BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuHealthy livingHealthy habits Information Good health habits can allow you to avoid illness and improve your quality of life. The following steps will help you feel better and live better.Get regular exercise and control your weight. Don't smoke. Do NOT drink a lot of alcohol. Avoid alcohol completely if you have a history of alcoholism. Use the medicines your health care provider recommends as directed. Eat a balanced and healthy diet. Take care of your teeth. Manage high blood pressure. High blood pressureBlood pressure is a measurement of the force exerted against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood to your body. Hypertension is the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Follow good safety practices. EXERCISEExercise is a key factor in staying healthy. Exercise strengthens the bones, heart, and lungs, tones muscles, improves vitality, relieves depression, and helps you sleep better.ExercisePhysical activity -- which includes an active lifestyle and routine exercise -- plus eating well, is the best way to stay healthy.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Talk to your provider before starting an exercise program if you have health conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure, or diabetes. This can help ensure that your exercise is safe and that you get the most of out of it. Starting an exercise programGetting regular exercise when you have heart disease is important. Physical activity can strengthen your heart muscle and help you manage blood pres...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article SMOKINGCigarette smoking is the main preventable cause of death in the United States. One out of every 5 deaths each year is either directly or indirectly caused by smoking.Cigarette smokingKnowing the serious health risks of using tobacco may help motivate you to quit. Using tobacco over a long time can increase your risk for many heal...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Secondhand cigarette smoke exposure can cause lung cancer in nonsmokers. Secondhand smoke is also linked to heart disease. It is never too late to quit smoking. Talk to your provider or nurse about medicines and programs that can help you quit.MedicinesYour health care provider can prescribe medicines to help you quit tobacco use. These medicines do not contain nicotine and are not habit-forming. ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article ProgramsIt is hard to quit smoking if you are acting alone. Smokers usually have a much better chance of quitting with a support program. Stop smoking prog...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersALCOHOL USEDrinking alcohol changes many brain functions. Emotions, thinking, and judgment are first to be affected. Continued drinking will affect motor control, causing slurred speech, slower reactions, and poor balance. Having a higher amount of body fat and drinking on an empty stomach will speed up the effects of alcohol. Alcoholism can lead to many problems including:AlcoholismAlcohol use disorder is when your drinking causes serious problems in your life, yet you keep drinking. You may also need more and more alcohol to f...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Diseases of the liver and pancreas Cancer and other diseases of the esophagus and digestive tract Heart muscle damage Brain damage Serious harm to your unborn baby if you are pregnant including fetal alcohol syndrome. Do NOT drink alcohol when you are pregnant. Fetal alcohol syndromeFetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are groupings of growth, mental, and physical problems that may occur in a baby when a mother drinks alcohol ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Parents should talk to their children about the dangerous effects of alcohol. Talk to your provider if you or someone close to you has a problem with alcohol. Many people whose lives have been affected by alcohol benefit from taking part in an alcohol support group. Alcohol support groupAlcohol use disorder is a medical condition. If you think you may have an alcohol use disorder, see a health care provider. The following organizati...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article DRUG AND MEDICINE USE Drugs and medicines affect people in different ways. Always tell your provider about all the drugs and medicines you are taking. This includes over-the-counter medicines and vitamins.Drug interactions can be dangerous. Older people need to be very careful about interactions when they are taking many medicines. All of your providers should know all the medicines you are taking. Carry the list with you when you go for checkups and treatments. Avoid drinking alcohol while taking medicines. This can cause serious problems. The combination of alcohol and tranquilizers or painkillers can be deadly. Pregnant women should not take any drug or medicine without talking to their provider. This includes over-the-counter medicines. The unborn baby is even more sensitive to the harm from drugs in the first 3 months. Tell your provider if you have been taking any drugs just before becoming pregnant. Always take medicines as prescribed. Taking any medicine in a way other than prescribed or taking too much can cause serious health problems. It is considered drug abuse. Abuse and addiction are not just associated with illegal "street" drugs.MedicinesTalking to your health care providers about your medicines can help you learn to take them safely and effectively.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Drug abuseSubstance use disorder occurs when a person's use of alcohol or another substance (prescribed medicine or illegal drug) leads to health issues or pro...