddenly like he did. I have known many others in my long life. I am sure you have, too.

I decided then that I was going to look after my health as best as I could. Together with my wife, we decided to consult doctors and nutritionists for wise guidance. And of course, we read a lot of books [good books, not what quacks write. Beware!]

We then took sensible steps. We changed our diets to include lots of vegetables, fruits, and nuts. I cut out 90% of carbohydrates like white rice, pasta, and bread. Some of these things I have not eaten in two decades. I don’t touch potatoes or eat anything deep-fried. I never eat bacon and eggs! [Note - Eggs are generally very good for you as a complete protein, but in moderation].

I eat beef about once a month and focus on fish and chicken. Only olive oil is used in my food. [Study the difference in cooking oils, it's very important!] If I go to an event, I do not eat snacks, or ever take food from a buffet. I eat my last meal early in the evening.

I don’t exercise to look like an athlete but I exercise every single day. My favourite machine is the Peloton bike and the rower for my knees. My body weight is slightly above my college weight. I check my blood pressure daily.  I have my own exercise machines at home, and in hotels I go to the gym every single day. It’s a habit next to my prayer and Bible study. Even when I had Covid, I crawled out of bed and walked around!

We fast at least one day each week for spiritual reasons. Fasting is also considered to be one of the most powerful tools in physical health. It also helps to kill unnecessary and compulsive cravings for food. I drink lots of water [and so should all of us]. I do not drink sugary drinks under any circumstances and you know I don’t drink alcohol.

I don’t wear an expensive watch as I prefer a simple digital watch that allows me to track things like steps and sleeping. My mind feels as sharp as a needle in terms of alertness. I can read for hours, and travel for days.

Which brings me to why I went to see the doctor: It was for my bi-annual check-up.

I believe “maintenance is better than repair”, so I prefer to see doctors when I’m well, not when I’m sick! As busy as my schedule is, twice a year I set aside time for doctor appointments.  Remember I’m over sixty but for younger folks like most of you guys, once a year is enough. Even if you are twenty, try to start your habit early. 

Now I know there are many challenges in our health care systems. This is something we really really have to work on to help keep our people healthy, including education about health and nutrition very young. For some of you who are health entrepreneurs, there is just so much that needs to be done, so many challenges seeking #Solutions... public and private sector ones.

Now when I say checkups let me be clear: for men, this also includes checks for cancers that men get like prostate cancer. For women, it means checkups periodically for cervical, ovarian, and breast cancer.  Years ago I was actually asked to be an international Ambassador to raise awareness about the importance of cervical cancer testing for women. It's important! Please make sure the women in your family know about it.

And everyone needs to keep an eye on their skin, especially if you have been in the sun a lot over the years... People of all colours can get skin cancer!

__Doctors tell me that you can treat 90% of diseases if you catch them early enough. The tragic fact is, a lot of people in Africa die because they nurse pain and sickness until it is too late. There is nothing strong about allowing pain in your body to go unchecked; it's foolishness.

If you think it’s too expensive to go to the doctor when you are not sick, try the cost of being sick suddenly... Please take care of yourselves.

If I ask you any one of these questions, can you answer without hesitation:

# Who is your family doctor?

# Who is your lawyer?

# Who is your accountant?

Answering these three questions tells me your level as an entrepreneur.

Be wise!

Doctor’s Verdict: I was blessed to hear I'm in great shape. He even asked me how it is that I’m so stress-free. I laughed and told him, it was my secret.

One more thing: If you love your parents, as I know you do, it’s important that you invest money to make sure they are checked at least twice a year. Including the dentist.

Let those who have ears hear, hear what the Spirit is telling us. Go get checked.

Image caption: It's amazing what our children pick up from what they see us do.  Be a role model for healthy habits, starting with healthy food. It matters. *Title quote is from Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Early one morning as I sat in my study reading my Bible, a close relative who was visiting us came and joined me. We soon began a beautiful discussion on Scripture, but I also noticed that every few minutes, my elderly guest would hiccup.

