Taking care of health is fundamental, but we don't always have essential care. Get to know some tips to have a healthy lifestyle and live better.
Avoid toxic substances
Be it alcohol, tobacco or other types of addictive substances, the impact on the health of those who consume them and those around them is significant.
Avoid these toxic substances that create addiction, have a negative effect on health and are often linked to worrying sources that need to be addressed.
How to keep aging active
Taking care of health is a key element in prolonging quality of life, especially in a country with an aging population, such as Portugal.
Anyone who loses their physical well-being tends to isolate themselves and close their routines around an increasingly restricted core, which is more true in the case of older people.
Adults over 65 should maintain moderate to intense physical activity 3 times a week or more . They should prioritize exercises to train balance and strengthen muscles, to prevent falls that so often incapacitate the elderly.
Taking care of physical health is half the battle to maintain social relationships.
But mental health matters too. Finding a hobby or activity that contributes to your well-being also allows you to maintain an active life.
The importance of looking after your health
More than half of Portuguese people lead a sedentary lifestyle .
Not following some of these tips for a healthy life means being closer to the risk of heart, vascular and psychological diseases and suffering chronic pain, so often associated with incorrect posture in everyday life.
Habits as simple as practicing physical exercise, taking care of sleep and rest and having a careful diet are within everyone's reach.
In the future, quality of life will gain. And yes, we can live longer and better.
But be careful, nothing dispenses with the follow-up of doctors in different specialties . Risk factors for chronic diseases can be reduced, but other diseases can be detected at an early stage with regular consultations with your doctors.
What medical tests should you have regularly?
We all know the most common ones: analyzes to monitor cholesterol, sugar and urea in the blood and measurement of blood pressure.
But there are several tests that you should have regularly with your doctor and, in some cases, at home. If your doctor doesn't recommend it, ask if it's time to have them:
colonoscopy : to look for lesions in the bowel, this is a common test for colorectal cancer
Bone densitometry : to measure the mineral density of bones and useful in diagnosing osteoporosis
heart tests : such as the electrocardiogram, which allows you to record any heart disorders
lung exams : lung cancer is one of the most common cancers and has one of the highest mortality rates, so early diagnosis with lung exams is a key part of its treatment
screenings and specialist consultations : eyes, hearing and dentistry
skin self-examination : to check for changes in color or shape of skin moles.
Specific medical exams for adult women
Confirm with your doctor at what age you should start taking these tests and how often you need to repeat them:
breast self-examination : every month, one week after menstruation, palpate the breast and watch for changes
mammogram : check with your doctor when you should have your first mammogram – it depends on your age and whether or not you have breast cancer in your family. The ideal is to repeat this exam every year and even combine it with a breast ultrasound
BRCA test : Women who carry mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are more likely to suffer from breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Because they are hereditary mutations, it is possible to identify whether they exist or not through this test.
Routine gynecological exams : in addition to the pelvic exam, regular cytology tests (Papanicolaou, useful for detecting the existence of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which can lead to cervical cancer) and colposcopies (to rule out alterations )
Specific medical tests for adult men
Ask your doctor if it's not time for a prostate exam and ask him for advice on how to monitor your health:
PSA (prostate specific antigen) test : a blood test to assess the state of the prostate and which can be an important step in diagnosing prostate cancer self-examination of the testicles : every month, to detect lumps or other changes
If you cannot book these exams through the National Health Service, investigate which is the best health insurance or life insurance to have regular medical follow-up.
Many insurances include annual check-up packages or coverage with consultations, analyzes and exams included.
Above all, don't postpone the medical exams and change what you can on a daily basis: there are small habits that make a difference in your style and quality of life.
The contents presented do not exempt the consultation of public or private entities specialized in each matter.
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