On September 11, 2001 2,996 people died. That was then. Now in the United States there are some 3,000 deaths each and everyday from heart disease and cancer.
Heart disease and cancer are now very common. And according to some very preventable. So I searched for ‘how to prevent heart disease’ and ‘ how to prevent cancer’. I got two lists and they shared some items. Cool. I was thinking that I would do or avoid things on the list. Maybe all of them, because why not give myself every advantage and avoid every risk? Here they are:
- Don’t smoke
- Limit alcohol
- Eat a balanced healthy diet
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Maintain a normal blood pressure
- Get adequate exercise
- Control cholesterol and triglycerides
For avoiding cancer:
- Don’t smoke
- Protect skin from the sun
- Eat a balanced healthy diet
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Get adequate exercise
- Practice safe sex
- Get immunized for HPV and hepatitis
- Get regular screenings for cancer
Pretty short lists and for me because my lifestyle lines up with s most of these. Especially the items on both lists.
Now, another way to look at this is that one could be doing all the things to avoid and not doing any of the good items. This may be the problem in the United States. Most people are overweight, eat a bad diet and don’t exercise. Wow, seems pretty simple! But the hard part is changing from a lifetime of habits. Changing from commonplace and accepted habits.
If 9/11 happened every day, we would be outraged and demand that it stop. But we have become able to accept this as inevitable. Every day 3000 people die deaths from preventable diseases. We should not let tobacco, factory food, fast and junk food, alcohol and sugary beverages into our schools, towns and homes.
One smoke, drink or unhealthy meal will not kill you. But thousands will put you into a much higher risk category. So develop the good habits and avoid the bad. Give yourself a chance. Give yourself the best chance possible. You’re worth it!