A few fortnight ago, my sister and I were accompanied by a young man in his early thirties.

As we sat on a round table, the young man told us how his uncle passed. As it happened, his uncle had a cardiovascular issue but was not aware of it, and because of something he consumed, he died a sudden death. The young man then told another story briefly about his other uncle, who died after playing tennis; like the first man, his death was also an unexpected one.

After he finished telling his last story, I commented about how awful sudden death was. I did not say much, but my face showed concern; I knew quick deaths are preventable, given changes to lifestyle and outlook.

The young man looked at me straightly and said, “Well, that’s just how my uncles left the world.” He nodded a few times as if adding there was not much they could do.

I noticed my sister’s face, and right after, I stood and removed myself from the room. When I walked away, I thought to myself, “What a load of bullshits!”

Has science foretold different stories?

Research on epigenetics, longevity, gut microbiomes, nutrition, exercise, sleep, and emotional health has revealed new health insights. Scientists now agree that each individual differs from one another, and despite the predicament of our ancestors, there are ways we individually can change our fate. Cardiovascular diseases and other diseases are preventable if an individual starts to make changes early in life regarding lifestyle, food consumption, and perspective. Even when the healthcare universe is still far from perfect, there are small ways individuals can improve their health and reduce their risks of living short lives, even sudden deaths.

The irony is that a lot of people do not understand this. This young man and countless other young men and women continue to feel like victims.

What, then, can we do?

Thinking outside the box is crucial.

This requires creativity, open-mindedness, and, above all, discipline. One must accept that doctrines and dogmas are just that: doctrines and creeds, and slowly begin to remove oneself from one’s environment and find other ways of being.

As I said in the beginning, this is not an easy task. It requires a lot of sacrifice, and most people are too comfortable or too ignorant to see beyond the veil.

But what I can tell you is this.

If you decide to make these choices, think outside the box, and work hard at becoming a better version of yourself, your health and the health of others around you will change dramatically. You can change fate, your life is not set in stone.