I haven't been to the gym in almost six months. Eat right and exercise is every doctor's best advice, but despite the risks, I don't exercise. It's my choice, if not a very smart one.
As sad as it is that a health columnist doesn't work out (like the rest of you, I'm going tomorrow), consider the fact we're all still alive. We make health-conscious choices that allow us to avoid death through luck or planning. For too many of us, it's probably luck.
The main causes of death for people ages 15 to 24 are unintentional injury, homicide and suicide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its most current figures are from 2006, because this is the government and that's apparently the best it can do.
Today, while we're young, death is more preventable than it will be ever again. It is more in your control NOT to die now than ever. That's why it makes sense (and your mother will agree with this) to calm down the next time road rage flares up. Or swap your greasy burger one day a week for a salad. Or all those other options you already know about, but ignore.
Honestly, I don't see a lot of death-avoidance happening at OU. Binge drinking, poor eating and crazy driving are dangerous activities. Judging by how many people stumble across Court Street each night, there's probably more we can do to avoid the ultimate health problem.
I'm sure ducking death is not an explicit priority for most of us; we probably worry about sillier things. Avoiding plastic water bottles doesn't make sense if you risk alcohol poisoning four nights a week. And living the vegan lifestyle doesn't excuse driving like a maniac.
Unintentional injury essentially includes a) most crimes and b) the things your mother nags you not to do. Car accidents are in there as well.
After just being in a car wreck, I can tell you that near-death experiences don't do much for your health. My back hurt for a week. I felt old. I ate too many cookies. Well, I have an argument for the cookies, but whatever.
Just think: When you're older, there will be a ton of ways to die, many of them beyond your control. You can't take back all those late-night trips to Sonic when you're 50 years old and develop heart disease. Even if you
could, genetics can be cruel. Ask any nonsmoker with lung cancer.
Like everyone else, I'm more worried about cancer than dying in an accident, but statistics show an accident is how I'm most likely to die. Instead of talking about fatal injury protection, it's in vogue to stress about the toxin-covered produce or the chances of getting cancer from a cell phone.
Most of us aren't going to stop using plastics or go completely organic. It's almost impossible. The number of OU students who will stop gabbing on the phone because there's a chance of cancer is equally small; however, we still worry about these risks.
Few of us talk about how to prevent accidents. That includes picking a safe place to live, driving carefully, and yes, partying without risking a Hudson trip.
There's an argument to be made about quality of life: The idea there should be a balance between health and happiness. Agreed. But a sliver of prevention could be the difference between trashed and tragedy. It's worth it.
Robin Donovan is a graduate student studying journalism and columnist for The Post. Send her your death-avoidance maneuvers at rd253609@ohiou.edu
4 Opinion
Robin Donovan
