Dr. Cynthia

Explores the Road to Better Health and to a Better Life

TEN WAYS TO STAY HEALTHY

Each one of us likes to enjoy life. One way to attain this is to keep ourselves fit and healthy. How fit and healthy we are, depends upon us, upon the way we live and upon the way we plan for our health.

Let us review some of the ways we can achieve healthy lifestyle and longer life.

1.Exercise .
Exercise is necessary. Since we belong to animal kingdom, we all need to move. Our body is like a machine. We have to keep it in good running condition. Moderate exercise cuts down our risk of many healthly hazards such as diabetes, arthritis and osteoporosis. Exercise helps us maintain our ideal body weight.

2.Conscious and Healthy Eating.
Let us eat more fruits, vegetables and fish and eat less of red meat. Avoid fatty, processed, salty and sweet food. Eat enough nuts, whole wheat, grains and soya. Better to eat smaller meals on a more regular basis than to eat large meals which stretch the stomach. Eat slowly and digest your food very well.

3.Drink Enough Water.
85 to 90 percent of our bodies are made up of water. You should try to drink 8-12 glasses of water each day. This will help to prevent gall bladder and kidney stones. Water is good for migraine, constipation and dry skin. Avoid very sweet juices and drinks with a high sugar content. This may lead to diabetes.

4.No smoking/Limit Alcohol Intake/Avoid Risky Behavior
We all know the dangers of smoking, from cardiovascular diseases to lung diseases including cancer of various body parts with many more diseases.
Avoid or limit alcohol intake. It is not good for our liver and our brain.
Avoid risky activities, prohibited drug use, multiple sex partners, etc.

5.Rest/ Vacation.
Try to get eight hours sleep everynight in order to regain energy. Make one day a week a rest day like Sunday. Take time off once a year to have a long vacation if circumstances permit.

6.Control stress/Laugh/ Pray

If we are type A persons, try to be more relax, should avoid politics if possible. If stress is the problem, we may need to take a calculated action to deal with it.

Have a good laugh for 15 min a day. This boosts our immune system.

Pray/ meditate to attain peaceful mind. People who pray or have strong faith are noted to be 40% happier than others who are otherwise, studies have shown. Believers have good sense of meaning and purpose in life and are generally happier and less stressed.

7.Medical Check Up.
Visit your trusted doctors once or twice a year for medical checkup. Check your blood pressure regularly, as in monthly if you are over forty. Check for your complete blood count, blood sugar, cholesterol, BUN and cretinin once or twice a year. Your doctor may advise you to take medications for your high cholesterol, sugar or hypertension.

8.Vaccinate.
Vaccine will protect us against many diseases. Avail yourself appropriate medication for your condition that you can afford. Most medical clinics now have a pneumonia vaccine, flu vaccine, and vaccine against Typhoid, Hepatitis B, Rabies, Tetanus, etc. Give our children also all the vaccine that they need and we can afford.

9. Positive Outlook.
Many doctors estimate that 60 % of all illnesses have a psychological basis. Let us look at the negative situation in our life as a challenge and a chance to grow and strengthen ourselves. Turn a negative situation to a learning opportunity. Remember that the positive ‘alive’ feeling that accompanies a healthy lifestyle will itself help us to cope with the strains in our life

10.Have meaningful Relationship.
Married people and those with good relationship are generally happy and live longer compared to single people living alone. In case you are single, get a pet, have a hobby and have close friends. Be in contact with many people. Share our blessings and talents.

I hope the these above reminders/ tips are not too late for most us of to improve our quality of your life through better health and a better understanding. Make an effort to share these tips with those around you and those you love most especially your younger children who are still developing their health habits. … Stay Healthy. Enjoy Life. God Bless./TE