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Legal drugs such as laxatives, painkillers, nasal sprays, diet pills, and cough medicines can also be misused.Addiction is defined as continuing to use a substance even though you are experiencing problems related to the use. Simply needing a drug (such as a painkiller or antidepressant) and taking it as prescribed is not addiction.DEALING WITH STRESSStress is normal. It can be a great motivator and help in some cases. But too much stress can cause health problems such as trouble sleeping, stomach upset, anxiety, and mood changes.StressStress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension. It can come from any event or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or nervous. Stres...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Learn to recognize the things most likely to cause stress in your life. You may not be able to avoid all stress but knowing the source can help you feel in control. The more control you feel you have over your life, the less damaging the stress in your life will be. OBESITYObesity is a serious health concern. Excess body fat can overwork your heart, bones, and muscles. It can also increase your risk for developing high blood pressure, stroke, varicose veins, breast cancer, and gallbladder disease.ObesityObesity means weighing more than what is healthy for a given height. Obesity is a serious, chronic disease. It can lead to other health problems, i...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Obesity can be caused by eating too much and eating unhealthy foods. Lack of exercise also plays a part. Family history may be a risk for some people as well. DIETHaving a balanced diet is important to being in good health. Balanced dietThe foods and drinks you choose are important for maintaining a healthy weight. This article offers advice on making good food choices to manage you...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Choose foods that are low in saturated and trans fat, and low in cholesterol. Limit your intake of sugar, salt (sodium), and alcohol. Eat more fiber, which can be found in fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grain products, and nuts. TOOTH CAREGood dental care can help you keep your teeth and gums healthy for a lifetime. It is important for children to begin good dental habits when they are young. For proper dental hygiene:Dental careTooth decay and gum disease are caused by plaque, a sticky combination of bacteria and food. Plaque begins to build up on teeth within a few minutes...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once daily. Use fluoride toothpaste. Get regular dental checkups. Limit sugar intake. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles. Replace your toothbrush when bristles get bent. Have your dentist show you the proper ways to brush and floss.Previous imagePlay SlideshowStop SlideshowNext image / Open ReferencesReferencesMora S, Libby P, Ridker PM. Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 25.US Preventive Services Task Force. Behavioral counseling interventions to promote a healthy diet and physical activity for cardiovascular disease prevention in adults with cardiovascular risk factors: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2020;324(20):2069-2075. PMID: 33231670 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33231670/.US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening and interventions to prevent dental caries in children younger than 5 years: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2021;326(21):2172-2178. PMID: 34874412 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34874412/.US Preventive Services Task Force. Interventions for tobacco smoking cessation in adults, including pregnant persons: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2021;325(3):265-279. PMID: 33464343 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33464343/.US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for unhealthy drug use: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2020;323(22):2301-2309. PMID: 32515821 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32515821/.US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening and behavioral counseling interventions to reduce unhealthy alcohol use in adolescents and adults: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2018;320(18):1899-1909. PMID: 30422199 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30422199/.AllVideoImagesTogExercise 30 minutes a day - illustration You get the most benefit from exercise if you do it for at least 30 minutes a day for 5 to 6 days a week. But you do not have to do 30 minutes in a row. Recent studies suggest that you get the same benefits if you work out for 10 minutes 3 times a day that you do during a longer session.Exercise 30 minutes a dayillustrationExercise with friends - illustration Exercising with a friend or a group of people can help make it more fun, interesting, and keep you motivated to continue with a regular exercise routine.Exercise with friendsillustrationExercise - a powerful tool - illustration Physical fitness is essential to good health and is one of the best things you can do for your body, mind, and spirit. Exercise improves the way your body works, and it can make you look better, feel better, and even live longer.Exercise - a powerful toolillustrationTeach children to brush - illustration Healthy teeth and gums are essential to a child's overall good health. Without proper dental care tooth decay and gum disease can lead to serious problems such as cavities and gingivitis, swollen and bleeding gums. Regular visits to the dentist, brushing twice each day, and flossing, are ways to help maintain a healthy mouth.Teach children to brushillustrationExercise 30 minutes a day - illustration You get the most benefit from exercise if you do it for at least 30 minutes a day for 5 to 6 days