Motion Forword - Words of a Therapist: Future Proofing, Fainting and Philosophical Thoughts
Welcome to Motion Forword - Words of a Therapist! Number 23!
Motion Forword is about discussing the combined benefits of movement with a positive mental attitude. Using my personal/professional experiences, evidence-based research and some of your own experiences.
Bringing some hope, positivity, happiness and maybe usefulness to those, perhaps like yourself, that needs a pick me up.
Something about me…Our Future Health
This month I got a letter through the post.
To join up to ‘Our Future Health’ and ‘help future generations to live in good health for longer.’
‘Owww I quite like the sound of that’ - I thought to myself.
Signing up without really even thinking, I booked an appointment at the Boots at the West Quay Retail Park.
Oh S**t!
In my eagerness to do something good and to help researchers understand the nations health better… I completely forgot that I am a complete needle-phobe (trypanophobia, always like the names given for phobias!) and squeamish to blood.
And what do they need as part of the study?
Yep. A couple of viles of blood.
Even though I knew this when reading the letter I must have had a very temporary and specific amnesia moment, forgetting the time I fainted and had some sort of seizure when pricking my finger to retrieve some blood. The after effects of which were very very unpleasant, and perhaps even worse for the shocked and pale onlooker.
Well… in for a penny…
I was actually quite nervous on the day and my partner came with me to hold my hand! I was doing my best to keep calm and not overthink.
I kept hydrated and bought a Boost bar when we arrived which I was still scoffing down my gullet as we were invited into the temporary clinic set-up in the middle of Boots.
We were met by Gary. The phlebotomist. He looked like quite the brute; heavy shouldered, scars on his face and tats peaking over his tunic at the neck and arms. But his facial expression said otherwise…
He was perhaps one of the kindest men I’ve ever met!
My partner, knowing my plight, jestered in about my anxieties (as I did my best to look brave) and with a knowing soft smile he said ‘I already know which vein I’m going for and the Boost was a good idea. All you need is one good experience and you’ll be fine in the future’.
I didn’t manage to get a picture, but here’s Chat GPT’s interpretation… 😄.
I can only think of one other time that having my blood taken felt so insignificant. I barely felt it, felt fine after and had a nice chat with Gary as I pushed the cotton ball into my arm.
The only other thing I had to do was complete an online questionnaire about my life (family history, personal history, life style etc). It really goes into quite some detail demonstrating the thought that has gone into making this a successful project.
If you would like to sign up too and become one of the 5 million people project, here is the link: Sign up to Our Future Health
You’ll get a £10 gift voucher for your trouble, but I was quite happy to opt to donate it back to the researchers.
Something for you… HEATWAVE!!
Speaking of fainting…
Hasn’t it been hot!
‘Milk was a bad choice’ - Ron Burgundy
As Brits, don’t we love talking about the weather!
But in all seriousness, we need to be mindful of the heat.
Why can this be important? Example:
I went for a run (perhaps stupidly) during the middle of the day. Between 1200 and 1300 on the 19th June. The time of day it tends to tell you NOT to go out in the sun, the week of the big heat wave.
But there I was, knowing I was being a bit stupid. But I had no other free time, so this is what it’s gotta be. At least I put on sun cream and was wearing white.
I knew it was harder. I was slower, I didn’t run as far and my heart rate was much higher than when I ran a similar distance during cooler weather.
That afternoon I felt off and pretty awful and this also carried into the weekend. Feeling lethergic and just a bit off.
Over that same weekend, a friend of mine, after 2 nights of long dancing in the heat, also had a moment and almost fainted late Saturday night.
Not considering the affects of the heat on our bodies will only jeopardise enjoyment of the fun stuff!
So consider this a warning for July and August. Please do the stuff you know you should do to avoid fainting and heatstroke:
Take on plenty of water, more than usual. (avoid diuretics e.g. caffiene, alcohol, sugary drinks)
If you take duiretics for blood pressure (e.g. Furosemide, Hydrochlorothiazide etc), remember that you may be more at risk of too low a blood pressure in the heat causing fainting.
Cover yourself with hats, long clothing (light coloured and light fabric), sun cream and UV reflective sunglasses.
Avoid spending long stints in the mid day sun.
Keep yourself cool - use the shade and fans. Try using cool packs during the hot nights and open windows for a breeze.
As Ron Burgundy would say:
A story… What would you tell your younger self?
The breadth and depth of conversations I have with my patients on a weekly basis is a wonderful part of my job.
A recent conversation that stuck with me was when talking about the idiocy of our own actions!
We reflected on what we used to do as young adults (or older adults!) and the impact it had on our bodies now. How we wished we could have done things differently.
This lead to the philosophical question…
‘What would you tell your younger self?’
Perhaps you’d warn them that they are not as invincible as they think they are.
Perhaps you’d tell them how actions have consequences, and not always good ones.
Perhaps you could convince them that some injuries can leave a mark and not always a physical one.
Perhaps you’d tell them that fear of failure leads to failing to thrive (a personal one for me!)
Perhaps you’d tell them how important it was to do their exercises, rehabiliation and treatment to improve recovery from an injury and what could happen if they didn’t…
This lead to a really good follow up question by my patient ‘but would your younger self even listen to your older self'?!’ Aha!
It’s a really good point.
Typically our younger selves think we’ve got it all figured out. But when given information contrary to that belief, it tends to make us double-down and ignore that we may not know everything!
‘But I’ve literally lived your life!!!’
‘… but how can I trust you?’
Don’t you just wish we weren’t so pig headed?!
If only we could be young yet not so dumb and full of… contradictions.
Of course, this is all philosophical and we’ll never be able to tell our younger selves. But we can teach future generations but also apply what we learn to our current selves.
It’s always easy to say what we would have done differently then. But doing it now is actually hard. But taking the first step makes the next that much easier.
Thanks for reading.
Until next month…
Motion Forword ⏩⏩
Nathan