Physical activity andР’В exerciseР’В is a major contributor to a healthy lifestyle; people are made to use their bodies, and disuse leads to unhealthy living. Unhealthy living may manifest itself inР’В obesity,Р’В weakness, lack of endurance, and overall poor health that may foster disease development.

Tips:

• RegularР’В exerciseР’В can prevent and reverse age-related decreases in muscle mass and strength, improve balance, flexibility, and endurance, and decrease the risk of falls in the elderly. Regular exercise can help prevent coronaryР’В heart disease,Р’В stroke,Р’В diabetes, obesity, andР’В high blood pressure. Regular, weight-bearing exercise can also help preventР’В osteoporosisР’В by building bone strength.
• Regular exercise can help chronicР’В arthritisР’В sufferers improve their capacity to perform daily activities such as driving, climbing stairs, and opening jars.
• Regular exercise can help increase self-esteem and self-confidence, decreaseР’В stressР’В andР’В anxiety, enhance mood, and improve general mental health.
• Regular exercise can help control weight gain and in some people cause loss of fat.
• Thirty minutes of modest exercise (walkingР’В is OK) at least three to five days a week is recommended, but the greatest health benefits come from exercising most days of the week.
• Exercise can be broken up into smaller 10-minute sessions.
• Start slowly and progress gradually to avoid injury or excessive soreness orР’В fatigue. Over time, build up to 30 to 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise every day.
• People are never too old to start exercising. Even frail, elderly individuals (70-90 years of age) can improve their strength and balance with exercise.
• Almost any type of exercise (resistance, water aerobics, walking,Р’В swimming, weights,Р’В yoga, and many others) is helpful for everybody.
• Children need exercise; play outside of the home is a good beginning.
• Sports for children may provide excellent opportunities for exercise, but care must be taken not to overdo certain exercises (for example, throwing too many pitches in baseball may harm a joint like the elbow or shoulder).
• Exertion during strenuous exercise may make a person tired and sore, but ifР’В painР’В occurs, stop the exercise until theР’В painР’В source is discovered; the person may need to seek medical help and advice about continuation of such exercise.

Most individuals can begin moderate exercise, such as walking, without a medical examination. The following people, however, should consult a doctor before beginning more vigorous exercise:

• Men over age 40 or women over age 50
• Individuals with heart or lung disease,Р’В asthma, arthritis, orР’В osteoporosis
• Individuals who experience chest pressure or pain with exertion, or who developР’В fatigueР’В orР’В shortness of breathР’В easily
• Individuals with conditions that increase their risks of developing coronaryР’В heart disease, such asР’В high blood pressure, diabetes,Р’В cigarette smoking, high blood cholesterol, or having family members who had early onsetР’В heart attacksР’В and coronaryР’В heart disease
• Individuals who are morbidlyР’В obese

Consequences of physical inactivity and lack of exercise:

• Physical inactivity and lack of exercise are associated with heart disease and someР’В cancers.
• Physical inactivity and lack of exercise are associated with type IIР’В diabetes mellitusР’В (also known as maturity or adult-onset,Р’В non-insulin-dependent diabetes).
• Physical inactivity and lack of exercise contribute to weight gain.

Mental Health

Healthy living involves more than physical health, it also includes emotional or mental health. The following are some ways people can support their mental health and well-being.

Tips:

