Empower Yourself: The Importance of Physical Activity for Health and Self-Care

2023-07-24 03:14:53
Physical activity is one of the most important self-care measures for health (Getty)

This Monday, July 24, is International Self-Care Day, a concept that the World Health Organization (WHO) defines as the ability of individuals, families, and communities to take care of their own health, prevent, and deal with illnesses or disabilities with or without the help of a health professional.

According to WHO data, by the year 2030 a global shortage of some 18 million health workers is expected, which emphasizes the need to empower people through education for responsible and safe self-care.

Along the same lines, the health organization’s records indicate that nearly 400 million people around the world “lack access to the most essential health services and, each year, some 100 million inhabitants are plunged into poverty due to the costs involved in paying for care.” “Therefore, it is urgently necessary to find innovative strategies that go beyond the conventional responses of the health sector,” says the WHO.

The main self-care practices include health literacy, mental well-being, physical activity, healthy eating, limiting risky habits or practices —such as smoking or excessive alcohol consumption—, good hygiene —hand washing, for example—, and the responsible use of over-the-counter medicines, among others.

Responsible use of over-the-counter medications is essential for self-care (Getty)

Under these precepts, “it is essential to raise awareness among people to practice self-care and make decisions regarding their own health, such as responsible and safe self-medication when a minor condition of illness is recognized,” according to Dr. Jimena Worcel, medical director of the Argentine Chamber of Over-the-Counter Medicines (CAPEMVeL).

While from Sanofi, an innovative global health care company, they postulate that health systems -both in Argentina and in the world- face important challenges derived from demographic changes, climate change, the increase in the prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases and the fragmentation of health services.

With the support of the World Health Organization (WHO), the Global Self-Care Federation (GSCF) created the Self-Care Readiness Index 2.0 (SCRI 2.0) with the aim of working on a better design of health systems and laying the foundations for different initiatives. The research findings for this project confirmed the current lack of a comprehensive view of both self-care and its systematic benefits.

Another example of self-care is mental well-being, with psychoanalysis as one of the measures (Getty)

Although perceptions of self-care vary globally, the concept is present in many national policies, mainly through prevention programs such as vaccination and health promotion. Despite the fact that health education remains largely neglected globally, SCRI 2.0 found that individual empowerment reduces the need for health care interventions and promotes better health in all populations.

Within the framework of the International Self-Care Day, specialists in phlebology from the Hospital de Clínicas of the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) summoned patients to a new meeting to learn to be protagonists of their own well-being. The conclave will be on Wednesday, July 26 at 10:30.

One of the main focuses of this event will be venous disease. As reported by the Hospital de Clínicas in a statement, 60% of the world population lives with this condition, while more than 300 million suffer from some type of lymphedema, which is inflammation of the tissues.

Leg cramps and discomfort are among the common symptoms of venous disease (Getty)

The workshops for patients with chronic venous disease and lymphedema will be held in the Venous and Lymphatic Surgery division, every last Wednesday of the month at the Hospital de Clínicas de la UBA (Avenida Córdoba 2351, CABA). These are theoretical and practical meetings to learn regarding these diseases, their causes, treatment and how to strengthen one’s own skills to improve the quality of life.

In this vein, Dr. Mabel Bussati, a specialist in phlebology and lymphology and consultant to the Venous and Lymphatic Surgery division of the Hospital de Clínicas (MP 57716), explained: “It is extremely important that the person understands the role they play in controlling their disease and staying in good condition. Health professionals must provide them with information, stimulate the development of her skills and promote the involvement of the members of the care team and the family so that she feels accompanied”.

The function of the venous system is to ensure the return of blood to the heart. In the lower limbs, when the valvular apparatus fails, the blood remains in the affected sector, the veins dilate, the pressure increases and the speed of blood flow decreases. This causes alterations in the venous wall, in the valve apparatus and in the surrounding tissues, giving rise to the symptoms and signs of venous disease.

To prevent blood diseases, specialists suggest, among other things, exercising frequently and avoiding a sedentary lifestyle (Getty)

The most common symptoms are pain, swelling, itching, cramps and heaviness in the legs, edema and visible signs such as spider veins, telangiectasias, varicose veins of different degrees, changes in skin color and texture. Meanwhile, the most frequent complications are venous ulcers and venous thrombosis. Pathology can also cause disability.

“It is important to know that there are factors that we can modify to prevent the progression of venous disease: avoid being overweight, combat a sedentary lifestyle, perform compression with bandages or stockings that fulfill this function, and take venotonic medication,” Bussati stated.

Regarding lymphedema, the specialist explained: “The lymphatic vessels are involved in the circulation, which fulfill a very important function, taking water and high molecular weight proteins from the tissues to the general circulation. When it fails, there is a swelling of the body part, which we know with lymphedema man. Here, timely diagnosis and treatment is also very important to avoid disabling forms”.

Venous disease can lead to thrombosis, in some cases. It is a blood clot, roughly speaking (Getty)

Lymphedema can appear from birth and affects men and women equally from birth to adulthood. The spectrum of causes is very wide and covers both a disease of the lymphatic system itself and others that can affect it secondarily, such as untreated chronic venous insufficiency or a bacterial or parasitic infection, among others.

“In all chronic conditions it is very important that the patient knows what his disease is, what are the causes, what is the treatment. The diagnosis is reached through a non-invasive study, the Doppler echo, which makes it possible to detect the sites of reflux or insufficiency, and provides information to the doctor to determine the best treatment for each person”, said Bussati.

The treatment, agreed with the health team, requires the active participation of the patient since it usually requires learning to live with symptoms and new situations related to the care of his person: “Throughout his life he will live with the disease and its treatment, so it is important that he knows how to eat a healthy diet, what type of exercise to perform, how to manage compression, how to start the lymphatic system through breathing and simple maneuvers in key points of the body,” said Bussati.

Finally, the expert clarified that the above does not replace the treatment carried out by the health team, but rather “contributes to it, during times when the patient does not attend the consultation and is not directly related to the treatment. Support to patients is through the provision of education, intervention by health personnel to increase skills and self-confidence in people, periodic evaluation of their progress and problems, as well as goal setting and problem solving.

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