Too often we don’t do anything about our health until things go wrong. But there are lots of easy things youcan do to stop problems occurring.
1. Stop slouching
Better posture will help guard against chronic back problems, which afflict many Kiwis – in fact, nearly half of all adult New Zealanders are likely to have experienced back pain recently. When you stand up straight, your spine is properly aligned which means your muscles can keep you balanced as they are meant to – but slouching strains muscles, leading to pain and fatigue over time.
2. Floss every day
Flossing your teeth regularly is essential, not only for oral health but general health as well. That’s because it gets rid of bacteria that can get into the blood stream and cause a variety of problems throughout the body. There’s still debate over how much of a link there is between oral bacteria and heart disease, but there is thought to be a connection between gum disease and endocarditis (infection of the heart lining). Mums of premature or low birth weight babies may be more likely to have gum disease. New research also suggests a connection between oral bacteria and joint problems.
3. Your cholesterol numbers on file
Your cholesterol levels can be a good guide to your likelihood of having a heart attack or stroke and the New Zealand Heart Foundation encourages people to know what those levels are. A simple blood test will reveal total levels of cholesterol in your blood, as well as unhealthy low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) levels. Then, if you know you have high cholesterol, you can take steps to do something about it.
4. Exercise the pelvic floor muscles
Around one in every three women suffers from urinary incontinence thanks to weakened pelvic floor muscles (blame age, childbirth or being overweight). Doing regular pelvic floor exercises can help to strengthen the muscles that stop urine from leaking. Regularly squeeze your muscles as if you’re trying to stop the flow of urine midstream. Make doing this a number of times every day a habit.
5. Take the salt off the table
Many of us eat far too much salt – the recommended amount of salt per day is 6g, but all too often we consume around 9g. Too much salt can raise your blood pressure, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Cutting your salt intake by 5g a day (that’s one teaspoon) may halve your risk of getting heart disease. Make changes by leaving the salt shaker off the table so that you don’t add extra to your food – often salting your meal is just a habit and you don’t need it. Also try avoiding processed foods, which may be high in salt.
6. Get your eyes tested
Eye tests are painless, quick and can not only show if you have trouble with your vision, but if you have an underlying condition such as glaucoma. There is no cure for glaucoma, which can cause blindness, but if it is picked up early enough you can start treatments – usually eye drops – that can stop the condition from progressing.
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