Everybody wants to live a healthy life. And it’s your daily habits that decide how you are going to live. You may want to do swimming, hiking, gardening, or just want to feel energized throughout the day. Unfortunately, 6 out of 10 adults struggle with chronic diseases like heart disease, obesity, diabetes, etc. Not only the tough tasks but also it makes daily activities like walking and exercising difficult. And you may also be managing some medications that can affect your daily intake of food. Although chronic illnesses are preventable you cannot control diseases that are caused due to age, genetics, or family history.
However, it is said that with a healthy lifestyle, you can manage or prevent chronic diseases and other medical conditions. So, if you don’t want such diseases to stop you from living your life to the fullest, then maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Healthy Choices to Live A Life Free from Chronic Diseases
Chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer are preventable. By making healthier choices you can lower the risk of these diseases. Here are the healthy tips for you to live a healthy lifestyle and keep yourself away from chronic illnesses.
Quit smoking
If you are a smoker then get help to quit it. One of the best things you can do to keep your heart healthy is to stop smoking or chewing any tobacco. Smoking is one of the major causes of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. This increases the risk of heart attack or stroke. Cigarette smoke lowers the oxygen level in blood hence the heart has to work hard to supply enough oxygen to the body.
Well, the best part is that your heart functions get normal from the first day you quit smoking. And within a year the risk of heart disease drops to half of that person who smokes. No matter how much you have smoked, it’s never too late to quit smoking. You will see a massive difference in your health condition once you stop smoking.
Be physically active
We cannot overlook the importance of being physically active. However, most of us do this inadvertently. A 30-minute jogging or running can add a lot of benefits to your health. You will see a huge difference once you start exercising daily. You will be more active and fit. Your heart is a muscle that needs regular exercise. Also, it helps you manage a healthy body weight and cholesterol levels that affect your heart. If you are already managing some medication then consult your healthcare provider. He/she will recommend the best exercises for you. However, the exercise doesn’t have to be complicated. This could be walking, running, or dancing. You can also join your friends’ group for walking around the neighbourhood. Include physical activities in your everyday routine to stay fit and prevent diseases.
Eat healthy food
With healthy eating habits, you can stop or even reverse some diseases like obesity, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar. So, you should add more fibre to your diet and eat more fruits and vegetables. Try to avoid fats and concentrate on healthy unsaturated fats. A balanced diet can help you maintain healthy weight and reduce
Limit your alcohol intake
While there is evidence that drinking average alcohol serves some health benefits, drinking too much alcohol poses some severe health risks. It can put you at risk of many kinds of cancer. So, limit your alcohol intake to only one drink in one or two days.
Take proper rest
We all know that sleeping is important but most of us cut back on sleep in an attempt to finish our daily tasks. If you want to live a healthy life without diseases then it’s important to have at least 7 hours of good and quality sleep. This reduces the risk of many chronic illnesses. Getting enough sleep helps in improving blood sugar control in type 2 diabetics.
Manage your stress
Anything in today’s time can give you stress. And stress leads to some severe illnesses. Hence, it’s important to manage your stress. Stress can raise cholesterol levels and blood pressure and cause heart attack and stroke. Not only this, stress and anxiety also cause mental health problems like depression. Before it gets worse, see your doctor or healthcare instructor to diagnose and prescribe medication. The earlier it will be detected, the easier it is to treat.
Get regular medical checkups and screening tests done
You may not know that you are having high blood pressure or high cholesterol, which can damage your heart and blood vessels. Hence, it’s important to get yourself regularly screened by some medical tests. Regular full-body checkups help you detect any health issues so that you can get them treated on time.
Take Time and Effort to Make Changes
Well, there’s no need to rush to change your lifestyle. We know it takes time to form new habits. However, you should start changing it as soon as possible. Set your goal and start with small steps but be consistent to get health benefits. By maintaining a good and constant healthy lifestyle, you will reduce your risk for chronic disease. If you already suffering from chronic diseases then consult a doctor. And, if the problem is severe, your primary healthcare professional can refer you to a vascular surgeon to treat blood vessel problems.
