Lifestyle and Behaviors

 

Keeping active can help people stay at a healthy weight or lose weight. It can also lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and certain cancers, as well as reduce stress and boost mood. Inactive (sedentary) lifestyles do just the opposite. For more information, please visit Harvard School of Public Health.  

 

 

Regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health. It can help control weight, reduce risk of cardiovascular diseases, reduce risk of Type 2 Diabetes and improve many health conditions. For more information, please link to US CDC.

 

 

Want to feel better, have more energy and perhaps even live longer? Look no further than exercise. The health benefits of regular exercise and physical activity are hard to ignore. And the benefits of exercise are yours for the taking, regardless of your age, sex or physical ability. Need more convincing to exercise? Check out these seven ways exercise can improve your life.

 

Handout on Health: Sports Injuries – National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease

 

This publication is for athletes at all ages and levels, for people who exercise, as well as for health care professionals, coaches, and others who want to find out more about sports injuries. This publication describes the different types of musculoskeletal sports injuries, how they can be treated and prevented, and recent treatment advances from research. More information please visit NIH.

 

 

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans evolve with each new version. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 continues this trend of routine updates. It also continues to reflect the tense interplay of science and the powerful food industry. For more information on food pyramids and plates, visit Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

 

 

You probably already use the Nutrition Facts label in some way—maybe to check calories, fat or sodium content. But, the more familiar you are with the information, the more you’ll want to use it daily to ensure you’re eating a healthy, balanced diet. More information on nutrition facts, please visit FDA.

 

 

Do you want to adopt a healthy diet but aren’t sure where to start? As you consider the parade of healthy diets in magazines and cookbooks, make sure to look for one that… More information please visit Mayo Clinic.

 

 

Tobacco smoke contains many chemicals that are harmful to both smokers and nonsmokers. Smoking has been found to harm nearly every bodily organ and organ system in the body and diminishes a person’s overall health. Substantial benefits of health are quickly emerging after quitting smoking. More information please visit NCI.

 

 

Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body, causing many diseases and affecting the health of smokers in general. Quitting smoking has immediate as well as long-term benefits for you and your loved ones. For more information, please visit CDC.

 

Smoking: Do you really know the risks?-American Heart Association 

 

You probably know about the relationship between smoking and lung cancer, but did you know smoking is also linked to heart disease, stroke and other chronic lung diseases?  Smoking can also increase your risk for cancer of the bladder, throat and mouth, kidneys, cervix and pancreas. For more information, please visit American Heart Association.

 

 

 

 

Alcohol use can be a slippery slope. Moderate drinking can offer some health benefits. But heavy drinking can have serious consequences. When it comes to drinking alcohol, the key is doing so only in moderation. Mayo clinic provides more information on alcohol drinking and health. 

 

 

Drinking too much – on a single occasion or over time – can take a serious toll on your health.  For more information on how alcohol can affect your body, please visit NIH. 

 

 

Excessive alcohol use, including underage drinking and binge drinking (drinking 5 or more drinks on an occasion for men or 4 or more drinks on an occasion for women), can lead to increased risk of health problems such as injuries, violence, liver diseases, and cancer. The CDC Alcohol Program works to strengthen the scientific foundation for preventing excessive alcohol use.

 

 

 

People who are obese, compared to those with a normal or healthy weight, are at increased risk for many serious diseases and health conditions, including the following: All-causes of death (mortality), High blood pressure (Hypertension)…, for more information about overweight and health problems, visit CDC.

 

 

Overweight and obesity may increase the risk of many health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. If you are pregnant, excess weight may lead to short- and long-term health problems for you and your child. This fact sheet tells you more about the links between excess weight and many health conditions. It also explains how reaching and maintaining a normal weight may help you and your loved ones stay healthier as you grow older. For more information, visit NIH.

 

Weight Control – NIH MedlinePlus 

 

Keeping a healthy weight is crucial. If you are underweight, overweight, or obese, you may have a higher risk of certain health problems. A weight- control strategy might include choosing low-fat, low-calorie foods, eating smaller portions, drinking water instead of sugary drinks and being physically active. More information and links on weight control, visit here

 

The Underweight Adolescents-University of Minnesota School of Public Health 

 

Underweight status represents depleted body fat and/or lean tissue stores. Underweight status has been associated with higher rates of morbidity and mortality, although to a lesser extent than obesity. For more information about underweight and health, visit University of Minnesota School of Public Health.

 

 

 

 

Sleep deprivation is a condition that occurs if you don’t get enough sleep. Like other needs, sleeping is a vital part of the foundation for good health and well-being throughout your lifetime. Sleep deficiency can lead to physical and mental health problems, injuries, loss of productivity, and even a greater risk of death. For more information about mechanisms of sleep, how much sleep is enough, who is at risk and how to get enough sleep, visit NIH.

 

 

You’re not doomed to toss and turn every night. Consider simple tips for better sleep, from setting a sleep schedule to including physical activity in your daily routine. For more information on better sleep, visit Mayo Clinic.

 

 

Sleep is essential for day-to-day functioning, performance, learning, and overall health. Sleep disorders, including insomnia, are a leading cause of accidents, lost productivity, and illness. The NICHD provides information on sleep, including how the process of sleep occurs, the impact of inadequate sleep on health and behavior, and conditions that disrupt sleep. More about this topic, visit NICHD.