The pandemic is global, but your health is local

From March to December, 2020 will be remembered for many years to come.

The global pandemic has reached into every aspect of all our lives and taken away our sense of predictability and security, but not without glimmers of hope on the horizon.

We all hope that an effective and safe vaccine will bring us back to a sense of “normal” once again, but until those glimmers of hope become bright and shining beacons, we must continue to focus on what we can control in our own lives, homes and communities.

As we all venture into 2021, it is my hope that we all take the time to focus on what matters most in this global war against COVID-19: the health and well-being of ourselves, our families and our communities.

Our global health starts and ends at a local level, within in our own homes, our own inner circles and our own local communities.

What can you do right now?  The most important thing that you can do in any crisis is focus on what you can control: your health, your actions and your home and work environments.

In terms of health, we all need to be creative in terms of how we can safely stay active and fit, eat and drink healthfully, find ways to move well, and take care of our mental health, too. But most importantly, we need to address any and all health concerns when they arise, immediately, because neglecting your health right now will ultimately put more strain on your health and support system in the long term.

Health problems do not often resolve on their own without effective intervention, so ensure that your health is at the top of your priority list this coming year. Indeed, being in the best health condition that you can possibly be is what we need from everyone, now more than ever before.

For the safety of our loved ones and our communities, we must find a way to abide by all government issued public health directives, especially as it pertains to our own family, closest friends and loved ones.

If you are missing your loved ones and are considering making an exception to current CDC and government issued guidelines, please reconsider.

Consider the front-line health workers who have been working tirelessly since March of last year to save the lives of those who would not have survived without their help. Consider your personal safety and the safety of your loved ones who may unwittingly become infected and could spread it to you or someone you love. Consider that a negative COVID-19 test could be a false positive. Consider that COVID-19 can cause long-standing chronic and incurable health conditions for the young and old, no matter how fit and healthy. And consider that these events can unknowingly be caused by you or even by someone you know, love and trust, even if they appear to be “healthy” and “safe.”

During these uncertain times, we need leaders like you. Sure, we need global leaders, national leaders and regional leaders, but most importantly, we need leaders in own our communities. When uncertainty threatens our lives, we often look to those leaders around us to help restore order and safety once again. In these times, our leaders are parents, children, teachers, doctors, friends and neighbors, just to mention a few, whom we believe have our best interest at heart.

In March 2020, I took a professional risk in launching telehealth services for our chiropractic rehab clinic for those who felt more comfortable treating their condition from home. It was one of the most difficult challenges I have had, but I knew that it was the right thing to do for my patients’ health and safety, and I had to take a lead in the local health community to do this.

In this time of crisis, we have all fallen back into our own tight-knit community folds to seek refuge from the threats we face today. So, alongside the efforts of the scientists making a safe and effective vaccine, alongside the health care workers who are fighting to save lives, we all need community help and leadership; and therefore we need you.

— Dr. Dan Michael is a chiropractic physician at NW Sports Rehab in Madison Park.