Kicking off a healthy 2007

By Staff
Staff reports
You’ve resolved to live a more healthy lifestyle in 2007. But where do you start? The American Medical Association has some advice on the most important resolutions to make — and keep — for a healthy New Year.
For more health advice, visit the American Medical Association at www.ama-assn.org.
1. Avoid Smoking — the leading preventable cause of death — as well as exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS). Released earlier this year, the U.S. Surgeon General reported that there is no risk-free level of exposure to SHS, and the California Environmental Protection Agency estimates that SHS kills 50,000 Americans each year.
2. Eat your fruits and
vegetables — As recommend by the USDA Food Guide Pyramid, eat about two cups of fruit and two to three cups of vegetables daily to reduce your risk of developing heart disease, cancer, stroke and high blood pressure.
3. Cut back on salt — Limit your salt intake to one teaspoon per day (if you are 50 years of age or older, cut back to about half a teaspoon per day) to help lower blood pressure and decrease your chances of getting heart disease or having a stroke.
4. Limit the fat in your diet — Eat a diet low in fat, saturated fat, and trans fats to reduce cholesterol levels and the risk of developing heart disease.
5. Check cholesterol — Have your blood cholesterol checked regularly by your doctor and keep your cholesterol level under 200 mg/dl to reduce your risk of developing heart disease.
6. reduce amount of soda you drink — Per capita soft-drink consumption has increased by almost 500 percent over the past 50 years. Limit your consumption of regular soda pop and other sugar-sweetened drinks to help you avoid weight gain and obesity, and to also decrease tooth decay.
7. Check blood pressure
regularly —Have your blood pressure checked regularly by your doctor to help reduce your chances of heart attack or stroke. If you have high blood pressure, make sure that you keep your blood pressure under 140/90.
8. Get a colonoscopy — If you are 50 or older, ask your doctor about getting a colonoscopy to screen for colon cancer to improve your chances of early detection.
9. Get a
mammogram — If you are a woman 40 years or older, get a mammogram every one to two years to help detect breast cancer early and if diagnosed, improve your chances for survival.
10. Avoid the sun— Use sunblock (with an SPF of at least 30) or protective clothing when you’re in sunlight for a prolonged period. If you frequently get a suntan or sunburn, have your doctor check your skin regularly to detect early signs of skin cancer.