Lifestyle-related illnesses, such as stroke, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease, cost billions of dollars in health care costs each year. Not only do they consume a great deal of your time, but they also pose risks of premature death and, at the very least, diminish your ability to enjoy the things you love to do.
Rather than living with a disability and illness, there are several comprehensive ways to improve your health and avoid the difficulties that accompany chronic illness.
Regular physical activity
There are many healthy benefits to exercising. Exercise can include aerobic exercises such as walking, running, swimming, or biking, or anaerobic exercises, such as lifting weights and using weight machines at the gym. Research has consistently shown that by exercising regularly, you can lower your chances of developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and many types of cancer, including colorectal cancer and lung cancer.
Exercise is not just something you do for the health of your body. Exercise can easily help your mental health, too. Exercise is known to increase endogenous endorphins in the brain so that you feel better and have a lower perception of pain.
It also reduces the chances of suffering an early death. A Brigham and Woman’s Hospital study revealed that people who participated in a regular exercise program had a reduced risk of premature death by almost a third.
Maintain a healthy weight
It is well established that people of normal weight for their height are in better health and perform better in daily activities. Unfortunately, obesity is on the rise and this means an increase in chronic diseases. There are many ways to keep your weight within the normal range.
Exercising daily can go a long way toward improving your weight, and eating a healthy, low-calorie diet is also essential to avoiding weight gain and the medical problems that accompany being overweight. You don’t have to drastically change your weight. Losing a few pounds can make the difference between poor health and good health.
Get vaccinated and screened for chronic diseases
While getting vaccinated against the flu or pneumonia is not technically holistic, they are important things you will want to do, especially as you get older. Also, you should see your doctor regularly to be screened for many of the chronic diseases that continue to have a poor quality of life.
Screening for diabetes alone can identify your risk for the disease and can help you avoid the complications that come with having this chronic disease. Cholesterol testing can also identify your risk for heart disease and can lead you to better eating habits that will lower your cholesterol and improve your overall health.
Stay Social
People who isolate themselves are in worse health than those who spend time with friends and loved ones. It may involve taking time to eat together as a family, going out regularly with your spouse, or participating in an exercise program with a close friend. Your social network is just as important to your health as any other healthy activity you can participate in.
Social activity keeps the brain healthy and promotes emotional well-being, and when you feel good, your body thrives, it really is that simple.
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