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Healthy living

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Healthy habits

Information

Good health habits can allow you to avoid illness and improve your quality of life. The following steps will help you feel better and live better.

  • Get regular exercise and control your weight.
  • Don't smoke.
  • Do NOT drink a lot of alcohol. Avoid alcohol completely if you have a history of alcoholism.
  • Use the medicines your health care provider recommends as directed.
  • Eat a balanced and healthy diet.
  • Take care of your teeth.
  • Manage high blood pressure.
  • Follow good safety practices.

EXERCISE

Exercise is a key factor in staying healthy. Exercise strengthens the bones, heart, and lungs, tones muscles, improves vitality, relieves depression, and helps you sleep better.

Talk to your provider before starting an exercise program if you have health conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure, or diabetes. This can help ensure that your exercise is safe and that you get the most of out of it.

SMOKING

Cigarette smoking is the main preventable cause of death in the United States. One out of every 5 deaths each year is either directly or indirectly caused by smoking.

Secondhand cigarette smoke exposure can cause lung cancer in nonsmokers. Secondhand smoke is also linked to heart disease.

It is never too late to quit smoking. Talk to your provider or nurse about medicines and programs that can help you quit.

Video Transcript

Smoking tips to quit - Animation

You probably know by now that smoking damages your lungs, raising your risk for bronchitis, emphysema, and lung cancer. And, you're probably well aware that lighting up also puts you at risk for many different types of cancers, as well as eye disease like cataracts and premature wrinkles, you know why you shouldn't smoke, it's just the quitting part you can't seem to get past. Let's talk about some helpful tips to help you quit smoking, for good this time. It's a familiar story, one that plays out over and over again among smokers. You vow to quit, and you have every intention of doing it, and then the cravings hit. And you can't think about anything but having a cigarette. You get irritable, and you start putting on weight. You think, Just one cigarette wouldn't hurt, would it? And then, before you know it, you're smoking again. Most smokers have tried to quit, and failed, several times. Even if you've failed before, you can still succeed at quitting. Many people have. You just need to find the technique that works for you. So, here are a few tips that can help. First, set a quit date. Write it down on your calendar and tell a few friends, so you'll be too embarrassed to back out. Before your quit date, throw out every cigarette in your house, car, and office. Also toss every ashtray, lighter, and anything else you need to smoke. Wash your clothes and clean your furniture so you won't have that smoky smell hanging around your house. Next, call your doctor. Ask about smoking cessation programs in your area. Also learn about tools that can help you quit, like medicines that reduce the urge to smoke, and nicotine replacement gums, lozenges, patches, and sprays. And then, plan what you'll do instead of smoking. If you smoke with your morning cup of coffee, drink tea or go for a walk instead. If you need a cigarette to keep your mouth busy, try chewing sugarless gum or nibble on a carrot stick. Stick to places where smoking isn't allowed, like smoke-free restaurants. And finally, reward yourself for not smoking. Put all that money that you would have spent on cigarettes into a jar. And once you've collected enough money, use it to take a trip or buy something you've wanted for a long time. Don't get discouraged. Quitting smoking isn't easy. If it were, everyone would have done it by now. Be persistent, reward yourself for the progress you've made, and keep at it until you finally conquer the urge to smoke.

ALCOHOL USE

Drinking alcohol changes many brain functions. Emotions, thinking, and judgment are first to be affected. Continued drinking will affect motor control, causing slurred speech, slower reactions, and poor balance. Having a higher amount of body fat and drinking on an empty stomach will speed up the effects of alcohol.

Alcoholism can lead to many problems including:

  • Diseases of the liver and pancreas
  • Cancer and other diseases of the esophagus and digestive tract
  • Heart muscle damage
  • Brain damage
  • Serious harm to your unborn baby if you are pregnant including fetal alcohol syndrome. Do NOT drink alcohol when you are pregnant. 

Parents should talk to their children about the dangerous effects of alcohol. Talk to your provider if you or someone close to you has a problem with alcohol. Many people whose lives have been affected by alcohol benefit from taking part in an alcohol support group.

DRUG AND MEDICINE USE

Drugs and medicines affect people in different ways. Always tell your provider about all the drugs and medicines you are taking. This includes over-the-counter medicines and vitamins.

  • Drug interactions can be dangerous.
  • Older people need to be very careful about interactions when they are taking many medicines.
  • All of your providers should know all the medicines you are taking. Carry the list with you when you go for checkups and treatments.
  • Avoid drinking alcohol while taking medicines. This can cause serious problems. The combination of alcohol and tranquilizers or painkillers can be deadly.

