When health challenges arise, you may be forced to put other priorities aside to cope with the problem and regain your health. AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE.

It's so easy to put yourself and self-care on hold. Do any of these statements sound familiar? I don't have time to take care of myself now. I'll do it later, after I get through the holidays, after my children are old enough to go to school, after I get my mom into a nursing home, after I finish this project at work. What about: I don't have the energy to change my lifestyle. I'm too tired, too depressed and my life is too out-of-control.

For all we may try to ignore it, health has a way of becoming a priority when a challenge arises, such as being diagnosed with heart disease, diabetes or depression. If this happens, you realize how much your work, family and other obligations (as well as sources of enjoyment) depend upon your good health.

It's been said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This proverb certainly applies to health! Sometimes reminding ourselves of the many health problems that are affected by lifestyle reinforces our good intentions to practice prevention behaviors, such as exercising or quitting smoking. What is an ounce of prevention worth?


When it comes to chronic diseases, such as heart disease and depression, modern medicine has an enormous bag of tricks, full of treatments that prolong life and alleviate pain. For many of these conditions, however, a "cure," in the sense that the problem goes away never to return, is rare. While medications help to lower blood cholesterol, control hypertension and regulate blood sugar, they do not "cure" the underlying causes of these symptoms. Many conditions, such as back and neck pain caused by excess stress, depression, eating disorders and obesity, are easier to prevent than they are to treat. That's why prevention is so important.

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