It isn’t possible to avert every illness or prevent every injury or ailment, but there are steps you can take to try and reduce risks. In this guide, we’ll outline some simple strategies you can employ to protect your health and wellbeing.
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Keep up to date with routine checks
Routine health checks are designed to enable medical and dental professionals to spot early warning signs or detect changes in your health, which may need addressing or investigating. Keeping up to date with appointments may reduce the risk of health issues and prevent or slow deterioration, and it could also increase the chances of successful treatment or management. If you haven’t been to the dentist for years, you can’t remember the last time you had your eyes or ears checked, or you have no idea whether your blood pressure is stable, it’s wise to make some calls and schedule some appointments.
Seek advice if you have concerns
One of the most important rules to live by is to seek advice if you have any concerns about your health or you notice changes or symptoms. In many cases, illnesses, infections and symptoms come and go without causing too many problems, but ignoring warning signs can contribute to delayed diagnoses and the progression of mild symptoms.
If you have noticed changes in your skin, you can feel swelling or lumps, your bowel habits have changed, you don’t feel yourself, you’ve lost weight without trying to, you’re getting infections all the time or you’ve spotted traces of blood when you brush your teeth or you go to the toilet, don’t hesitate to reach out and see a medical professional. There may be a simple solution, such as medication to relieve constipation or tonsil surgery for recurrent throat infections. You can learn more about tonsil surgery online and your doctor will provide information about what it entails and why it is needed. In many cases, if you have symptoms and the causes are unclear, when you see your family doctor, they will refer you to a specialist or a center for further investigations. Early diagnosis and treatment usually improve outcomes and prognoses.
Embrace an active lifestyle
Exercise is one of the most powerful natural remedies for physical and mental health. Living an active lifestyle helps to lower the risk of psychological issues, as well as enhancing cardiovascular health, strength, flexibility and mobility. If you have a sedentary lifestyle, aim to build up your fitness gradually by taking more steps each day or increasing the number of daily active minutes. Experts recommend 150 minutes per week. This can cover everything from walking and riding a bike to horse riding, kayaking, yoga and swimming. Try different activities, incorporate exercise into your daily routine and get friends and family involved too. There are lots of ways to have fun while being active. Plan family bike rides or hikes, play games such as soccer or volleyball at the beach, or join classes, such as spinning, HIIT or Pilates with friends.
Get enough rest
Studies suggest that around 70% of Americans don’t get enough sleep. A lack of sleep can make us cranky and irritable, but crucially, it can also increase the risk of physical and psychological illnesses. When you sleep, your body undergoes critical restorative processes, which prepare you for the day ahead. If you experience sleep troubles on a regular basis, you may find that you are more susceptible to infections and illnesses, you may have mood swings, your concentration may suffer and you might feel sluggish and lethargic. Changing your routine in the evening is one of the best ways to enhance sleep quality. If you tend to go to bed at different times every day, or you fall asleep in the early hours watching TV, get into the habit of going to bed and getting up at the same time every day. Give yourself time to unwind and relax and make sure you set aside enough time to sleep. Experts recommend around 7 hours per night for adults. It is also beneficial to make sure your bedroom is quiet and dark and to exercise frequently. Exercise tires the body out and it can be an effective stress buster.
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Health has been firmly on the agenda for the last year and a half, and many of us are looking to be more proactive in protecting our bodies and minds. If you’re eager to try and reduce health risks and practise self-care, take these tips on board. Keep up to date with routine health checks and appointments and seek advice if you have concerns or you notice any changes in your health or symptoms. Embrace an active lifestyle and make sure you get enough rest.
