HEALTH AND IRELAND - We have taken the pulse of a nation and here's the diagnoses

WE toast it, we abuse it, we crave it when we lose it — there are some things neither money nor Mastercard can buy, and good health is one of them.

Despite its being a priceless commodity, the level of dedication to maintaining good health varies widely.

While faulty genomes, family history, and genetic background are the inescapable curse of the unfortunate few, there are plenty among us who give little thought to the impact of negative lifestyle choices on our future wellbeing, even though our continued good health is largely ours for the choosing.