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Healthy Habits: How to Protect Your Health

Evidence shows that improving your personal health habits often can prevent many of the leading causes of death in the United States, including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke and injuries. While there are risk factors you cannot change – who your parents are or how old you are – there are many behavior choices you can make that have a direct impact on your personal health status.

Follow these healthy lifestyle habits to give yourself the best chance for a long and productive life:

Eat right. Follow a healthy diet by eating a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Limit your intake of foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol.

Drink plenty of water. The body needs water to stay properly hydrated.

Limit the amount of alcohol you drink.

Don’t smoke or use tobacco products.

Lose weight if you are overweight. Carrying too much weight increases your risk for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, some cancers, gallbladder disease and arthritis in the weight-bearing joints.

Exercise. You’ll feel better and keep your weight under control if you exercise regularly. Try to exercise at least 30 to 60 minutes, four to six days a week – but any amount is better than none.

Protect your skin. Wear sunscreen and don’t sunbathe or use tanning booths. Overexposure to the sun is linked to skin cancer, which is the most common type of cancer.

Get enough sleep. Sleep is vital to good health and to mental and emotional well-being.

Practice good dental hygiene. Researchers have found links between oral bacteria and heart disease, stroke, diabetes and the birth of preterm babies.

Learn how to manage stress. Develop personal relaxation techniques.

Enjoy your leisure time. Spend time regularly with family and friends. Develop creative outlets or hobbies. Make social connections by volunteering or joining a religious, social or civic organization.

Get annual medical and dental check-ups. Stay current with immunizations and practice preventive care.

Know your health risks. Know family medical history and how to prevent or control chronic conditions like diabetes, asthma, heart disease and high blood pressure.

Take medicines only as prescribed.

Never drink and drive. Never ride with a driver who has been drinking.

Don’t take unnecessary risks. Avoid dangerous activities, the use of illegal drugs and unprotected sex.

Be happy! Practice positive self-talk and banish negative thoughts.