There is no secret formula to live a healthy life. In fact, eating healthy and staying physically active can add years to your life. Similarly, having a strong social network, avoiding habits like alcohol and smoking, and reducing stress are important too. That said, here are practical tips that will help you live a long and healthy life.
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1. Visit your doctor regularly
Most people have the habit of seeing a doctor only when things get worse. They visit the doctor when they are sick or need to schedule an urgent appointment. However, the best practice and time to schedule a visit with your doctor is well before developing any illness or before signs and symptoms become too apparent. This is exactly why many healthcare experts recommend an annual checkup. When you make it a habit to go for an annual checkup, the doctor can determine your overall well-being. It helps prevent several problems before they even develop into serious complications.
For instance, if you have been exposed to asbestos at any stage of your life. You must ensure a regular checkup. Similarly, if you have already developed a chronic disease like mesothelioma because of asbestos exposure and cannot afford the medical expense. In that case, your best bet is to seek the assistance of a law firm.
A reputed legal firm like Simmons law firm has lawyers who not only assist you with your health-related issues, but also help you receive the rightful compensation to afford the treatment. Always remember the sooner you can diagnose a disease, the sooner and better the treatment can be.
2. Get physically active
Physical activity or regular exercise helps reduce the risk of developing chronic conditions. For instance, it helps avoid obesity, diabetes, heart stroke, and disease significantly affecting your life expectancy. Thus, reward your life with more years by ensuring regular exercise. It not only helps with weight control but also leads to healthier lungs and heart. It ensures stronger bones and lowers the risk of several diseases while boosting energy.
According to the CDC, adults should clock in at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity or 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity or an equivalent combination per week.
Thus, choose something you enjoy, like using a fitness tracker or getting a workout partner to stay on track. Also, if long workout routines sound daunting, try breaking sessions into more manageable and shorter times. For example, three to ten-minute sessions per day can enable you to reap the benefits of exercise in case you are not willing to take up 30 minutes all at once.
3. Avoid overeating
The link between longevity and calorie intake cannot be neglected. Animal studies suggest that a 10 to 50 percent reduction in normal calorie intake helped increase maximum lifespan. Similarly, studies on human populations for longevity also witnessed links between an extended lifespan, low-calorie intake, and a lower chance of disease.
Whether you are out and about or at home, easily accessible tasty food options or quick snacks make it easy to overeat. Moreover, overeating can easily spiral out of control if you are unaware of portion control, leading to many negative health consequences. One of the biggest problems of overeating is developing obesity or excess body fat, as you consume far more calories than you actually need.
Thus, always pay attention to how much you eat and how full you feel. Also, avoid overeating by cutting down portion sizes, orienting the diet around whole foods, and eating fewer processed foods. You can also consult a professional dietitian. These professionals can help you develop an eating pattern following an eating plan that would help promote long-term health.
4. Reduce stress and anxiety
We all experience stress in one form or another. However, having too much stress can lead to serious health issues, like heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Emotional reactions usually include depression, trouble sleeping, irritability, anxiety, eating not enough or too much, and even turning to drugs and alcohol for relief.
In short, stress and anxiety can significantly reduce your lifespan. According to one study, women suffering from anxiety and stress are reportedly two times more likely to suffer from heart disease, lung cancer, or stroke. Similarly, stressed or anxious men have three times higher chances of premature death than their more relaxed counterparts.
Therefore, if you are feeling stressed, maintain a more optimistic outlook on life. Optimism and laughter are the two key components of the solution. Also, if stress is taking a toll on your overall health, your best bet is to see your doctor. You can also help yourself by recognizing situations that trigger anxiety or stress and finding healthier and calmer ways to react. Similarly, breathing exercises can be helpful and done anywhere. Focused, deep breathing calms the body, slows your heart, and helps reduce stress.
5. Stay connected with friends and family
People who like engaging in meaningful activities with others have a sense of purpose, experience better moods, and tend to live longer. Isolation is detrimental to your health; it can put you at risk of developing heart disease, high blood pressure, depression, stroke, obesity, and anxiety.
Thus, if you think feelings of loneliness or isolation affect your physical or emotional health, talk to your doctor. A doctor can help you by recommending ways to improve your life and feel better. Other ways to avoid social isolation include staying connected with friends and family, prioritizing self-care, getting quality sleep, eating well and exercising, adopting a pet-sitting or a pet, finding an activity you can do and enjoy with others, or even volunteering.
Conclusion
Longevity often seems beyond our control. However, we can help ourselves lead a healthy old age by adopting many healthy habits and life choices. Thus, make the most of the above-discussed tips to enjoy your life and live long with a healthy mind and body. All of these habits will help you improve your well-being and put you on the path to a long life. Good luck!