Prevention is better than cure, we always say. Apart from being a terrible thing, illness is an inconvenience and an expense. No one wants to get sick. There is much you can do to slow down or even prevent the onset of illness. Even if you’re not actively trying to prevent anything, general care can lead to improved health. Consider five things that you can do today to improve your health and well-being.
PRACTICE GOOD HYGIENE
One of the best ways to avoid getting sick and spreading illness is to wash your hands. It is the first path to easily improve and maintain good health. Generally, the best defence against contamination is washing your hands regularly. It can also prevent the spread of more serious conditions, such as pneumonia and diarrheal diseases. Every year, these diseases lead to the death of over two million children under the age of five.
USE A SAFE WATER SUPPLY
If water does not come from a safe source or is not stored correctly, it can cause parasite infestation, as well as cholera, life-threatening diarrhoea, typhoid, hepatitis, and other infections. Unsafe drinking water is one of the causes of an estimated 1.7 billion cases of diarrheal disease every year. Cholera is most often contracted when a person drinks water or eats food that is contaminated with faecal matter from infected people. Therefore, you need to ensure that all your drinking water, including water for brushing teeth, washing and cooking, comes from a safe source.
WATCH WHAT YOU EAT
Good health is impossible without good nutrition. For good nutrition, however, you need a healthy, balanced diet. Include fruits and vegetables in your diet, and vary what you eat. If you eat too many sugars and solid fats, you risk becoming overweight. To minimize this risk, drink water instead of sweet beverages.
STAY PHYSICALLY ACTIVE
You need regular physical activity to stay in good shape. Many people today do not exercise enough. Staying physically active can help you to sleep well, stay mobile, maintain strong bones and muscles, maintain or achieve a healthy weight, lower your risk of suffering from depression and lower your risk of premature death.
GET ENOUGH SLEEP
Getting the right amount of rest should not be considered optional. Sufficient sleep is important for growth and development in children and teenagers. It helps in earning and retention of new information, maintaining the right balance of hormones that impact metabolism and weight and cardiovascular health. Insufficient sleep has been linked to obesity, depression, heart disease, diabetes, and tragic accidents.
Please note that most times your health is affected by factors you cannot control. However, it should be within your means to adopt at least some of the suggestions given in the foregoing article.
