Taking steps to improve your health and well-being is a lifelong, continual journey. By cultivating small, daily good habits, you can significantly improve your overall well-being over time. Let's explore some essential tips to help you achieve a healthier and more vibrant you.
Your oral health has a significant impact on your overall wellness, with bad oral health being linked to cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, respiratory conditions and more. Bacteria from gum disease and tooth decay can also trigger your body’s stress response, aversely affecting your mental health. Here are some steps you can take to stay on top of your oral hygiene:
Your skin provides a barrier to protect your body from invasion by bacteria and other possible environmental hazards that can pose a danger to your health. Learn to take good care of your skin, and it will also take good care of you. The best way to protect your skin is to protect it from unnecessary UV exposure. You can do so by following these few tips:
It is never too late to quit smoking, as your body is able to repair itself quickly. According to the American Cancer Society, as soon as 20 minutes after you quit smoking, your heart rate and blood pressure drops. Within a day, the carbon monoxide level in your blood will have dropped to normal and your bloodstream will be almost nicotine free. Within three months, you will find yourself coughing and wheezing less and your lung will be better at removing mucus, tar, and dust.
It can be challenging to quit smoking, but it will also be one of the most life-changing decisions you can make. Some tips you can follow to quit smoking include using nicotine replacements and surrounding yourself with supportive friends and family members.
Adults are recommended to have around six to eight hours of sleep a night. Short-term consequences of not having enough sleep include an increased responsivity to stress, somatic pains, reduced quality of life, emotional distress and mood disorders, and cognitive, memory and performance deficits. Over time, a lack of sufficient sleep in the long-term may result in an increased risk of developing health conditions such as hypertension, high body fat, cardiovascular disease, weight-related issues, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and colorectal. For the best rest, consider doing it on schedule, around the same time every night.
You may have heard the common saying, “Drink eight glasses of water a day” but the truth is that your hydration needs will be affected by a few factors such as the weather, how often you sweat, whether you are pregnant and your overall health. Hence, eight glasses of water may be too much water for some, and not enough for others. In order to stay hydrated and avoid mild dehydration, rather than rigorously following the eight glasses rule, follow your thirst instead. However, if it is a hot day, or you are exercising and sweating more than usual, do drink more water. Not drinking enough water can result in mild dehydration, with symptoms like fatigue, headache and impaired mood.
As you endeavour to follow these tips for a healthier you, do remember that change does not happen overnight, so do not be discouraged if you do not notice change right away. Also, instead of making big changes immediately, you may also want to consider making small steps instead and gradually add more habits into your daily routine as time goes by.
Don’t forget to acknowledge your achievements, no matter how small they may be, be it finally getting a good six to eight hours of sleep or quitting smoking for a month. Remember, small changes can lead to big transformations. Embrace the journey and enjoy the benefits of a healthier lifestyle!
