FIVE EASY STEPS TO WELLNESS
Here are some staggering statistics about the health of U.S. adults today. The Department of Health and Human Services keeps longitudinal data on hundreds of health and wellness habits of U.S. citizens. Among their recent findings for the population are that 40% get no exercise at all, 67% are overweight or obese, 27% have high blood pressure, and 96% couldn’t say when they last ate a salad! Indeed, this may be the first generation of U.S. children who have shorter life expectancies than their parents due to the same issues of poor diet, unhealthy lifestyle, and lack of exercise.
Although much of the blame can be laid on the individual’s lifestyle choices, there is also the complication that health care in the U.S. is only funded for curative and treatment options, and not for prevention or health education prior to acquiring an illness. Within this health care model, by the time the diagnoses are received, many may already be at an acute stage of disease which is more costly in medical treatments and interventions, and less likely to be medically effective, such as what happens in the late diagnoses of many cases of cancers. According to the Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation that supports health related research, in a given year at least half of the U.S. population did not receive recommended preventive care, such as cancer and cholesterol screenings, and blood pressure and weight checks.
What can you do to maintain your health, participate in your own disease prevention program, and gain control over your personal health? This is a complicated question with many possible answers, but here are five easy avenues to wellness that you can start using today.
Get Eight Hours of Sleep- A healthy adult requires an average of eight hours of sleep per night for optimal mental and physical health. This is the time required for the human brain to rest and regroup, for the immune system to strengthen, and for cells throughout the body to be repaired and replaced.
Meditate- Numerous health and medical studies have established that daily meditation is a way to significantly reduce stress. Since stress is a major contributor to all types of disease and mental health issues, and stress significantly increases the risk of a heart attack or stroke, meditation is a viable alternative approach to stress reduction. Maybe best of all, the practice of meditation is free and available anywhere, anytime.
Drink Water- The body is 87% made from fluids and water. This means the human body is constantly in need of hydration. Drinking 8- 10 eight ounce glasses of water per day is mandatory to flush germs from the body, hydrate skin and cells, keep the blood flowing, prevent constipation, and keep all body organs healthy.
Regular Exercise- A daily exercise routine of at least 30 minutes greatly reduces the risk of a number of debilitating and possibly life threatening diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes. In addition, exercise can produce endorphins that make you feel happier, reduce inflammation, and regular exercise contributes to gains in muscle mass that help you lose weight even when the body is at rest.
Spend Time with Family and Friends- Research has shown that being in a supportive relationship, and spending time with loving friends and family, can be instrumental in alleviating stress, feeling happier, and increasing both mental and physical health indices. People with more active social ties are less depressed, have stronger immune systems, and experience less fatigue. There are a couple of great reasons to socialize more!
