The Price of your health

"It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver" - Mahatma Gandhi

Given the global events of the last year it has become evident that our number one priority should be our health and wellbeing. While that seems like an easy thing to achieve, it has become clear that it is not always within our control to do so. Another thing that has become evident over this period is that our individual health not only affects us, but all of those around us from our families to our co-workers and even our neighbourhood grocer.

While the current focus is on COVID-19, it is vital to remember that our health should remain a top priority even once the threat of COVID-19 decreases. While current death tolls soar, we must not forget the impact of other illnesses on the population. There are many other illnesses and diseases such as the flu, HIV and TB that affect many countries across the globe but are especially prevalent here at home in South Africa. The flu alone is responsible for up to 11 000 deaths every year in South Africa with roughly 30% of those being in individuals that are infected with HIV [1]. South African patients spend roughly R9 billion each year (out of pocket) on medicine with around R500 million of that being on cough medicine alone [2,3].

The average worker in SA earns a salary of R22,579.00 per month equating to R1,075.19 a day (in a 21-day work month). Considering the flu can take 3 to 7 days for recovery, [5], means that a company pays R3,225.57 to R7,526.33 per sick employee per day during flu season. When one considers that illnesses such as the flu tend to spread through an office causing multiple sick employees you can see the costs starting to add up. It is said that up to 15% of employees are absent on a given day in SA [6]. Therefore, in a company of 100 employees this adds up to R112,894.95 for 7 days of sick leave for 15 employees during one single flu season. Considering a person is allowed 30 paid days of sick leave over a 3-year period, means that a minimum (increases not included) of R483,835.50 is paid to those same 15 employees even though they are not working. The cost of wages for absent employees along with the cost of temporary staff and/or overtime paid to other employees to compensate for their sick colleagues, can cause a company to lose around 17% of their yearly payroll [6].

It has been shown that the average worker in SA requires 4.5 sick days due to upper respiratory infections alone which causes a loss of R2 billion rand to the economy. Considering the number of companies in South Africa it is easy to see why the economic loss due to absent employees can rack up to R19 billion per year [6].

While absenteeism is a major problem, so too is presenteeism - the bizarre act of employees coming to work even when they feel unwell. This strange phenomenon is done for various reasons and results not only in decreased productivity, but also causes the spread of illnesses by coughing, sneezing and the touching of surfaces around the office. It has been shown that 70% of workers go to work even when they are feeling unwell and that presenteeism can actually cost a company up to four times more than absenteeism [6]. While measures such as sanitation and cleaning reduce much of the spreading potential of an illness, the best defence against getting sick is a strong immune system.

Our Immune Systems

Our immune systems depend on a fine balance between our diet, sleep and exercise regime, and stress levels. Increased stress levels are to be expected during this time, not only are people stressed and anxious about the possibility of contracting COVID-19, but many people have increased stress due to their new home and work environments. Job loss or working from home as well as online learning is placing a great emotional strain on many families across the globe. The increased sense of responsibility for children and parents alike, has left many families in a constant state of panic. While short bursts of stress can be well modulated by our bodies, extended periods of stress have severely negative effects on not only our mental health, but also our physical health. Consistent stress, beside causing fatigue, has the capability of weakening our immune system leaving us vulnerable to infections and illness [7].

Everyone from children to university students to parents are feeling stressed at the moment and given that a decrease in these stressors is not set to happen anytime soon and that our economy cannot handle any more losses, it is imperative that everyone tries to stay healthy in the best way possible. Besides the well-known routes of handwashing, mask wearing and social distancing there is another way to keep yourself save during this time and in the future. That method is through the supplementation of an immune booster, especially those containing beta-glucans. Beta-glucans are a naturally occurring substance found in the cell walls of yeast which acts to enhance your body’s immune system against any form of invading pathogen [8]. Beta-glucans will bind to specific parts of the innate immune system causing a cascade of signals through the immune system leading to the enhancement of future immune responses [8]. In short – they allow your innate immune system to be better responsive by prepping it for quicker and stronger activation should an infection occur.

They say you can’t put a price tag on your health … yet it was easy to calculate what your sickness could cost you, your family and even your employee. If it is possible to calculate the cost of eating a healthy diet, exercising and getting sleep then adding the price of an immune booster to that should equate to the price of your health. While that in itself is not easy and would vary between different people, I can’t possibly imagine that the price of adding a daily supplement to your shopping could ever outweigh the cost of your ill health.
So, I ask you, … If you had the opportunity to increase the protection of yourself and your family from infection and illness
Would you take it?

Click here to find out more about CAMED Immune Defense