a week. But you do not have to do 30 minutes in a row. Recent studies suggest that you get the same benefits if you work out for 10 minutes 3 times a day that you do during a longer session.Exercise 30 minutes a dayillustrationExercise with friends - illustration Exercising with a friend or a group of people can help make it more fun, interesting, and keep you motivated to continue with a regular exercise routine.Exercise with friendsillustrationExercise - a powerful tool - illustration Physical fitness is essential to good health and is one of the best things you can do for your body, mind, and spirit. Exercise improves the way your body works, and it can make you look better, feel better, and even live longer.Exercise - a powerful toolillustrationTeach children to brush - illustration Healthy teeth and gums are essential to a child's overall good health. Without proper dental care tooth decay and gum disease can lead to serious problems such as cavities and gingivitis, swollen and bleeding gums. Regular visits to the dentist, brushing twice each day, and flossing, are ways to help maintain a healthy mouth.Teach children to brushillustrationSelf Care Living with uterine fibroidsEating outLiving with endometriosisLiving with heart disease and anginaLiving with a chronic illness - dealing with feelingsSimple, heart-smart substitutionsRelated Information Review Date: 7/8/2023 Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. 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Healthy livingHealthy habits Information Good health habits can allow you to avoid illness and improve your quality of life. The following steps will help you feel better and live better.Get regular exercise and control your weight. Don't smoke. Do NOT drink a lot of alcohol. Avoid alcohol completely if you have a history of alcoholism. Use the medicines your health care provider recommends as directed. Eat a balanced and healthy diet. Take care of your teeth. Manage high blood pressure. High blood pressureBlood pressure is a measurement of the force exerted against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood to your body. Hypertension is the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Follow good safety practices. EXERCISEExercise is a key factor in staying healthy. Exercise strengthens the bones, heart, and lungs, tones muscles, improves vitality, relieves depression, and helps you sleep better.ExercisePhysical activity -- which includes an active lifestyle and routine exercise -- plus eating well, is the best way to stay healthy.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Talk to your provider before starting an exercise program if you have health conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure, or diabetes. This can help ensure that your exercise is safe and that you get the most of out of it. Starting an exercise programGetting regular exercise when you have heart disease is important. Physical activity can strengthen your heart muscle and help you manage blood pres...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article SMOKINGCigarette smoking is the main preventable cause of death in the United States. One out of every 5 deaths each year is either directly or indirectly caused by smoking.Cigarette smokingKnowing the serious health risks of using tobacco may help motivate you to quit. Using tobacco over a long time can increase your risk for many heal...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Secondhand cigarette smoke exposure can cause lung cancer in nonsmokers. Secondhand smoke is also linked to heart disease. It is never too late to quit smoking. Talk to your provider or nurse about medicines and programs that can help you quit.MedicinesYour health care provider can prescribe medicines to help you quit tobacco use. These medicines do not contain nicotine and are not habit-forming. ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article ProgramsIt is hard to quit smoking if you are acting alone. Smokers usually have a much better chance of quitting with a support program. Stop smoking prog...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersALCOHOL USEDrinking alcohol changes many brain functions. Emotions, thinking, and judgment are first to be affected. Continued drinking will affect motor control, causing slurred speech, slower reactions, and poor balance. Having a higher amount of body fat and drinking on an empty stomach will speed up the effects of alcohol. Alcoholism can lead to many problems including:AlcoholismAlcohol use disorder is when your drinking causes serious problems in your life, yet you keep drinking. You may also need more and more alcohol to f...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Diseases of the liver and pancreas Cancer and other diseases of the esophagus and digestive tract Heart muscle damage Brain damage Serious harm to your unborn baby if you are pregnant including fetal alcohol syndrome. Do NOT drink alcohol when you are pregnant. Fetal alcohol syndromeFetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are groupings of growth, mental, and physical problems that may occur in a baby when a mother drinks alcohol ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Parents should talk to their children about the dangerous effects of alcohol. Talk to your provider if you or someone close to you has a problem with alcohol. Many people whose lives have been affected by alcohol benefit from taking part in an alcohol support group. Alcohol support groupAlcohol use disorder is a medical condition. If you think you may have an alcohol use disorder, see a health care provider. The following organizati...