Pregnant women should not take any drug or medicine without talking to their provider. This includes over-the-counter medicines. The unborn baby is even more sensitive to the harm from drugs in the first 3 months. Tell your provider if you have been taking any drugs just before becoming pregnant.

Always take medicines as prescribed. Taking any medicine in a way other than prescribed or taking too much can cause serious health problems. It is considered drug abuse. Abuse and addiction are not just associated with illegal "street" drugs.

Legal drugs such as laxatives, painkillers, nasal sprays, diet pills, and cough medicines can also be misused.

Addiction is defined as continuing to use a substance even though you are experiencing problems related to the use. Simply needing a drug (such as a painkiller or antidepressant) and taking it as prescribed is not addiction.

DEALING WITH STRESS

Stress is normal. It can be a great motivator and help in some cases. But too much stress can cause health problems such as trouble sleeping, stomach upset, anxiety, and mood changes.

  • Learn to recognize the things most likely to cause stress in your life.
  • You may not be able to avoid all stress but knowing the source can help you feel in control.
  • The more control you feel you have over your life, the less damaging the stress in your life will be.

OBESITY

Obesity is a serious health concern. Excess body fat can overwork your heart, bones, and muscles. It can also increase your risk for developing high blood pressure, stroke, varicose veins, breast cancer, and gallbladder disease.

Obesity can be caused by eating too much and eating unhealthy foods. Lack of exercise also plays a part. Family history may be a risk for some people as well.

DIET

Having a balanced diet is important to being in good health.

  • Choose foods that are low in saturated and trans fat, and low in cholesterol.
  • Limit your intake of sugar, salt (sodium), and alcohol.
  • Eat more fiber, which can be found in fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grain products, and nuts.

TOOTH CARE

Good dental care can help you keep your teeth and gums healthy for a lifetime. It is important for children to begin good dental habits when they are young. For proper dental hygiene:

  • Brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once daily.
  • Use fluoride toothpaste.
  • Get regular dental checkups.
  • Limit sugar intake.
  • Use a toothbrush with soft bristles. Replace your toothbrush when bristles get bent.
  • Have your dentist show you the proper ways to brush and floss.
Review Date: 7/8/2023

Reviewed By

Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

References

Mora S, Libby P, Ridker PM. Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 25.

US Preventive Services Task Force. Behavioral counseling interventions to promote a healthy diet and physical activity for cardiovascular disease prevention in adults with cardiovascular risk factors: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2020;324(20):2069-2075. PMID: 33231670 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33231670/.

US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening and interventions to prevent dental caries in children younger than 5 years: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2021;326(21):2172-2178. PMID: 34874412 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34874412/.

US Preventive Services Task Force. Interventions for tobacco smoking cessation in adults, including pregnant persons: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2021;325(3):265-279. PMID: 33464343 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33464343/.

US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for unhealthy drug use: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2020;323(22):2301-2309. PMID: 32515821 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32515821/.

US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening and behavioral counseling interventions to reduce unhealthy alcohol use in adolescents and adults: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2018;320(18):1899-1909. PMID: 30422199 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30422199/.

Disclaimer

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

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Healthy fast food video

Healthy fast food video

Animation

Smoking tips to quit

Smoking tips to quit

Animation

Exercise 30 minutes a day - Illustration Thumbnail

Exercise 30 minutes a day

You get the most benefit from exercise if you do it for at least 30 minutes a day for 5 to 6 days a week. But you do not have to do 30 minutes in a row. Recent studies suggest that you get the same benefits if you work out for 10 minutes 3 times a day that you do during a longer session.

Illustration

Exercise with friends - Illustration Thumbnail

Exercise with friends

Exercising with a friend or a group of people can help make it more fun, interesting, and keep you motivated to continue with a regular exercise routine.

Illustration

Exercise - a powerful tool - Illustration Thumbnail

Exercise - a powerful tool

Physical fitness is essential to good health and is one of the best things you can do for your body, mind, and spirit. Exercise improves the way your body works, and it can make you look better, feel better, and even live longer.

Illustration

Teach children to brush - Illustration Thumbnail

Teach children to brush

Healthy teeth and gums are essential to a child's overall good health. Without proper dental care tooth decay and gum disease can lead to serious problems such as cavities and gingivitis, swollen and bleeding gums. Regular visits to the dentist, brushing twice each day, and flossing, are ways to help maintain a healthy mouth.

Illustration

 
Healthy fast food video

Healthy fast food video

Animation

Smoking tips to quit

Smoking tips to quit

Animation

 
Exercise 30 minutes a day - Illustration Thumbnail

Exercise 30 minutes a day

You get the most benefit from exercise if you do it for at least 30 minutes a day for 5 to 6 days a week. But you do not have to do 30 minutes in a row. Recent studies suggest that you get the same benefits if you work out for 10 minutes 3 times a day that you do during a longer session.

