(25-01-07) Resolutions for a Healthy New Year

(ARA) - 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.

"The start of another new year provides us with an
opportunity to reflect on the past 12 months and look ahead
to changes we can make today to improve our health
tomorrow," said AMA President-elect Ron Davis, M.D. "It is
important that we develop healthy lifestyles and behaviors
that we can carry with us throughout our lives."

The AMA offers these resolutions for 2007:

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 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: 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. Protect Your Skin from 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.

"These resolutions are just a few of the things you can do
to make positive, healthy lifestyle changes. In 2007,
continue to look to the AMA for a wide range of health
information and continue to turn to your physician for the
highest quality of care for you and your family," said Dr.
Davis.

Source: For more health advice, visit the American Medical
Association at www.ama-assn.org.

Courtesy of ARA Content

News

---

In evidenza

"L'informazione presente nel sito serve a migliorare, e non a sostituire, il rapporto medico-paziente."

Per coloro che hanno problemi di salute si consiglia di consultare sempre il proprio medico curante.