Enjoy the game by - Ahmed Rabea

It’s very tempting to look back on the past with rose-coloured glasses and see things as so much better ‘in the good old days’. We’ve all been party to conversations where people talk of how great life was when the pace was slower, there was less pollution, and we could reap the benefits of being part of a close-knit community.

But can we really take this view when it comes to our health and wellbeing?

Modern medicines have led a revolution in improving the health of millions. A dose of the flu now means treatment with antivirals or a course of antibiotics and a few days in bed rather than an influenza epidemic that kills millions.

A sore throat or headache? With more and more medicines being made available outside of the prescription setting, we can decide how and when to treat these so-called minor ailments. It’s off to the pharmacy or supermarket to buy a suitable treatment that will fix us up fast, without needing to make an appointment to see our GP.

We also have access to a plethora of health information, largely thanks to the internet. This vast online library has revolutionised our mindset, jolting us out of a passive passenger mentality where the word of the GP was gospel, and creating a nation of ‘healthsumers’ who want to know what’s really happening to their bodies.

Whilst online research and amateur investigation doesn’t replace the role of a qualified healthcare professional like a GP or pharmacist, it does allow us all to have an active role in knowing what’s up when we’re down, and how to fix it.

Better in the good old days? I for one feel much better now.