Exercise
1. Have regular check-ups
Even if you feel healthy, regular health checks (such as blood pressure, blood sugar levels, prostate checks) are essential to catch any problems early and stay in good health. Your mental health is just as important, and seeking help for mental health issues, including depression and anxiety, can be critical.
2. Reduce alcohol use
The harmful use of alcohol killed nearly three million people in 2016; 75 per cent of whom were men. Drinking too much, or too often, increases your immediate risk of injury, road crashes and violence, as well as causing longer-term effects like liver damage, cancer and heart disease. Harmful use of alcohol can also affect your mental health and has a negative impact on your family and the people around you.
The harmful use of alcohol killed nearly three million people in 2016; 75 per cent of whom were men. Drinking too much, or too often, increases your immediate risk of injury, road crashes and violence, as well as causing longer-term effects like liver damage, cancer and heart disease. Harmful use of alcohol can also affect your mental health and has a negative impact on your family and the people around you.
3. Quit smoking
Tobacco use causes cancer, lung disease, heart disease and stroke, killing more than 7 million people every year. It also causes impotence. Quitting smoking is one of the best actions you can take for your health – within 12 weeks, your lung function increases, within a year your risk of heart disease is already half that of a smoker’s.
Tobacco use causes cancer, lung disease, heart disease and stroke, killing more than 7 million people every year. It also causes impotence. Quitting smoking is one of the best actions you can take for your health – within 12 weeks, your lung function increases, within a year your risk of heart disease is already half that of a smoker’s.
4. Eat better
Eating a healthy diet helps prevent diabetes and many other diseases. Try to eat more fruit, vegetables, legumes (example lentils), nuts and whole grains. Limit the amount of salt to 1 teaspoon per day, sugar to less than five per cent of total energy intake and saturated fats to less than 10 per cent of your energy intake.
Eating a healthy diet helps prevent diabetes and many other diseases. Try to eat more fruit, vegetables, legumes (example lentils), nuts and whole grains. Limit the amount of salt to 1 teaspoon per day, sugar to less than five per cent of total energy intake and saturated fats to less than 10 per cent of your energy intake.
5. Be more active
One in four people aren’t active enough. Adults should do at least 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity physical activity a week. Physical activity helps you maintain a healthy weight, reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer and can help beat depression too.
One in four people aren’t active enough. Adults should do at least 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity physical activity a week. Physical activity helps you maintain a healthy weight, reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer and can help beat depression too.