A large fraction of adults frequently experience mild health discomfort. Lower back pain, acid reflux, headaches, a constant cold. Difficulty sleeping, dry skin, indigestion, bloating. Tiredness, constipation, rashes, dandruff. Hair loss. RSI. People likely won’t be running to the doctor for any of these symptoms. Yet, if I dig down, everyone has something nagging them. (Shocking!)

In a random 24 hour day, I might have minor lower back pain, my right knee creaking, a vague dryness in the throat, drowsiness after lunch, slightly congested eustachian tubes, tingling in my left pinky, or see a new pimple on my forehead. When I notice something like this, I try to file it away, to be given some thought later. I never give do. Because none of this is acute. I rarely fall sick, can do pullups, hike long distances, and have below-average BMI. Am I, then, healthy?

The natural follow up is, what does being healthy mean? Is it functional fitness? Nearly everyone is functional, but to what degree? Is it the absence of discomfort? Then few people are healthy. Is physical discomfort a default state?

The enumeration of symptoms, taken to its extreme, leads to deadly diagnoses, a-la Three Men in a Boat. People are not, however, routinely dropping dead. It is safe to not seek immediate treatment. Minor discomfort is batched up for the next doctor’s visit, idly googled, and mostly ignored. Perhaps, a remedy was suggested, used for a short period, then forgotten. Perhaps a salve will be used to soothe the symptoms when they become acute. No permanent cure to these many minor nuisances is sought.

One possibility is that these multiple symptoms point to a single cause, which could manifest something acute over time. Another is that each symptom has a separate minor cause, and the symptoms won’t get worse.

I’ve often probed doctors for an eternal key to health. If constantly observe, change my lifestyle, control everything, can I be perfectly healthy, all the time? Answers vary.

Another possibility goes thus- the human body is subject to a constant fusillade of assaults. There is no eternal health- the body must fight back, sickness, and adjustment and medicine are necessary. Ayurveda says- everyone has certain natural tendencies (doshas). Specific triggers which will upset your body’s balance, and make you sick. Tailor your lifestyle to your dosha, and stay healthy.

Here’s my favourite- The environment has changed much faster than humans can evolve. This constant tension causes discomfort. But the body is also extremely resilient, robust, adaptable, and is self-repairing, especially in a hostile environment. We’re going to be fine / see you when I have a lifestyle disease.

As always, I do not have answers.