I consider myself as a health conscious person and proactive in medical sense. I jump at every opportunity to have pathological and other medical tests.
About 20 years back, there was an advertisement “Free bones density check up with free consultation by orthopedist” in a popular clinic. Not the one to miss such an opportunity, I underwent the test, followed by consultation. The orthopedist after going through the result, in a grave tone said “Mr Kalyan, your bone density is less and over a period of time, you may develop Osteoporosis if left uncared for. By God’s grace you have come at the right time and you can prevent this disease by religiously following my advice”. So saying he prescribed a few tablets to be taken continuously and advised me to avoid caffeinated drinks. I was crestfallen not only with the prospect of my bones cracking down but also having to forego coffee, my elixir drink.
My wife dismissed this report as an advertising gimmick and used this opportunity to tease and brand me as a hypochondriac. Sometimes I used to have nightmares of broken vertebra and walking with a stick. Shortly I left India for an assignment abroad and in the work pressure that followed I totally forgot about this disease, whose name was difficult to remember anyway. Now after these years I am happy to inform the readers that I still have healthy bones and am able to walk freely without a stick. For a change, I had to grudgingly accept the wisdom of my wife in rejecting the medical report. Anyway I added a few medical terms to my vocabulary.
Recently we have moved into a new apartment complex where the quality of water is considered to be questionable. All my life, I have been consuming water from different sources, the only criterion being that it should be clear without any particles or sediments. I never had issues with my health. But now with the water reports of the samples being published on regular basis, the terms like TDS level and TS levels, which I vaguely remember to have studied in college, suddenly started assuming Himalayan importance. The more I delve into these reports, the more confused I become.
The messages by some research minded fellow owners, advising us on the different elements dissolved in water, their good and bad effects make me more and more jittery. The consolation part, I was told, was that water contains both good and bad bacteria. Daily I pray in the night that good bacteria win the war against bad and save us. In the mornings when I wake up I pinch myself and shake my legs to confirm that I am alive and also kicking.
Not for a moment I am questioning the intention or veracity of these reports or the statistics. They have been done after a great deal of research and good purpose to make the life in this planet better.
However the fact remains that the people of previous generation were blissfully unaware of these facts and led happy lives or suffered out of ignorance. Wisdom lies in correct interpretation of knowledge, which is always complex and difficult. Knowledge is strength but sometimes ignorance is bliss.
