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Chronic Illness in Your Family? 6 Ways To Prevent it

Author: Carol Evenson
by Carol Evenson
Posted: Jul 20, 2018

If you have a family history of chronic disease, there is a chance that you can develop one yourself. However, having family members with diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer does not condemn you to the same fate. The threat of chronic illness can be dealt with by using effective solutions. With the right lifestyle and diet changes, you can avoid developing these illnesses.

Drink More Water

Water removes toxins from the body. Staying hydrated will help your body maintain its systems functions. Water helps nutrients and oxygen move throughout the body. When the body does not have the right amount of water, the body systems can become impaired. Water helps the body metabolize salt and sugar. Having too much of this in your body can result in chronic diseases like diabetes and dementia. It is recommended that you drink 10 glasses of water a day.

Exercise

Physical activity, or the lack thereof, can contribute to the development of chronic diseases. While this issue was typically seen in older adults, the lack of physical activity has given rise to the development of chronic diseases among young adults and children. Exercise can play an important role in preventing the onset of these illnesses and managing the symptoms for people who live with these chronic diseases. It's recommended that people get 40 minutes of exercise three days a week.

Avoid Tobacco Use

Tobacco use can have adverse consequences to your health. What might not be known is the tobacco use can increase your chances of developing chronic illnesses like cancer, asthma, macular degeneration, and diabetes. You can decrease your odds of acquiring these diseases by eliminating your tobacco use. Most people think about smoking when they think about the dangers of tobacco use. However, smokeless tobacco can cause some of the same health issues.

Stress Management

Many people work hard and don't get enough rest. Unfortunately, this level of stress can take a toll on your body. If stress levels are not managed well, you may be more susceptible to developing chronic diseases. Improper stress management can also cause you to do things like stress eating. Stress eating can result in eating unhealthy foods. Exercising, sleep and yoga are a few activities that can help keep stress under control.

Maintain a Healthy Body Weight

When you maintain a healthy body weight you will increase your chances of avoiding chronic illnesses. Obesity tends to increase a person's risk of developing chronic illnesses like diabetes and hypertension. It's important to maintain a body mass that is lower than 30. People with a body mass of higher than 30 also have an increased risk of mortality from chronic illnesses.

For some people, chronic diseases can run in the family. Genetics are not the ultimate determining factor as to whether you will develop an illness. If you are aware of your genetic background, you can speak with your physician to take steps to avoid the diseases. In some situations, avoiding a chronic disease is a matter of matter a few lifestyle choices.

Eat Healthy Foods

Living a busy lifestyle and having a busy schedule can impact your food choices. While convenience is important, a lot of these convenient foods are packaged, fast, or canned foods. These convenient foods are often high in sodium and fat. These foods can cause several diseases like heart failure and stroke. You should avoid junk food and soft drinks. Adding foods that are rich in fiber, like whole couscous, and adding more vegetables to your diet will help you eat healthier, avoiding the health issues created by having an unhealthy diet.

About the Author

Carol also is passionate about health and fitness and stays active on her free time. She enjoys hikes and participates in multiple marathons. She loves learning to new tips on health and enjoys sharing her knowledge with her readers

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Author: Carol Evenson

Carol Evenson

Member since: Nov 24, 2017
Published articles: 35

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