Unlike in years past, women can look forward to living well into old age due to advances in medicine and a relatively high standard of living. But while they may now enjoy a greater life expectancy than their mothers, a longer life doesn’t necessarily mean a healthier one.
In reality, the fact that a woman can expect to live longer means more conscious efforts must be made to ensure they are as healthy as possible though the perception on what constitutes good health differs, the consensus is that it involves a lifelong commitment to mindful action. Making healthy lifestyle changes at any time to avoid chronic illness and slow down the aging process, both inside and out.
Below are tips on steps to take towards personal optimal health, no matter where you are in life or your age.
Make sleep a top priority: For many women, the demands of modern life make it increasingly harder to get a good night’s sleep. But that to-do list isn’t nearly as important as the health benefits that quality sleep can provide. So, getting the amount of sleep you need to feel rested and balanced can help you stay productive, preserve a higher level of reasoning and keep your emotions steady. It also helps protect your long-term health.
Sleep is an important factor at all stages of life. It’s restorative for mind and body alike. Women who routinely don’t get enough sleep are more likely to have weight control issues and memory problems in addition to an increased risk of developing heart disease.
Schedule an annual well-woman medical examination: If you only see your doctor when you are not feeling well, then you are missing out on a major chance to safeguard your long-term health. You can’t take care of an underlying health problem if you don’t know about it.
Preventive care is a cornerstone of good health and you should never be too busy to make time for your annual well woman exam. It is an excellent opportunity to check for serious health concerns that typically go unnoticed, including high blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol levels. .
Be physically active: It is hard to overstate the importance of regular physical activity. Women who exercise tend to have healthier blood pressure and cholesterol levels and also have a lower risk of developing serious chronic illnesses like heart disease, diabetes and dementia. As you approach menopause, staying physically active can also help curtail or alleviate bothersome symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, and moodiness.
There are easy and practical ways to boost your activity level; you can get a fitness tracker to give you the motivation to increase your daily step count. Take the stairs as often as possible to work more activity into your day, or work in more steps by routinely parking your car a little further away from your destination. Walking is a great way to get centered, decompress or enjoy the weather.
Quit smoking: Smoking is a devastating habit that has a negative effect on every bodily system. Besides increasing the risk for various types of cancer, it also makes you more likely to develop osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, cataracts, and gum disease. Women who smoke are also more likely to go through menopause at an earlier age than those who don’t.
Improve your diet: There is a need to pay attention to what you eat; eating healthy doesn’t mean boring or bland food. On the contrary, it can mean fresh and fun flavours, colourful appetising plates and a whole new world of ingredients. Try to eat whole, fresh foods as often as possible.
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