Lifestyle Choices

Many of us never worry about our health until we are in danger of losing it. Then we are willing to pay any price, pouring out the savings of a lifetime in a vain attempt to try to win it back again. Our health is our greatest possession. Why should we throw it away through ignorance? There is no substitute for good health. We must take care of it while we have it. Our whole future depends upon our maintaining a sound mind in a healthy body.

Hospitals all over the world are filled with people who have disregarded the laws of health. Some may not have realized their danger. Others knew but did not care. They evidently thought that they could dodge the consequences. Perhaps they did for a while. But eventually even the strongest constitution will break if we continue to disregard the laws of health.

Many a chronic invalid might have enjoyed good health all through his life if he had only known how to keep well. Instead of living a happy life, free from sickness, he has become a burden to himself and perhaps to the community as well. Prevention is always far better than cure. Knowing how to live will keep us out of trouble. It will enable us to live out our years in peace and contentment, free from unnecessary pain and illness. (more…)

Behavioral psychologists begin with the notion that eating behavior is learned and maintained as a result of interaction between you and your environment. And their definition of environment includes everything around you—people, events, things you see and respond to. These psychologists are not very interested in deep-seated motives for compulsive eating and they acknowledge that there is nothing you can do to change your genetic inheritance. But what you can do, they say, is to get to grips with overweight by looking at it as a voluntary disorder brought about by habit and environmental stimuli (remember how the habit of eating at certain times or the sight of food triggers hunger in overweight people). Change your environment, they say, and you will alter your habits and your eating patterns so you lose weight and keep it off. (more…)

Seeking and Complying with Medical Advice

Some people purposely avoid seeking the advice of a physician because they fear that something may be wrong. This occurs in spite of the evidence that delay in treatment greatly increases the risk of death for many diseases that can be cured or controlled. In addition to medical readiness exams for those beginning exercise (see Concept 4), regular preventive medical exams are important. After age forty, a yearly preventive exam is recommended for all people. Young adults probably need a regular medical examination less often, but a regular examination is important for all people to help in the early diagnosis of problems. Regular self- examination for breast (females) and testicular (males) cancer are recommended, as are periodic mammograms and PAP tests for females (especially after age forty), and a prostate test for males. Other important behaviors that should be considered are listed as follows:

• Be familiar with the symptoms of the most common medical problems in our culture.
• If symptoms are present, seek medical help. Many deaths could be prevented if the early warning signs of medical problems were heeded.

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There are many different positive life-styles that can contribute to optimal health and wellness.

Life-styles are behaviors that are partially or totally in your own control. Some healthy life-styles are listed in the following. Only those considered to be very important to optimal health will be discussed in this concept.

Exercising Regularly

As noted throughout this book and particularly in Concept 3, regular exercise is associated with the reduced risk of many different diseases. Regular physical activity is a positive addiction. It is habit-forming but the result of the habit is positive, not negative. Regular exercise can be fun and can improve the quality of life. It is interesting to note the fact that people who exercise regularly are likely to adopt other healthy lifestyles. For example, regular exercisers are more likely to visit a physician for preventive examinations, practice preventive dentistry, and wear seat belts than sedentary individuals. (more…)