Tips to improve your health and quality of life

Every year on April 7th, World Health Day is celebrated, established by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The purpose of this day is to raise awareness and educate about the importance of health care and healthy lifestyles.

From its inception, the celebration has aimed to raise awareness of a specific health topic to highlight a priority area of concern for almost everyone. Over the past 50 years, this has brought to the fore important health issues such as mental health, maternal and child care, and climate change.

Contrary to what many people think, chronic diseases affect all ages and also affect younger age groups.

An individual's lifestyle largely determines his state of health; in other words: a healthy lifestyle contributes a lot to have an active, healthy, and happy life.

According to the World Health Organization, it is estimated that about 80% of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and more than a third of cancer cases could be prevented if the following four risk factors were eliminated: tobacco, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and harmful use of alcohol. [i] Lifestyle choices make the biggest difference in our health and longevity. In fact, about 80% of early deaths are attributed to smoking, poor diet, and physical inactivity.[ii]

While COVID-19 has made us focus – as never before – on the personal health and safety of our families when life returns to a “new normal”, we risk returning to our unhealthy practices of the past.

We should take advantage of the experience of the past months to improve our individual health and our quality of life.

For a successful transformation, here are some tips:

• Eat lots of fresh vegetables and fruits.

• Stay hydrated.

• Move more, do moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day.

• Keep your stress level low – learn practical relaxation techniques.

• Get at least 7 to 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep every night.

• Avoid harmful substances such as tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs.

• Stay socially connected with your loved ones and friends. Stay positive.

There are countless examples of how changing habits can bring health benefits.

Face-changing habits as a necessary attitude to maintain a healthy life. Developing healthier lifestyle habits can initiate permanent changes in people's lives.

[i] World Health Organization WHO, https://www.euro.who.int/

[ii] Ng R, Sutradhar R, Yao Z, Wodchis WP, Rosella LC. Smoking, drinking, diet, and physical activity-modifiable lifestyle risk factors and their associations with age to first chronic disease. Int J Epidemiol. 2020;49(1):113-130. doi:10.1093/ije/dyz078

Thordis Berger

Chief Medical Officer Holmes Place