• Get enoughР’В sleepР’В daily; the CDC recommends the following by age group (naps inclusive); 12-18 hours from birth to 2 months, 14-15 hours from 3-11 months of age, 12-18 hours for 1-3 years of age, 11-13 hours for 3-5 years of age, 10-11 hours for 5-10 years of age, eight and a half to nine and a half hours for 10-17 years of age and those 18 and above need seven to nine hours ofР’В sleep. Elderly people need about seven to nine hours but do not sleep as deeply and may awaken at night or wake early, so naps (like kids need) allow them to accumulate the total of seven to nine hours of sleep.
• Take a walk and reflect on what you see and hear at least several times per week.
• Try something new and often (eat a new food, try a different route to work, go to a new museum display).
• Do some mind exercises (read, do a puzzle occasionally during the week).
• Try to focus on a process intensely and complete a segment of it over one to several hours, then take a break and do something relaxing (walk, exercise, short nap).
• Plan to spend some time talking with other people about different subjects.
• Try to make some leisure time to do some things that interest you every week (hobby, sport).
• Learn ways to say “no” when something occurs that you do not want to do or be involved with.
• Have fun (go on a trip with someone you love, go shopping, go fishing; do not let vacation time slip away).
• Let yourself be pleased with your achievements, both big and small (develop contentment).
• Have a network of friends; those with strong social support systems lead healthier lives.
• Seek help and advice early if you feel depressed, haveР’В suicidal thoughts, or consider harming yourself or others.
• People taking medicine for mental-health problems should not stop taking these medications, no matter how “well” they feel, until they have discussed their situation with their prescribing doctor(s).

Avoidance behavior is another key to healthy living. Below are described some of the major items to avoid if a person is seeking a healthy lifestyle.

Avoid Tobacco Use

Tobacco use is the most important preventable illness and cause of death in the U.S., according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Tobacco use was estimated to be the cause of 443,000 deaths in 2010 in the U.S.

Tip:

• StopР’В smokingР’В tobacco; start to stop today (it takes about 15 years of nonsmoking behavior to achieve a “normal” risk level for heart disease for those that smoke).
• Stop usingР’В chewing tobaccoР’В to avoidР’В oral cancers.

Adverse consequences of tobacco use:

• Tobacco use causes or contributes to a large number of cancers in the U.S. In men, 90% ofР’В lung cancerР’В deaths are attributable toР’В smoking; 80% in women. Tobacco use causes cancers of the lung, mouth, lip, tongue,Р’В esophagus,kidney, and bladder. It also further increases the risk ofР’В bladder cancerР’В in subjects occupationally exposed to certain organic chemicals found in the textile, leather, rubber, dye, paint, and other organic chemical industries, and further increases the risk ofР’В lung cancerР’В among subjects exposed toР’В asbestos.
• Tobacco use causesР’В atheroscleroticР’В arterial disease (hardening and narrowing of the arteries) that can lead toР’В heart attacks,Р’В strokes, and lack of blood flow to the lower extremities. Tobacco use causes an estimated 20%-30% of coronary heart disease in the U.S. It also further increases the risk ofР’В heart attacksР’В among subjects with elevated cholesterol, uncontrolledР’В hypertension, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle.
• Tobacco use causes an estimated 20% of chronic lung diseases in the U.S., such asР’В chronic bronchitisР’В andР’В emphysema, and causesР’В pneumoniaР’В in those with chronic lung disease. The CDC, in 2011, estimated that 90% of deaths fromР’В chronic obstructive lung diseaseР’В (COPD) were due toР’В smoking.
• PregnantР’В women who smoke are more likely to deliverР’В babiesР’В with low birth weight.
• Secondhand smokeР’В can cause middle-ear infections(otitis media),Р’В coughing,Р’В wheezing,Р’В bronchitis, andР’В pneumoniaР’В in babies, and aggravateР’В asthma in children.Р’В Secondhand smokeР’В (sometimes referred to asР’В passive smoking) can also cause lung cancer.

Comments and recommendations (tips):

• Quitting smoking is difficult to accomplish; tobacco containsР’В nicotine, which is addictive. SomeР’В smokersР’В can quit “cold turkey,” but for most, quitting smoking requires a serious life-long commitment and an average of six quitting attempts before success.
• Quitting smoking efforts may include behavior modification, counseling, use of nicotine chewing gum (Nicorette Gum), nicotine skin patches (Transderm Nicotine), or oral medications such asР’В bupropionР’В (Zyban).

Avoid Excessive Alcohol Consumption

Adverse consequences of excessive alcohol consumption:

• Chronic, excess alcohol consumption is the major cause ofР’В liverР’В cirrhosisР’В in the U.S.
• Liver cirrhosis can cause internal hemorrhage, fluid accumulation in the abdomen, easy bleeding andР’В bruising, muscle wasting, mentalР’В confusion, infections, and in advanced cases,Р’В coma, andР’В kidney failure.
• Liver cirrhosis can lead toР’В liver cancer.
• Alcohol accounts for 40%-50% of deaths from automobile accidents in the U.S.
• Alcohol use is a significant cause of injury and death from home accidents,Р’В drowning, andР’В burns.

