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PrintGuide to Good Health
This year's Guide to Good Health features exercise advice — including yoga positions for relaxation — picnic safety, foods to help you sleep and lose weight, and more.
Here's what you'll find:
• Yoga ... Mainstream Move
• Checklist for Men’s and Women’s Health
• 7 Safety Tips for Picnics
• Muffin top, Be Gone!
• 7 Habits of Slim People
• 7 Foods That Help You Lose Weight
• 5 Foods That Help You Snooze
• 5 Foods That Rob You of ZZZs
View the full Guide to Good Health here.
Here's an extra online exclusive that didn't make it in the magazine.
Top Health Threats
Many of the top health threats for men and women are often preventable. With exercise, good eating habits and a physician’s guidance, you can live a longer, healthier life. Here are the top seven threats to health, compiled by the Mayo Clinic, and how you can prevent them.
Top Threats to Women’s Health
Heart Disease — Take charge of your heart health, ladies. Don’t smoke — limit your exposure to secondhand smoke; eat healthily; limited alcohol; manage stress; exercise and maintain a healthy weight as extra pounds increase the risk of heart disease.
Cancer — Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits, including food high in fiber; this may help reduce your risk. Also cover up and use plenty of sunscreen when outdoors. Breast feed, if you can and perform regular breast self-exams and get routine mammograms.
Stroke — Not all stroke risk factors, such as race, family history and age, can be controlled. However, you can make healthy lifestyle choices, such as losing excess pounds; not smoking; eating a healthy diet; limiting your alcohol intake; and manage chronic conditions, such as high cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure.
Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases — Chronic lunch conditions, such bronchitis and emphysema, are a serious concern. Don’t smoke; steer clear of pollutants such as chemicals and outdoor pollution; and prevent respiratory infections. Get a flu vaccine annually.
Alzheimer’s Disease — There’s no way to prevent this disease, however, taking the above steps such as exercise, managing chronic conditions and not smoking may help. Additionally, maintain social and mental fitness by staying active and learning how to do new things.
Accidents — Automobile accidents are the leading cause of fatalities for women. Drive safely; wear your seat belt, and follow the speed limit. Don’t drive while sleepy, under the influence of drugs or alcohol … and don’t text while driving.
Type 2 Diabetes — This is the most common form of the disease and when not controlled properly can result in loss of sight, nerve damage, heart disease and other serious complications. Lose weight as needed, eat a healthy diet, don’t smoke and get regular checkups.
Top Threats to Men’s Health
Heart Disease — Make healthy choices: don’t smoke — limit your exposure to secondhand smoke and your alcohol intake, and manage stress. If you’re overweight, lose weight and eat a healthy diet.
Cancer — Lung, skin, prostate and colorectal cancer are common among men. Take early detection seriously, and be sure to get regular checkups. Protect yourself from the sun and use sunscreen; and eat plenty of high-fiber foods, fruits and vegetables.
Accidents — Don’t engage in risky behavior. Use common sense when operating machinery and driving, as motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of accidents for men. Don’t drive while sleepy or under the influence. Wear your seat belt.
Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases — Bronchitis and emphysema are among the most common lung diseases. Protect your respiratory health by not smoking, steering clear of pollutants, and prevent respiratory infections. Get the flu vaccine each year and ask about the pneumonia vaccine as well.
Stroke — Again, you cannot prevent all risks; however, establishing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help reduce your overall risks of having a stroke. Also, don’t smoke and if you do, quit. Limit your intake of high-saturated foods and cholesterol and begin an exercise regimen.
Type 2 Diabetes — To help prevent type 2 diabetes, maintain a healthy weight; eat a healthy diet; and exercise regularly.
Suicide — Depression among men is often not diagnosed. Feelings of sadness, unhappiness and hopelessness as well as a loss of interest in normal activities may all be signs; seek professional help if you experience these. If you’re contemplating suicide, call for emergency help or go to the nearest ER.
Source: Mayo Clinic
