First and foremost, you have to learn how to reduce and/or manage your stress levels. So many aspects of our life today are full of stress and it has been found to be the #1 contributor to so many ailments and so much chronic disease in our society. Walk, exercise, breathe, meditate or do whatever it takes to lower those stress levels, and therefore the cortisol in your system. Find a way to have less stress in your life and it will add years to your life and best of all, life to the years you do have.
Of course, we all know that you need to quit smoking if you have not already done so. As a professional healthcare provider you are more than aware of the detrimental effects smoking has on your health and even on those around you. If you can't do it for you, think of your loved ones. There are lots of helpful ways and means to aid in your quest to put down those nasty cigarettes. Isn't it time you made this a priority?
Get up and move, change your diet and/or do whatever it takes to get those extra pounds off your body. Our society has become overweight and sluggish. Too much processed food and not enough movement. I know after a hard day at work it's easy to grab some fast food and go home and become a couch potato. We all have these urges but it is up to you to make choices to get health and stay healthy. Shedding those extra pounds can help you in many ways including protection against heart disease and diabetes. Get rid of that spare tire because belly fat is especially bad for you.
Having a purpose will definitely help add life to your years too. Activities and/or hobbies that spark your interest and activate your brain can help lengthen your life. Studies have found that a strong sense of purpose helps make you less likely to die from heart disease or stroke and lowers your chances of getting Alzheimer's.
Taking a nap may help you reduce stress hormones and therefore be good for your heart as well as have many other benefits. Napping regularly may even help you live longer. I used to tell my children that's when I will know you are a grownup…..when you want to take nap.
Go dancing, go walking, or do something that requires you to move your body. There is clear evidence that people who exercise live longer than people who don't. Regular physical activity lowers your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, depression and even some forms of cancer. Even 10 minute walks are better than nothing, do them a couple times a day to start out.
Sleep, sleep, sleep….. Good quality sleep can help you in so many ways including lowering your risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and even mood disorders. It also helps your body heal. Staying up all night is bad for you and studies have shown that if you sleep less than 5 hours a night you increase your risk of dying early.
Well, these are just a few tips…..We all want to add years to our lifespan, but we also want to make sure those years are good quality years, not just more years. If you do some of these things it can definitely improve your health and therefore improve the life in your years as well.
Mary Crawford, HealthCare Employment Network
