Understanding and Managing Yourself
Managing yourself and knowing oneself is fundamental to managing health, especially when it comes to allergies, food sensitivities, and reactions to medications. Awareness reduces health risks and improves your quality of life.
Sensitivities, Allergies, and Medications
Sensitivities
Sensitivities, such as lactose intolerance or gluten sensitivity, are typically digestive in nature. The first thing you need to do is recognize and confirm your reactions to the things that you consume (food, drinks, sweets, etc.). Food allergies (e.g., to peanuts, shellfish, or dairy) require attention. Understanding these reactions involves recognizing symptoms (such as hives, swelling, or gastrointestinal distress) and linking them to specific meals, snacks, and exposures to food.
Food sensitivities, while not life-threatening, can cause considerable discomfort. According to the Cleveland Clinic, common signs include bloating, diarrhea, and abdominal pain after eating certain foods.
Allergies
Allergies affect the immune system’s response to substances like pollen, animal dander, dust mites, or latex, and can lead to symptoms ranging from mild irritation to life-threatening anaphylaxis.
Medications
Medications can be essential to maintain your health and well-being. Some people experience side effects, while others may have true drug allergies. For example, penicillin allergies can cause rashes, swelling, or anaphylaxis. It’s important to be aware of and document past adverse reactions. Managing your risks will include researching your reactions to the medicines, journaling your symptoms, and reactions
Online resources, such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), MedlinePlus, and peer-reviewed journals, can provide reliable information. However, not all online sources are credible; distinguishing trustworthy information from misinformation is key. The best way to take care of yourself is to Know Yourself.
Regardless of the primary source, your body’s reactions to substances (foods, the environment, medications) are critical to managing the health and well-being of you and your family.
Learn how to understand scientific studies.
Research
Build your knowledge base with a strong team and researched source material.
To get the most out of your experiences, you need to find and educate your family, friends, and advisors. You need a team of trusted counselors and advisors to understand your position and goals. You will need to build a team of knowledgeable participants (Primary care physicians, allergists, gastroenterologists, and pharmacists, etc.), individuals that you can talk to, hold respectful conversations with, and share new findings without the risk of being dismissed. Having open and honest conversations with your team members helps them to guide decisions based on clinical evidence and current research, and your unique needs.
The best way to manage your help is to know what is out there and who to trust. Begin your research by beginning with government and university-affiliated websites.
Some examples of great resources are:
- PubMed – a valuable tool for accessing scientific studies,
- FDA – useful for drug-related concerns
- Mayo Clinic – medically reviewed information that is easy to understand
- Cleveland Clinic – medically reviewed information that is easy to understand
While these sources are well-known, well-received, and respected, they will have their bias.
Summary
Understanding your health sensitivities requires self-awareness, critical research, and collaboration with licensed professionals. It empowers individuals to take control of their health and avoid preventable reactions. Knowledge, trusted relationships, and evidence-based guidance are the foundations of effective health management. Be proactive and informed. By learning the basics of health and trusting credible sources, you can make more informed decisions about your health. When unsure, ask a professional.
Health Advocacy
When it comes to your health, you are the best advocate. Ask yourself these questions.
- How much do you talk to your doctor about you?
- How much does your doctor study and review your voiced concerns?
- How does your doctor demonstrate expertise?
- What are they reading?
- Will they share their requirements/certifications and updates with you?
- When you leave the doctor’s office, do you feel confident and satisfied?
Resources
Final Thoughts
Be proactive and informed. By learning the basics of health and trusting credible sources, you can make more informed decisions. When unsure, ask a professional.
Homework
Start a journal that records the foods and drinks consumed over this course (42 days). Write down everything that you put in your mouth (not the amount, not the portion size, just the food, the drinks, the supplements, and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines such as Benadryl, dry eye drops); be completely honest because this is about identifying allergies, sensitivities, and interactions.
