National health care has brought much discussion about our collective health and what it will become in the future based on the policies put in place to protect it. Regardless of how the government regulates the care that we get, there are some basic steps we all can take to stay on track in our personal lives.
1. Get regular check-ups and screenings. The best way to fight off a disease is early detection… so unless you are psychic, a test is the best way to see what’s going on with your body. Be responsible for your own health.
2. Make endorphins your friend every day. Any kind of exercise that you dedicate 30 minutes to will help build muscle, strengthen bones and burn off the fat than can be deadly to your heart. Find something that you truly enjoy doing and incorporate it into your life on a daily basis.
3. Don’t let your mouth become a garbage can. As a rule, try to put only healthful foods and beverages into your body and let sugary snacks and fatty foods be an exception. The more colorful your food, the healthier they are for you. So if your meals don’t have enough greens, oranges or reds, you probably aren’t eating very well. If you have weight to lose, do it slowly so that the loss is sustainable. A simple place to start is by controlling portion size. Remember, your stomach is only the size of your fist!
4. Quit smoking, or better yet…never start. Breaking the nicotine habit is certainly far from easy, but the rewards will be far richer than the discomfort you endure. Don’t go it alone, there are several viable over-the-counter aids as well as prescriptions that your doctor can write for you. Don’t worry if you gain a few pounds along the way, your healthy pink lungs are the goal in the short term.
5. Find your own way to deal with stress. Some people prefer exercise while others swear by quiet time; the important thing is to find what works for you when it comes time to shake off the tension that comes with everyday living. The thing you don’t want to do is push what’s bothering you under the rug and ignore it. Stress builds up and manifests itself in the form of heart disease, migraines and an overall low immunity. Get a handle on it before it does a number on you.
A little time, a little effort, and common sense go a long way to helping yourself keep health. Just pay attention to your health and you’ll be rewarded with a longer, more active life.
Alan Greene writes on health, online degrees, online colleges, and careers.
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