Illustration

Exercise with friends - Illustration Thumbnail

Exercise with friends

Exercising with a friend or a group of people can help make it more fun, interesting, and keep you motivated to continue with a regular exercise routine.

Illustration

Exercise - a powerful tool - Illustration Thumbnail

Exercise - a powerful tool

Physical fitness is essential to good health and is one of the best things you can do for your body, mind, and spirit. Exercise improves the way your body works, and it can make you look better, feel better, and even live longer.

Illustration

Teach children to brush - Illustration Thumbnail

Teach children to brush

Healthy teeth and gums are essential to a child's overall good health. Without proper dental care tooth decay and gum disease can lead to serious problems such as cavities and gingivitis, swollen and bleeding gums. Regular visits to the dentist, brushing twice each day, and flossing, are ways to help maintain a healthy mouth.

Illustration

 
 
 

Healthy fast food video - Animation

Americans are no strangers to fast food. We gobble down burgers, deep-fried foods, and sugary drinks at an alarming pace. Especially on a busy workday.

Can you eat healthy when you grab a fast food meal and head back to the office? You can if you plan ahead and make the right choices.

Hi, I'm Page Love, registered dietician. Today, we're here to talk about fast food choices that you may be making in your office place during a busy workday and how to make healthier choices.

This is America's favorite past-time, a meal from a burger joint.

The most common choice is a loaded, double-patty burger with cheese and mayo, and a large fries, totaling 1500 calories and 70 grams of fat.

Instead, I propose a few lower fat alternatives. You can still go to the burger joint, but consider ordering a single patty, flame broiled burger where the fat can drip away from the burger and not remain with the meat. Load up on with all kinds of veggie toppings; tomato, lettuce, onion, pickles. Consider ketchup and mustard instead of mayo to lower the fat.

So, we've lowered the fat and calorie content to 350 calories and 15 grams of fat, a quarter of the fat and calories of this previous fast food meal.

Here are some other helpful hints when you're trying to enjoy your fast food meal. Try taking it outside of your office setting, maybe outside at a park, at a park bench like we have out here today. Take your time to enjoy your meal. Allow at least thirty minutes to eat your meal. You may want to bring a newspaper along to read a little bit in between bites.

Unfortunately, the average American can scarf down a 2000 calorie fast food meal while they are sitting at their desk and an hour later not even realize that they've eaten. So, take some steps to slow it down and eat in a relaxed fashion. As you're eating your sandwich, put it down in between bites. Try to sip a nutritious beverage in between bites. This will help you notice your fullness, slow down, and enjoy your meal.

If you're with a co-worker, try to talk to them in between your bites, and this will additionally help you slow down and enjoy the relaxing environment.

All these things will help you to eat a healthy, nutritious, low fat fast food meal, enjoyed in a relaxed fashion.

Bon appétit!"

Page Love, MS, RD, LD, a leading expert on sports nutrition and eating disorders, is president of Nutrifit Sport Therapy, Inc.

 

Smoking tips to quit - Animation

You probably know by now that smoking damages your lungs, raising your risk for bronchitis, emphysema, and lung cancer. And, you're probably well aware that lighting up also puts you at risk for many different types of cancers, as well as eye disease like cataracts and premature wrinkles, you know why you shouldn't smoke, it's just the quitting part you can't seem to get past. Let's talk about some helpful tips to help you quit smoking, for good this time.

It's a familiar story, one that plays out over and over again among smokers. You vow to quit, and you have every intention of doing it, and then the cravings hit. And you can't think about anything but having a cigarette. You get irritable, and you start putting on weight. You think, "Just one cigarette wouldn't hurt, would it?" And then, before you know it, you're smoking again.

Most smokers have tried to quit, and failed, several times. Even if you've failed before, you can still succeed at quitting. Many people have. You just need to find the technique that works for you. So, here are a few tips that can help.

First, set a quit date. Write it down on your calendar and tell a few friends, so you'll be too embarrassed to back out. Before your quit date, throw out every cigarette in your house, car, and office. Also toss every ashtray, lighter, and anything else you need to smoke. Wash your clothes and clean your furniture so you won't have that smoky smell hanging around your house.

Next, call your doctor. Ask about smoking cessation programs in your area. Also learn about tools that can help you quit, like medicines that reduce the urge to smoke, and nicotine replacement gums, lozenges, patches, and sprays.

And then, plan what you'll do instead of smoking. If you smoke with your morning cup of coffee, drink tea or go for a walk instead. If you need a cigarette to keep your mouth busy, try chewing sugarless gum or nibble on a carrot stick. Stick to places where smoking isn't allowed, like smoke-free restaurants.

