Genuine Human Health - A Guide to Achieving It!

What is a HEALTHY LIFESTYLE?


A healthy lifestyle is a way of living that lowers the risk of being seriously ill or dying early. Not all diseases are preventable, but a large proportion of deaths, particularly those from coronary heart disease and lung cancer, can be avoided. Scientific studies have identified certain types of behaviour that contribute to the development of noncommunicable diseases and early death. Health is not just about avoiding disease. It is also about physical, mental and social wellbeing. When a healthy lifestyle is adopted, a more positive role model is provided for other people in the family, particularly children. Genuine human health is more easily achieved by following the following guidelines:

TOBACCO


Smoking is the greatest single self-imposed risk to health of all.

Risks to you: Respiratory illness, coronary heart disease, cancer.

Risks to your family: Respiratory illness, chest, nose, ear and throat infections.

Fact: Babies who are exposed to tobacco smoke at home are at increased risk of sudden infant death. Young children who have one or more parents who smoke are twice as likely to suffer with chest problems in their first year of life. They will  have more chest, nose, ear and throat infections than children whose parents do not smoke. They are also more likely to take up smoking themselves later in life.

Advice: If you don’t use tobacco don't start. If you do use Tobacco you can lower your risk by stopping - the health benefits will start IMMEDIATELY.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY


Whatever your age Physical Activity plays an important part in your health and wellbeing. Some people think it is only sportsmen and women who need to build Physical Activity into their lives. However EVERYONE needs to keep their bodies working well in order to be healthy. The three main components of being physically fit are: STAMINA, STRENGTH and SUPPLENESS. Physical Activity is necessary to stimulate the body’s own natural maintenance and repair system. Your bones, joints and muscles – especially your heart – will actually stay younger if you keep them busy. If you are not Physically Active you increase your Health Risks in many ways.

Risks to you: Coronary heart disease, strokes, high blood pressure, breathlessness, flabby body, little energy, stiff joints, osteoporosis, poor posture, overweight.

Risks to your family: Lack of energy for your sexual relationship; lack of energy for your children and grandchildren; a poor role model.

Advice: If you are already PHYSICALLY ACTIVE and use some parts of your body in your WORK you may need to find opportunities to use other parts in different ways to maintain a balance between STAMINA, STRENGTH, and SUPPLENESS. If you are developing a MORE WESTERN LIFESTYLE, living in a town, using labour-saving devices, and riding in cars, buses and trams rather than walking, you are MORE AT RISK of becoming UNFIT. You need to find opportunities to develop STAMINA, STRENGTH and SUPPLENESS. If you are ALREADY PHYSICALLY ACTIVE continue being so and use more variety of movement.

HEALTHY EATING


It is important to enjoy the food you eat. And eating in a healthier way may even be cheaper! Some traditional beliefs of what makes up a healthy diet may be really good, such as eating home-preserved vegetables, but other traditional beliefs are disease-promoting, e.g. eating large quantities of fatty meat daily. Recent evidence has shown that eating too much meat with animal fat is risky to our health. Only very small amounts of lean meat are needed – and not every day. In fact, the less meat and animal fat we eat the better!

Risks to you: Coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, non-insulin dependent diabetes, constipation, joint pain, being out of breath. Your risks multiply if you eat too much animal fat, smoke, drink alcohol and take very little exercise.

Risks to your family: Coronary heart disease, development of bad eating habits, poor life expectancy But having a Healthy Lifestyle isn’t only about being the right weight for your height.

Fact: Being healthy is also about WHAT you eat – choosing the right food.

Advice: The most up-to-date research suggests that you can build a healthy and balanced diet by choosing your food from the food pyramid.

ALCOHOL


Drinking small amounts of alcohol can be a pleasant social activity for many people. Indeed drinking small quantities of aalcohol can reduce the risk of heart disease for older people if it does not conflict with any medication being taken. However as the amount we drink and the number of times we drink increases, then so do the risks.

Risks to you: Raised blood pressure, which increases the risk of Stroke; stomach disorders; depression and emotional disorders; cancers, particularly of the mouth, throat and gullet; hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver; malnutrition; accidents at home, at work and on the roads; suicide.

Risks to your family: Violence, accidents (perhaps influenced by you); less to spend on food; poor role model for children; increased risk of divorce.

Fact: IF YOU ARE PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING you can damage your baby by drinking Alcohol.

Advice: If you don’t drink Alcohol DON’T START. If you do drink you can lower your health risks by cutting down or even stopping now.