Comments and recommendations (tips):

There are many treatments forР’В alcoholism. But the crucial first step to recovery is for the individual to admit there is a problem and make a commitment to address the alcoholism issue. The 12-step-style self-help programs, pioneered by Alcoholics Anonymous, can be one effective treatment. Psychologists and related professionals have developed programs to help individuals better handle emotional stresses and avoid behaviors that can lead to excess drinking. Support and understanding from family members are often critical for sustained recovery. Medication can be useful for the prevention of relapses and for withdrawal symptoms following acute or prolonged intoxication.

High-risk sexual behavior can lead to the acquisition of sexually transmitted illnesses such asР’В gonorrhea,Р’В syphilis,Р’В herpes, orР’В HIVinfection. High-risk sexual behavior is also known to spreadР’В human papillomavirusР’В infection, which can lead toР’В cervical cancerР’В in women and other anogenital cancers in both men and women. High-risk sexual behaviors include the following:

• Multiple sex partners
• Sex partners with a history of the following:
  • IntravenousР’В drug use
  • Venereal diseaseР’В (sexually transmitted diseasesР’В orР’В STDs)

Adverse consequences of high-risk sexual behavior:

• Transmission ofР’В HIVР’В and other sexually transmitted diseases (chlamydia,Р’В gonorrhea,Р’В syphilis,Р’В genital herpes)
• Transmission ofР’В hepatitis BР’В (50% ofР’В hepatitis Binfections are due to sexual transmission) and, in rare instances,Р’В hepatitis C
• Transmission of human papilloma virus (HPV), which can causeР’В genital wartsР’В and anogenital carcinomas, most commonlyР’В cancerР’В of the uterine cervix
• UnplannedР’В pregnancy

Recommendations (tips):

• Avoid unprotected sex (sex without barriers such as aР’В condom) outside an established, committed, monogamous relationship.
• If you plan to have sex and are unsure of your partner’s health status, use a condom.

Avoid Other High-Risk Behaviors

• Driving under the influence of alcohol orР’В drugs
• Driving while sleep-deprived
• Reckless driving and speeding, “road rage”
• Driving while using cell phones, texting, or performing other tasks
• Motorcycle (and bicycle) riding without helmets
• Possession of firearms and guns without proper training and storage
• Smoking in bed

Adverse consequences of high-risk behaviors:

• Motor vehicle accidents account for 40%-50% of accidental deaths.
• Motorcycle accidents are a major cause of serious head injuries.
• Firearms and guns account for a significant proportion of deaths among adolescents due to maleР’В suicideР’В and homicide.
• Smoking in bed can lead to burn injury and death.

Recommendations (tips):

• When driving, use seat restraints on all passengers, both front and rear seats.
• Do not drink and drive.
• Do not drive if sleep deprived.
• Avoid unnecessary distractions and focus on the road and traffic while driving (avoid texting, talking on cell phones, eating, applyingР’В makeup, or other distractions).
• Use helmets while riding bicycles and motorcycles. Helmet use reduces deaths from motorcycle accidents by 30% and serious head injuries by 75%.
• Obtain proper training in the use and storage of guns and ammunition.
• Use smoke detectors; avoid smoking in bed.

Adverse consequences of excess sun exposure:

• MelanomaР’В and otherР’В skin cancers

Recommendation (tips):

• Avoid sunburns and sun exposure by using adequate skin protection; use brimmed hats, protective clothing, andР’В sunscreen.

Sunscreens have undergone changes, and the U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) published new requirements that sunscreens needed to meet starting in 2012. Currently, the FDA suggests an effective sunscreen is rated asР’В SPFР’В 30 or higher and has both UVA and UVB protection (protection against ultraviolet waves of types A and B). In most instances, sunscreen needs to be applied every two hours and each time after a person has gone swimming.