Living life to the fullest begins with paying attention to your body and mind.
“The long-term effects of good and bad health habits are cumulative. Simply put, you can’t move on from your past,” said Dr. William Roberts, a professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Minnesota, by email. Said through. ,
Getting enough physical activity and seeing your doctor regularly is a good place to start, says CNN medical analyst Dr. Lena Wayne said.
Wayne, an emergency physician and visiting professor of health policy and management at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, said, “There’s a lot of evidence about the things we can do consistently that can improve our longevity as well as quality of life.” can improve.” ,
Here are some habits you can adopt to give yourself the best possible chance of a long, happy life.
1. Routine Checkup
Wen said younger people tend to have fewer chronic diseases than older ones, but prevention is key. “If you screen positive for prediabetes, for example, there are steps you can take to stop the progression of diabetes.”
You and your doctor can get to know each other through annual checkups, he said. “The best time to see your doctor isn’t when you already have symptoms and need help — it’s on a regular basis to build and establish that connection so your doctor gets a baseline of your health.” could.”
2. Frequent Physical Activity
Getting enough physical activity can lower your risk of developing chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke, Wayne said.
Atria New York City’s medical director and clinical associate professor of medicine at New York University’s Grossman, Dr. Nika Goldberg said, “There is a tremendous body of research that supports regular aerobic exercise to not only prolong survival but also to maintain cognitive function over a long period of time.” Pharmaceutical School.
3. A Healthy BMI
4. Proper Nutrition
Goldberg said eating more plant-based foods provides a great source of antioxidants. “Oxidation is a sign of stress in our system and can lead to changes in the buildup of plaque in the arteries and such,” she said. “And this oxidation is also associated with aging.”
At mealtimes, at least half of your plate should be fruits and vegetables, Goldberg said. Plus, what’s important is “not only what’s in the food, but how you prepare it,” she said. “So baking and broiling is better than frying.”
5. Focus on Mental Health
Mental health is often “such a neglected part of our overall health, but actually contributes a huge amount to overall health and well-being,” Wayne said.
Goldberg said stress and anxiety have arisen over the years, which can affect blood pressure, sleep, dietary choices, alcohol consumption or attempts to quit smoking.
6. Plenty of Sleep
Goldberg said people who sleep less than seven hours a night have higher levels of stress hormones, blood sugar and blood pressure.
7. Drink less
“For a long time people have been associating alcohol with a healthy heart,” Goldberg said. But “heavy alcohol consumption can actually be a direct toxin to the heart muscle and result in heart failure. And it also raises[blood sugar levels]and causes weight gain.”
8. Not Smoking
“Smoking is a major risk factor that increases the likelihood of many cancers — not only lung cancer but also things like breast cancer,” Wayne said. It also “increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and other conditions that shorten people’s lives.”
If you’re a habitual smoker, it’s not too late to quit to prolong your life, Wayne said.
9. Build Strong Relationships
If implementing all of these habits feels great, think of them as a gradual build-up, Wayne said. “We can’t be perfect in everything all the time,” she said, “but there are (there are) things we can do to improve in one or several dimensions, and we can improve that kind of lifestyle.” can be committed.”
(This story has not been edited by seemayo staff and is published from a rss feed)