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Ten Health Mistakes that Even Smart People Occasionally Make via: ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal & Green Bay News Review 1. They don’t drink enough water on a daily basis. You should consume at least eight glasses of liquids (beer and diet soda don’t count because they act as diuretics) every day to replenish what you lose through urine, bowel movements, sweat, and the moisture you expel into the atmosphere when you breathe out. If you exercise, you should drink even more water. 2. They haven’t had a physical recently. A regular checkup given you your best opportunity for early detection certain potentially deadly illnesses(from cancer to heart disease). Although a complete annual physical exam is no longer necessary for everyone, you should see your physician for a checkup as often as he/she recommends. Furthermore, some screening procedures (e.g., protein specific antigen tests or mammograms) should be scheduled on a regular basis. 3. They don’t get enough sleep. People who skimp on sleep have been found to suffer from a variety of impairments, including daytime fatigue, cognitive dysfunction. diminished reaction time, and heightened mortality rate. 4. They attempt to exercise through pain. Pain is the body’s signal that something is seriously amiss. Unlike discomfort, when you experience pain, you must stop exercising and address the cause(s) of the pain. Attempting to work through the pain will subject you to the very real possibility of either aggravating your existing condition or suffering an injury. 5. They don’t wash their hands during the day. Good hygiene helps prevent infections and the transmission of germs. At a minimum, you should always wash your hands after you’ve used the restroom and before you prepare food. 6. They don’t eat breakfast. Research shows that learning, decision making and memory can be impaired when you restrict your food intake. Furthermore, if you miss breakfast, you may jump start your appetite in such a way that you overeat later in the day. 7. They don’t get enough calcium in their diet. Your bones are approximately 25% calcium by weight, an amount that represents 99% of your body’s calcium reserves. Accordingly, if you don’t consume enough calcium, you can suffer from a reduced level of bone density, which can result in fractures. The best dietary sources of calcium are low-fat or non-fat dairy products and dark-green vegetables. 8. They’re too busy to relax. Making time to relax is a positive step you can take to reduce your level of stress and improve your health, Studies show that as your level of stress grows, you become increasingly susceptible to physical illness and mental and emotional problems. Relaxing is an effective way to control your level of stress. 9. They don’t wear their seat belts. Wearing lap and shoulder belts while traveling in a car can substantially lower your risk of being injured in the event of an accident. For example, studies show that a passenger who is ejected during an accident is more than five times as likely to suffer a serious injury or die than and individual who remains strapped inside the vehicle. 10. They don’t know the medical history of their relatives. Knowing your family’s medical history and responding in an appropriate, proactive way, can substantially help reduce your risk of developing serious diseases. For example, if your family medical history indicates that you are a heightened risk for a particular disorder, you can pursue early detection screening and prevention strategies for that disease. via The Promoter- 26 |