8 Easy Ways to Destroy Perfectly Good Health

This article originally appeared on The Epoch Times and was republished with permission.

Guest post by Kevin Shelley

Over the years, I’ve treated many people who seem to have the deck stacked against them, causing them to suffer from health problems people their own age usually don’t have to worry about.

However, the majority of patients I see with chronic health issues have developed them slowly over a long period while minimizing the importance of prevention. A preventative mindset can keep minor issues from becoming more serious and becoming chronic health problems.

Paying attention to the following eight healthy practices can majorly impact your long-term health. Ignoring them can ruin it.

1. Hydration

About 55 percent to 60 percent of the adult human body is water. Dehydration occurs when we use more body fluids than what we take in, and our body is unable to carry out normal functions.

“Dehydration can lead to many different problems, including decreased kidney function and kidney damage, skin problems, infections, increased severity of arthritis, decreased motivation, and even decreased overall living skills,” Kristen Harbin, a registered nurse in Lynchburg, Virginia, told The Epoch Times.

“It’s a common reason for hospitalizations and can be fatal in advanced stages,” she said.

It’s essential to keep water handy at all times and even treat it like a prescription to ensure adequate consumption. “Many people don’t like the ‘taste’ of water, but you don’t necessarily have to like drinking water to intake the proper amounts,” Ms. Harbin said. She recommends using flavorings to make water more palatable if needed.

The proper amount of water intake varies depending on the source, but a simple formula works for many people: Divide your body weight in half to determine the number of ounces of water you should drink each day. For example, a healthy 200-pound person would need to consume about 100 ounces of water per day (or 12.5 cups).

2. Posture

Good posture is like a good foundation for your home: Everything builds on it. Clinically, we often have to work around the limitations imposed by bad posture. One issue we run into often is kyphosis, or the forward rounding or curvature of the upper back.

Many things can contribute to kyphosis, but muscular weakness and bad postural habits are common causes. It’s so prevalent that up to 40 percent of people over the age of 60 have some degree of kyphosis.

This condition can cause you to lean forward with your head in a hunching position. Head-forward postures can place a great deal of strain on your neck and back, causing stiff muscles and back pain, sometimes to the point of needing surgery.

Exercises designed to strengthen postural muscles can help prevent kyphosis, avoid pain, and maintain strong postural health.

3. Sleep

Good sleep is essential to good health, but millions of individuals don’t get enough of it. Technology is doing a great job of ruining the sleep patterns of a surprising number of people, with children being affected the most.

Going without enough sleep doesn’t just make you tired; it also contributes to chronic health problems, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, kidney disease, heart disease, stroke, obesity, colorectal cancer, and depression. It can also negatively affect scholastic pursuits and workplace performance.

Closing your eyes for longer periods can help close the door to chronic illnesses. Most adults need at least seven hours of sleep per night, but the recommended amount varies by age. Establishing a firm timeline for going to bed can help ensure you get adequate sleep.

Avoiding electronics in the late evening can help you avoid time traps and ensure you get to bed on time. In short, don’t skimp on sleep. It’s one of the best things you can do for your body.

4. Stress

Chronic stress is a killer—and in more ways than one. It can leave us anxious and unable to sleep. It can raise blood pressure, triggering strokes and heart attacks.

Doctors often ask about stress during office visits, and at first blush, it may seem a bit of a fluff question. Stress is stone-cold serious, however, and can be quite complex by nature. Stress affects so many areas of the human body that it would take an entirely separate article to even hope to cover them.

There are many avenues for getting a handle on stress, including counseling, exercise and movement, breathing, outings, practicing gratitude, and workplace employee assistance programs, but the first step in determining how to address stress is to take time to identify the causes of your stress and then determine courses of action that can help you deal with it.

5. Diet

Obesity can be a touchy issue, but let’s be very clear: The human body suffers from being overweight, even to the point of mortality. Fat can leave you flat.

Beyond obesity, many people fail to understand the vagaries of a bad diet, especially how it can play into the exacerbation of diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, and dementia.

Healthy eating isn’t easy in a world filled with good-tasting but nutritionally deficient food. Several other factors play into dietary habits, including stress, genetics, and trauma. While some people have the willpower and motivation to regain control of their eating habits and weight, most of us need a little help.

The best approaches often start by consulting professionals like doctors, health coaches, nutritionists or dieticians, and personal trainers. These trained professionals can help provide the knowledge, skills, and motivation to implement a healthy diet and exercise regimen successfully.

Read the full article at The Epoch Times.