I asked him how long it had been going on and he brushed it off gently saying, “It’s nothing; it comes now and again. It will be gone by lunch”.

I pressed him for more information. Then I stepped out to call my doctor, explaining my observation.

“The body is a beautiful machine that has been designed by God with its own alarm systems. Hiccup is one of them. I want to run some tests,” my doctor explained.

Without alarming my guest, I told him that our family believes that “maintenance is better than repair” and I wanted him to have a quick check on his hiccup. I cancelled my meetings and took him myself.

After a few tests, my doctor decided to keep him overnight and run some more tests. The following day we were informed that he had cancer. What followed was prayer and treatment and it was dealt with within 6 months. We even travelled together after that, despite his advancing age.

“Through your quick action, you saved his life,” my doctor explained. "You know so many of our people [he is black like me] nurse pains and ignore alarms from the body. If you pick up something, get it checked. If you ignore it, if it is something bad, it will spread quickly and we will not be able to deal with it.”

I knew this from another family incident when one of our young daughters kept coughing from what she called a “dry cough”. But when it did not go away after a week, my wife took her to our doctor and insisted on full tests. Even though she was only 21 and fit, our daughter had Lymphoma, a type of cancer. She began her treatment right away and a few months later returned to University and got her degree and then a Masters.

Again the doctor commended our culture of getting things checked and doing routine check-ups. The doctor told me that many young people are under this myth that only older people get sick. He told me about a young man who had contracted exactly the same cancer as my daughter, but died because he had thought it was "brave to endure pain"...

Remember that pain is the body’s own fire alarm. Don't ignore it.

For me, a good doctor is one who encourages patients to come in not only when they are sick but also practices preventive medicine (periodic checkups). I know it doesn't happen often enough but your doctor or nurse should also mention the importance of regular exercise, eating nutritional food, and other healthy living habits like I wrote about last time.

__If your doctor will not see you when you are NOT sick, then you need to find another doctor; I’m being serious!

If you are a woman, for instance, you are playing with fire, if you are not getting annual checks for things like breast cancer and cervical cancer. And if you do find something unusual like a lump, please act quickly; don’t bury your head in the sand. Get it checked out and start treatment. Failure to act quickly will mean you give it time to spread and then it’s too late.

__If you are an entrepreneur, one of the biggest threats to you is high blood pressure [BP] because of the continuous stress. This can lead to a heart attack or a stroke. And it can hit you at any age.

Personally, I've invested in my own blood pressure machine.  Generally, it costs less than a cheap cell phone. Consider it “a tool of your trade”. Every morning and evening I check mine and have long adjusted my diet and lifestyle to give me optimal readings [which I feel very grateful to say are just fantastic]. 

One quick tip: be careful with the salt!

Now I know it is very tough out there in many different ways, so I want to mention another important thing as the year draws to a close:  

If you think you might be suffering from depression, or even sometimes have self-harm thoughts like suicide; that is not normal. Please don't feel alone or embarrassed; reach out for help.

__Depression is a clinical [medical] condition, no different from any other kind of sickness you might get; IT CAN AND MUST BE TREATED RIGHT AWAY. 

If you have a friend whom you know is struggling and you are not willing to personally try to help them get to talk to a qualified clinician, you are not really a friend. Reach out a hand as best you can. Start with a listening ear.

Finally, remember what I said last time: “To honor your parents” means you care for their health. Taking your parents to see a doctor is a practical way of honoring your parents. Never accepting that their pains are just “old people stuff” is the height of responsibility. 

Personally, I love it when my kids fuss over my health. I don’t know a parent who does not!

__Note: When you go for your doctor's appointment, or take your parents or other family members... Bring a written list with you that includes: 1) any health concerns; 2) your observations about any changes that worry you; 3) health questions you want to ask. Doctors and nurses don't usually have much time.  Be organized, honest, and use the time well! 

Just like when you go see your accountant each year, take all relevant information/questions with you, to make sure the visit is as efficient and productive as can be.

Remember I love you, and I want you to prosper more than you can even imagine. 

Take care of yourselves.