Chronic illness causes millions of Americans to lose out on many of life’s opportunities. It can slow you down at work or even force you to quit. It can prevent you from engaging in the activities you most enjoy and make it difficult to enjoy quality time with your friends and family. Though no panacea exists to stave off all illnesses, WebMD indicates several surefire ways to improve your quality of life and reduce the chance of suffering a major medical setback.
Diet Matters, Even If You Are Thin
You may look good in the mirror, but remember that with a poor diet, fat still collects in the arteries, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure still rise, and lack of proper nutrients still wears you down. Plus, if you are thin now and don’t watch your diet, you set yourself up with bad habits for when you are older and need to cut calories to slow the expansion of your waistline.
What to Eat
Fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, seafoods, and low-fat or fat-free dairy are the foods you need for health. Needless to say, sugary treats and fast food are for occasional use only. Aim to make your meals 50 percent fruits and vegetables, 30 percent white meat, and 20 percent grains.
Run, bike, swim, play sports, hike, or find some way to remain active
Sedentary lifestyles are killing Americans at a rate on par with cigarettes and alcohol. Combine those three risk factors with a high-fat diet, and you are on the fast track to chronic illness. Controlling what you put in your body allows you to ward off illness and disease, but it does not keep you vital and strong.
As we age, our muscles lose strength and flexibility. This damages our posture and sets us up for chronic problems like back pain. Exercise that helps stretch and strengthen the key postural muscles, such as yoga and Pilates, keeps muscles strong and loose, allowing you to stand, walk, and work without pain and injury. They also prepare the body for aerobic exercise.
Experts recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic activity five days per week. More is better. Moderate to vigorous means enough effort to make your heart and lungs work hard but still leave yourself with a reasonable reserve of strength and endurance at the end of each workout.
Customize Pain Management
Often, when people are affected by issues like chronic back pain, osteoarthritis, joint damage, or diseases like cancer or rheumatoid arthritis, they need pain relief medications; however, sometimes they find the medication falls short of full relief and causes bothersome side effects. To get more out of pain relief medications, try customized-compound medications, which are designed for your specific condition. As explained by Potter’s House Apothecary, customized compounds provide the right dosages and medications for each individual’s needs and pain management.
Health and longevity are all about finding the right diet, exercise plan, and medications for you. No two people are the same. But with a little effort and a lot of consistency, we can all live healthier lives.
