2. The worst thing you can do to your health is to smoke.
Smoking greatly increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes,
respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD), and many types of cancer, including
cancer of the lung, throat, mouth, colon, and bladder

3. High blood pressure increases the risk of many
diseases, notably heart attacks and strokes. Lifestyle
modifications can help you keep pre-hypertension
from developing into full-blown hypertension

4. Discuss cancer screening with your health care
provider, based on your personal and family history as
well as your personal preferences.

5. It is important to stay on track with your
immunizations—check with your healthcare provider
to see if you are up to date.

6. Healthy lifestyle and dietary changes can help control
blood sugar and reduce the risk of diabetes. These include
losing weight if you’re overweight, exercising most days of
the week, cutting back on calories and saturated fat, and
eating a heart-healthy diet.

7. Moderately active adult women should, on average,
consume about 2,000 calories a day; men, about 2,600
calories

8. Know your blood cholesterol level and, if they are
undesirable, take steps to improve them.

9. To keep bones healthy, quit smoking; do weight-bearing exercise
such as strength training with weights, jumping rope, running,
or playing tennis. Get adequate amounts of vitamin D and
calcium. By age 65, about 6% of men also have osteoporosis, so
older men should discuss their risk factors with their doctors,
and get a bone density test if their doctors recommend one

10. To tone your muscles, try strength training with
weights. Or use your own body weight for resistance as you
do push-ups, planks, or pull-ups. You should train all the
major muscle groups in your upper and lower body at least
two or three days a week.

11. Aerobic or "cardio" exercise is one the most important
components of fitness in terms of improving overall
health

12. Fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grains
are packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber as well as
a wide array of other beneficial compounds

13. A low-fiber diet increases the risk of constipation and other
bowel problems. A high-fiber diet may help reduce the risk
of diabetes, stroke, systemic inflammation, and perhaps
colon cancer, as well as an improvement in cholesterol and
blood pressure

14. To get the most from your medications and to
minimize adverse effects, it’s important to store drugs
properly, not miss a dose, and be aware of possible side
effects and interactions with food or other medications

15. The immune system suffers with poor sleep, as does mental
health, concentration, and memory. Many chronic diseases
such as stroke, heart attack, hypertension, obesity,
depression, and diabetes have been linked with chronic
poor sleep

16. Having poor balance is common, especially among
older people. Ask your doctor if any of your
medications can affect your balance. And regularly
do balance exercises to protect yourself.

17. Hearing loss can impair your quality of life in many ways.
It’s been linked with cognitive decline and dementia,
balance problems, and is even associated with a decrease in
walking speed. Talk with your doctor, who may recommend
you see a specialist and consider a hearing aid.

18. Glaucoma, a buildup of pressure in the eye, is a silent
disease with few symptoms in the beginning. But, over
time, this pressure leads to blindness. That’s why
regular eye exams are so important

19. Aside from brushing and flossing every day, you
should see your dentist twice a year for an evaluation
and cleaning to maintain good oral health.

20. Research indicates that engaging in new, challenging
activities may help maintain or improve cognitive
functioning as we age.

21. Having friends, family, and other social relations not
only adds immensely to your quality of life, it can also
add years to your life.

22. Depression affects your entire body and can seriously
compromise your well-being. People who are
depressed may not sleep well

23. Engaging in active intercourse can go hand in hand with a
healthy life. It is known that any sort of intimacy can help
modify stress, and couples who have sleep with each other
regularly may have less of a rise in blood pressure that
accompanies stressful events
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Enhanced Health Fact
URL: www.ehfblog.com