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article DRUG AND MEDICINE USE Drugs and medicines affect people in different ways. Always tell your provider about all the drugs and medicines you are taking. This includes over-the-counter medicines and vitamins.Drug interactions can be dangerous. Older people need to be very careful about interactions when they are taking many medicines. All of your providers should know all the medicines you are taking. Carry the list with you when you go for checkups and treatments. Avoid drinking alcohol while taking medicines. This can cause serious problems. The combination of alcohol and tranquilizers or painkillers can be deadly. Pregnant women should not take any drug or medicine without talking to their provider. This includes over-the-counter medicines. The unborn baby is even more sensitive to the harm from drugs in the first 3 months. Tell your provider if you have been taking any drugs just before becoming pregnant. Always take medicines as prescribed. Taking any medicine in a way other than prescribed or taking too much can cause serious health problems. It is considered drug abuse. Abuse and addiction are not just associated with illegal "street" drugs.MedicinesTalking to your health care providers about your medicines can help you learn to take them safely and effectively.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Drug abuseSubstance use disorder occurs when a person's use of alcohol or another substance (prescribed medicine or illegal drug) leads to health issues or pro...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Legal drugs such as laxatives, painkillers, nasal sprays, diet pills, and cough medicines can also be misused.Addiction is defined as continuing to use a substance even though you are experiencing problems related to the use. Simply needing a drug (such as a painkiller or antidepressant) and taking it as prescribed is not addiction.DEALING WITH STRESSStress is normal. It can be a great motivator and help in some cases. But too much stress can cause health problems such as trouble sleeping, stomach upset, anxiety, and mood changes.StressStress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension. It can come from any event or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or nervous. Stres...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Learn to recognize the things most likely to cause stress in your life. You may not be able to avoid all stress but knowing the source can help you feel in control. The more control you feel you have over your life, the less damaging the stress in your life will be. OBESITYObesity is a serious health concern. Excess body fat can overwork your heart, bones, and muscles. It can also increase your risk for developing high blood pressure, stroke, varicose veins, breast cancer, and gallbladder disease.ObesityObesity means weighing more than what is healthy for a given height. Obesity is a serious, chronic disease. It can lead to other health problems, i...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Obesity can be caused by eating too much and eating unhealthy foods. Lack of exercise also plays a part. Family history may be a risk for some people as well. DIETHaving a balanced diet is important to being in good health. Balanced dietThe foods and drinks you choose are important for maintaining a healthy weight. This article offers advice on making good food choices to manage you...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Choose foods that are low in saturated and trans fat, and low in cholesterol. Limit your intake of sugar, salt (sodium), and alcohol. Eat more fiber, which can be found in fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grain products, and nuts. TOOTH CAREGood dental care can help you keep your teeth and gums healthy for a lifetime. It is important for children to begin good dental habits when they are young. For proper dental hygiene:Dental careTooth decay and gum disease are caused by plaque, a sticky combination of bacteria and food. Plaque begins to build up on teeth within a few minutes...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once daily. Use fluoride toothpaste. Get regular dental checkups. Limit sugar intake. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles. Replace your toothbrush when bristles get bent. Have your dentist show you the proper ways to brush and floss.Previous imagePlay SlideshowStop SlideshowNext image / Open ReferencesReferencesMora S, Libby P, Ridker PM. Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 25.US Preventive Services Task Force. Behavioral counseling interventions to promote a healthy diet and physical activity for cardiovascular disease prevention in adults with cardiovascular risk factors: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2020;324(20):2069-2075. PMID: 33231670 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33231670/.US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening and interventions to prevent dental caries in children younger than 5 years: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2021;326(21):2172-2178. PMID: 34874412 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34874412/.US Preventive Services Task Force. Interventions for tobacco smoking cessation in adults, including pregnant persons: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2021;325(3):265-279. PMID: 33464343 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33464343/.US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for unhealthy drug use: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2020;323(22):2301-2309. PMID: 32515821 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32515821/.US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening and behavioral counseling interventions to reduce unhealthy alcohol use in adolescents and adults: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2018;320(18):1899-1909. PMID: 30422199 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30422199/.