And finally, reward yourself for not smoking. Put all that money that you would have spent on cigarettes into a jar. And once you've collected enough money, use it to take a trip or buy something you've wanted for a long time.

Don't get discouraged. Quitting smoking isn't easy. If it were, everyone would have done it by now. Be persistent, reward yourself for the progress you've made, and keep at it until you finally conquer the urge to smoke.

 

Healthy fast food video - Animation

Americans are no strangers to fast food. We gobble down burgers, deep-fried foods, and sugary drinks at an alarming pace. Especially on a busy workday.

Can you eat healthy when you grab a fast food meal and head back to the office? You can if you plan ahead and make the right choices.

Hi, I'm Page Love, registered dietician. Today, we're here to talk about fast food choices that you may be making in your office place during a busy workday and how to make healthier choices.

This is America's favorite past-time, a meal from a burger joint.

The most common choice is a loaded, double-patty burger with cheese and mayo, and a large fries, totaling 1500 calories and 70 grams of fat.

Instead, I propose a few lower fat alternatives. You can still go to the burger joint, but consider ordering a single patty, flame broiled burger where the fat can drip away from the burger and not remain with the meat. Load up on with all kinds of veggie toppings; tomato, lettuce, onion, pickles. Consider ketchup and mustard instead of mayo to lower the fat.

So, we've lowered the fat and calorie content to 350 calories and 15 grams of fat, a quarter of the fat and calories of this previous fast food meal.

Here are some other helpful hints when you're trying to enjoy your fast food meal. Try taking it outside of your office setting, maybe outside at a park, at a park bench like we have out here today. Take your time to enjoy your meal. Allow at least thirty minutes to eat your meal. You may want to bring a newspaper along to read a little bit in between bites.

Unfortunately, the average American can scarf down a 2000 calorie fast food meal while they are sitting at their desk and an hour later not even realize that they've eaten. So, take some steps to slow it down and eat in a relaxed fashion. As you're eating your sandwich, put it down in between bites. Try to sip a nutritious beverage in between bites. This will help you notice your fullness, slow down, and enjoy your meal.

If you're with a co-worker, try to talk to them in between your bites, and this will additionally help you slow down and enjoy the relaxing environment.

All these things will help you to eat a healthy, nutritious, low fat fast food meal, enjoyed in a relaxed fashion.

Bon appétit!"

Page Love, MS, RD, LD, a leading expert on sports nutrition and eating disorders, is president of Nutrifit Sport Therapy, Inc.

 

Smoking tips to quit - Animation

You probably know by now that smoking damages your lungs, raising your risk for bronchitis, emphysema, and lung cancer. And, you're probably well aware that lighting up also puts you at risk for many different types of cancers, as well as eye disease like cataracts and premature wrinkles, you know why you shouldn't smoke, it's just the quitting part you can't seem to get past. Let's talk about some helpful tips to help you quit smoking, for good this time.

It's a familiar story, one that plays out over and over again among smokers. You vow to quit, and you have every intention of doing it, and then the cravings hit. And you can't think about anything but having a cigarette. You get irritable, and you start putting on weight. You think, "Just one cigarette wouldn't hurt, would it?" And then, before you know it, you're smoking again.

Most smokers have tried to quit, and failed, several times. Even if you've failed before, you can still succeed at quitting. Many people have. You just need to find the technique that works for you. So, here are a few tips that can help.

First, set a quit date. Write it down on your calendar and tell a few friends, so you'll be too embarrassed to back out. Before your quit date, throw out every cigarette in your house, car, and office. Also toss every ashtray, lighter, and anything else you need to smoke. Wash your clothes and clean your furniture so you won't have that smoky smell hanging around your house.

Next, call your doctor. Ask about smoking cessation programs in your area. Also learn about tools that can help you quit, like medicines that reduce the urge to smoke, and nicotine replacement gums, lozenges, patches, and sprays.

And then, plan what you'll do instead of smoking. If you smoke with your morning cup of coffee, drink tea or go for a walk instead. If you need a cigarette to keep your mouth busy, try chewing sugarless gum or nibble on a carrot stick. Stick to places where smoking isn't allowed, like smoke-free restaurants.

And finally, reward yourself for not smoking. Put all that money that you would have spent on cigarettes into a jar. And once you've collected enough money, use it to take a trip or buy something you've wanted for a long time.

Don't get discouraged. Quitting smoking isn't easy. If it were, everyone would have done it by now. Be persistent, reward yourself for the progress you've made, and keep at it until you finally conquer the urge to smoke.

 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
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