You may feel pretty good about what you see when you look in the mirror, but how much attention do you really pay to your health? Many of us claim to be too busy to get to the dentist or the doctor, but health should be a priority for everyone. If you’re keen to get healthier this summer, these simple hacks will prove helpful.
Check Your BMI
You may think that you’re a perfectly healthy weight, but have you actually weighed yourself recently? The BMI measurement gives you a value based on your height and weight. If you’re very muscular, the result may be misleading, and it may tell you that you’re overweight even though you’re in good shape. However, in the majority of cases, it will give you an accurate idea of whether your weight is healthy or not. If your BMI is too high, this means you may be at risk of weight-related issues such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, some forms of cancer and heart disease. The best way to lose weight is to combine healthy eating with regular exercise. If you’re using more calories than you consume, you should notice a difference on the scales.
See Your Dentist
When was the last time you saw your dentist? You may not think that there’s any need to go to the dentist if your teeth look fine and you haven’t had any pain, but you’d be wrong. Good oral health isn’t just important for keeping your smile in check. If you have a personal health plan or perks at work, take advantage of them. Seeing the dentist on a regular basis reduces your risk of decay and gum disease by up to 60 percent, but it can also boost your general health. Gum disease is linked to a higher risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Tackle Stress
Being healthy isn’t always about looking the part. Your mental health is as important as your physical health. If you’re worried about stress, anxiety or depression, don’t suffer in silence. It can be difficult to talk about issues that affect your psychological wellbeing, but remember that doctors aren’t there to judge you. They’re there to help. Stress can get the better of all of us at some point, and if you are prone to stress, it’s a good idea to try and find some techniques that will help you to feel more relaxed. Take a walk, hit the gym, meditate or offload on a mate or a partner.
Be More Active
If your idea of exercise involves walking from the couch to the kitchen or the car to the office, it’s time to try and be more active. You don’t have to go all-out and become a gym ninja, but walking more, going for a jog from time to time or trying sports like tennis or golf will make a world of difference to your physical and mental health.
You may think that you’re a pretty fine specimen, but if you had tests on your health, how do you think you would fare? If you think you could do more to be healthier, why not make it your mission to embrace healthy living this summer?