HOW TO SECURE YOUR HEALTH AND STAY ACTIVE

These days it is easier than ever to secure your health than in previous times.  Healthcare is better than ever and available in more parts of the world every day.

Research experts are finding cures and understanding the mysteries of the human body in ways we never thought we would see.

With all these advances in the health and medical fields it makes sense to expect to stay healthy for the majority of our lives, especially if we take care of some basic points that are in our control.

The following items can help get you on the right path if you are not there already.  Just remember, it’s never too late to create a healthier lifestyle.Every change you make can possibly add years and happiness to your life.  Some of these points may seem obvious and others may be enlightening.  Let’s start with the easiest ones first:

• Choose a healthy diet–It can never be said to often. “You are what you eat” is not just a saying your mother repeated over and over to get you off junk food.  She was right, so you might as well admit it.  Eating a diet high in fiber, fruits and vegetables and low in sugar and animal fats has been shown to extend longevity and keep you healthier.

• Choose to exercise your mind and body–Maintaining a “good” weight is optimal. Including a fitness program, no matter how small can make a big change in your health “landscape”.  Those of us who take this seriously and have an active lifestyle normally enjoy the best health.

There are many ways to stay active and you need to participate in a program that you will enjoy long term.  Don’t forget to keep your mind at peak performance with mental exercises.  Games such as chess, mind puzzles, math problems and learning new skills will all benefit your mental health.  Be sure that your mind stays active as well as your body.

• Choose to sleep – A key to staying healthy is getting enough sleep. It seems like such a little thing, until you are over-exhausted and the lack of sleep affects your day to day living. We all feel the need to do more with our days; more work, more play, more learning etc., when what we really need is more sleep!

Just keep in mind the following items that are caused by sleep deprivation: weight gain, impaired judgment and forgetfulness.Lack of sleep can contribute to cardiovascular diseases, depression, anxiety and other serious health issues.  Go to bed an hour earlier and see the positive changes that start right away!

• Choose to develop good habits– From washing your hands to reducing exposure from smoke; avoid abusing drugs and alcohol. Healthy living includes getting medical help for a variety of conditions that can impair your quality of life.

Immunizations and regular medical exams can help to minimize some issues and should be dealt with promptly.Erasing bad habits from your life is just as important as developing new ones that are better.

• Choose safety–Creating a safe home environment is significant. Install fire and carbon monoxide detectors.  Keep clutter to a minimum, “childproof” your home if necessary, learn about fire prevention and come up with a good emergency plan.

Communicate the plan to all family members and have phone numbers listed prominently for emergency medical personnel, police, fire department and family physicians.  Secure medications and firearms behind locked cabinets.

• Choose a medical alert system–These systems aren’t just for the elderly.  People of any age can benefit from having one if the person has limited mobility, severe or total hearing loss and visual impairments or blindness.

Those with chronic illnesses such as heart conditions, diabetes, severe allergies, altered alertness, head traumasufferers and otherdebilitating conditions can remain healthier if they have a medical alert system in case of emergencies.

No matter what your age is, all of these suggestions can be advantageous in some way.The real question isn’t how many of them you can implement, but when are you going to start?