Hey Siri, What Does It Mean When My Check Engine Light Comes On ?

Imagine having a successful day of running errands, with the last thing on your checklist being to go home and relax. While driving home, your check engine light abruptly comes on, illuminating your dashboard like a blinding ray of sunshine on the first day of summer. Im sure we can agree that this means a problem. We might not know what the problem is or when it became one, but now it’s at the forefront. We now have two options. We can choose to immediately take action and get the car serviced to see how progressive the problem may be. It might be as minor as a gas cap not being secure or as major as the engine being about to blow. On the other hand, despite the check engine icon, we can choose to continue driving the car until we actually feel it breaking down, which could then be too late. I tend to think about this scenario when it comes to my health. In doing so, I have began the journey to being health conscience. The first minor ache we feel as people, is in a sense our check engine light coming on. Checking in with your health care provider at the sight of discomfort puts you in a better position to having all options available to you for diagnosing and resolving the health problem at hand. Waiting to be seen after the aches progress in pain or area can decrease chances of healing or even result to a more serious condition. I am not trying to breed the next generation of hypochondriacs, I am giving insight that if an ache is persistent or disturbing, it should be addressed sooner than later and the benefits of it. The answer to whether a nagging headache we may experience is stemming from the minor need of a new eyeglass prescription or something more major like a brain tumor, is on the other side of us taking the initiative to meet with our health care provider to assess our health.

Like vehicles with their check engine light, symptoms serve as an indicator that our bodies are not working properly. While becoming health conscience, I actively use proactive practices to add an extra layer of protection for my wellness. Regularly getting STD testing, PAP testing, Physical Exams, along with Dental and Eye exams are ways I have been practicing being more aware of my health status. This past year with a rude introduction to COVID 19, we have witnessed how life can abruptly end. In my opinion, the main fear of the pandemic is that a symptom may not present its self, though a person can still be infected and spread the virus. The virus is more risky on patients with preexisting conditions, so being aware of your health status and getting in the habit of building immunity with vitamins and healthy remedies could help you be above the curve. With recognizing this, I have become an avid hand washer and mask wearer. This new normal we are experiencing has helped me to put a long awaited resolution of caring for my health before and on-sight of a threat into action.

Proactive practices for your vehicle such as regularly changing the oil, getting a tune up, and preserving mileage all adds to the longevity of the car. In comparison, replacing bad eating habits with good, exercising, and preserving our energy promotes longevity for our lives. Unlike a broken down car, we cannot trade or replace our bodies. Once realizing this, it will help you to learn better ways to take care of the one you have, as it did me. Though I am a healthy young woman and haven’t had much of a health scare, I am enjoying the act of taking care of me. A healthy body compliments a healthy lifestyle.