Compelling evidence shows that certain lifestyle behaviours
can improve health, prevent premature death and may even
prolong life. The problem is that people often drift along,
continuing their unhealthy ways - maybe vowing to stop smoking
or drink less "some day soon" - until a disease or
health problem strikes and it may be too late to reverse the
damage. Assessing your lifestyle and how it affects health
before illness occurs is a wise precaution. (However, changing
one's lifestyle even after illness can sometimes improve
health - for instance giving up cigarettes and exercising more
after a heart attack.)
Why assess lifestyle risks?
Accumulating scientific evidence shows that a few
simple lifestyle habits can directly improve health and
decrease disease risks. Much disability and premature death
from today's foremost killers - heart disease, stroke, cancer,
diabetes, liver cirrhosis, suicide and unintentional injuries
- stem from everyday habits. Over half the premature deaths in
North America are blamed on unhealthy behaviours such as
cigarette smoking, insufficient exercise, excessive alcohol
intake and a fat-laden diet. Only six per cent of premature
deaths are considered avoidable through better medical care.
A California study has demonstrated that disease
risks can be reduced by not smoking cigarettes, moderating
alcohol use, eating breakfast, having regular physical
activity, maintaining desirable weight, getting enough (7-8
hours) nightly sleep and having close social networks. The
effect is cumulative: the greater the number of good lifestyle
habits, the greater the chance of better health and a longer
life. A recent Canadian study confirmed a lower chance of
premature death by avoiding cigarette smoking, high blood
pressure (related to obesity and insufficient exercise),
adult-onset diabetes (due to obesity, poor diet, lack of
exercise) and excess alcohol consumption. (However, some
everyday influences are an unavoidable part of the
environment, over which individuals have little control - such
as air pollution or traffic noise.)
To evaluate your lifestyle, ask yourself a few key
questions about everyday activities such as the amount of fat
you eat, smoking and drinking habits - see checklist below -
and evaluate which might be improving your health or perhaps
damaging it. Consider seeking advice from a health
professional about habits you wish to change.
Quick, easy computer programs help rate your lifestyle
To help people assess the health impact of various
lifestyle activities, a new Computerized Lifestyle Assessment
(CLA) program, developed by the Addiction Research Foundation
and the University of Toronto, provides a practical, quick,
confidential and easy method of evaluating lifestyle strengths
and weaknesses. The computer program, which takes 20 minutes
to run, asks detailed questions about 16 lifestyle activities,
with graphic feedback along the way and a printed report at
the end. Identification and feedback about risk activities
that undermine health often lead people to improve their
lifestyle and seek advice from a health professional. For
details about the CLA program, call (416) 978-8989 or contact
the publisher, Multi-Health Systems, at 1-800-268-6011.
The computer program asks questions about.
* substance abuse;
* health maintenance;
* preventive activities;
* social and intimate relationships;
* mental and emotional wellbeing.
The program feeds back information about:
* lifestyle strengths or activities to keep up
* areas of concern or factors that can threaten health
* risk areas requiring action to prevent disease
The final printout pinpoints health-harming
behaviours, some of which may come as a surprise, others that
may be known to the person who might be "thinking
about" changing them. For example, a woman who thinks she
leads a healthy life - doesn't smoke, drink or take other
drugs, eats a low-fat vegetarian diet and exercises three
times a week - may have emotional problems stemming from poor
social relationships and a perfectionist attitude. Or, a man
who doesn't smoke, drinks little alcohol and has good work and
personal relationships may endanger his health by being
overweight with the beginnings of diabetes, hypertension and a
potential heart problem.
Curiously, computers sometimes elicit more personal
information about sensitive lifestyle areas than a doctors
interview. For instance, many people find it easier to report
excess alcohol consumption to a computer than to a physician.
Women, especially, seem more likely to confide alcohol, sexual
and other problems to a computer than to a doctor.
Computerized psychiatric histories sometimes spot problems
missed by clinicians - such as suicidal thoughts, anxiety,
depression or phobias.
Adolescent and student lifestyles especially poor.
One recent study found that seven out of 10 people questioned
were particularly worried about nutrition and half were also
concerned about physical inactivity. A study of Queen's
University students found that over 80 per cent fail to get
regular medical/dental care, and over half consume excess
alcohol and have poor management of work-leisure time.
Study results show student health problems with:
* Alcohol:
* Cannabis:
* Cigarettes:
* Stress:
* Inactivity:
* Weight:
* Sex:
* Condom use:
Adolescent eating habits can endanger health. Many
adolescents receive inadequate nutrition due to poor diets,
irregular eating habits and eating disorders that stem from
the wish to conform to society's idealization of thinness.
"Weight control" techniques such as self-induced
vomiting and diarrhea are widespread. A recent U.S. National
Adolescent Health Survey found 61 per cent of adolescent
females and 28 per cent of adolescent males were dieting, 51
per cent often fasted, 16 per cent used diet pills and 12 per
cent practiced vomiting.
Teens had poor dietary practices because of:
* Excessive preoccupation with physical appearance;
* Western society's obsession with thinness;
* Eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia.
Lifestyle habits can improve health:
* not smoking tobacco;
* maintaining desirable weight (avoiding obesity);
* good nutrition (following Canada's Food Guide);
* exercising regularly and sufficiently (at least 30 minutes
three times a week);
* getting enough sound nightly sleep (7-8 hours);
* avoiding accidental injuries by taking safety measures (such
as seatbelts and helmets);
* practicing motor vehicle safety;
* moderating alcohol use;
* avoiding other recreational drugs;
* getting regular dental care and medical check-ups as
advised;
* fostering family, work and social networks;
* having safe and satisfying sexual relationships;
* avoiding or learning how to cope with excess stress;
* enjoining sufficient leisure-time activities and relaxation;
* getting any needed therapy for mental problems.
Lifestyle changes occur in five stages
>Stage 1: Pre-contemplation - the health risk of a
particular life-style activity is (largely) unrecognized,
denied or trivialized.
Stage 2: Contemplation - admitting to a health risk
and thinking about making a change "some day.
Stage 3: Preparation - motivated and ready for
change "soon", planning how and what to do, often
setting an actual date.
Stage 4: Action - active steps to change behaviour
- e.g., giving up cigarettes, walking to work instead of
driving, drinking less - setting a specific schedule and
definite goals.
Stage 5: Maintenance - long-term change achieved
and kept up.
Just asking can make a difference. Surveys show that many people
expect physicians or nurses to ask about and give advice or
information regarding health. Given the chance, many people
would like to discuss lifestyle concerns such as nutrition,
obesity, alcohol, other drug use, family conflicts, elderly
relatives, sexual problems and chronic pain - but often
hesitate to do so unless asked.
Disclaimer: This article in no way should be taken as “medical
advice” on any product, condition or course of action, nor
does it constitute in any way “medical advice” endorsing
any specific product, specific result, nor any possible cure
for any condition or problem. This article is meant as a
source of information upon which you may base your decision as
to whether or not you should begin using any vitamin, mineral
and/or herbal supplement for better health, or begin using a
“greens” product as a dietary supplement.
If in doubt, or if you have questions, you should consult your
physician and, if possible, consult a second physician for a
possible different opinion. The author does not bear any
responsibility for your decisions nor for the outcome of your
actions based upon those decisions.
