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Tips for a Healthy New Year
It's that time of year again -- a time when millions of
Americans vow to make improvements in their lives by
committing to New Year's resolutions. If you're still
looking for suggestions, the nation's leading health experts
are urging all Americans to adopt healthier lifestyles in
2003.
“In the coming year, thousands of Americans will become ill
and many will die prematurely for reasons that are entirely
preventable,” says Dr.Yank D. Coble, Jr., president of the
American Medical Association.
The main culprits are tobacco use, unhealthy diets, alcohol
abuse and lack of physical activity, according to the AMA.
“Recent statistics about America’s unhealthy habits are
startling,” Dr. Coble says.
More than one-third of the adult population is obese, 25
percent of adults smoke, and more than 5 million Americans
suffer from alcoholism. The U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services reports that 60 percent of adults do not get
adequate exercise.
“Obesity is not simply a cosmetic issue,” Dr. Coble says.
“It causes a wide range of health problems that can lead to
strokes, heart attacks, diabetes and other chronic
illnesses. Certain cancers also occur more frequently in the
obese.”
Obesity is usually defined as exceeding 20 percent of one’s
recommended body weight, according to the AMA.
“We are also seeing an alarming increase in the number of
obese and sedentary children in America,” Dr. Coble adds.
“This means children are experiencing weight-related
problems and conditions that were unimaginable 20 years
ago.”
Anyone needing to lose weight should consult with their
physician to set realistic, achievable goals for both diet
and exercise. Counseling, medications, or other treatment
options may be recommended.
Research shows that even minor weight loss and moderate
exercise results in significant health benefits. “I tell my
patients that they don’t have to starve themselves, and they
don’t need to train for the Olympics. They just need to
start somewhere,” says Dr. Coble. “If they tell me they
don’t have time to exercise, I tell them they don’t have
time not to exercise. People who exercise are more efficient
in almost all regards. They have more energy during the day
and sleep better at night.”
Tobacco keeps killing
Despite widespread public awareness of the dangers of
cigarettes and other tobacco products, more than 400,000
Americans died in 2002 from tobacco-related diseases.
Cigarette smoking has been linked to lung and other cancers,
emphysema, heart disease and many other debilitating
illnesses.
“The dangers of tobacco use cannot be overstated,” says Dr.
Ronald M. Davis, an AMA trustee. “Quitting smoking is the
most important step that smokers can take to enhance the
length and quality of their lives.”
Dr. Davis also warns smokers to avoid exposing others,
especially children, to cigarette smoke. “We know that
53,000 nonsmokers die each year as the result of second-hand
cigarette smoke. If you want to help improve the health of
all Americans this year, work with your elected leaders to
pass clean indoor air legislation.”
Such laws have an impact on tobacco use. California has some
of the strongest clean indoor air laws in the country and
consequently, one of the lowest smoking rates, according to
the AMA SmokeLess States National Tobacco Policy Initiative.
Alcoholism can be managed…with help
Alcoholism also continues to be a major cause of death in
this country. “If you think you or a loved one has a problem
with alcohol, talk to your physician or contact an
organization involved in alcoholism treatment,” says Dr. J.
Edward Hill, a family practice physician and chair of the
AMA. “Do not let embarrassment keep you from seeking help.
Alcoholism is a chronic and progressive disease that can
lead to cancer, liver disease, psychiatric illnesses and
early death.”
Alcohol abuse among teens and college-age students is of
particular concern. A recent study concluded that binge
drinking resulted in the annual deaths of 1,400 college
students and 70,000 sexual assaults on campus. A Matter of
Degree, a program that combats high-risk drinking among the
nation’s youth, defines binge drinking as consuming five or
more alcoholic beverages in a row. “Each weekend in America,
an average of 1 teenager is killed each hour in a car crash.
Nearly 50 percent of these crashes involve alcohol,” says
Dr. Hill.
Good health begins with awareness
The AMA recommends other common-sense approaches to good
health. Age-appropriate exams and screenings can help detect
health problems early and prevent them from becoming more
serious. Be aware that if you are a minority, you may be at
increased risk for certain diseases. The prevalence of
diabetes in blacks, for example, is approximately 70 percent
higher than in whites. All adults should have periodic
screenings to evaluate blood pressure and cholesterol
levels.
Healthy men under the age of 40 should get a physical exam
at least every four years. After age 40, men should be
screened annually for colon, rectal and prostate cancer.
Statistics show that men do not visit their physicians as
frequently as women, ignore symptoms of disease longer, and
are less inclined toward preventive health generally.
Women should talk to their physicians to determine
appropriate screenings and tests that may include:
mammogram, Pap smear, colorectal exam and fecal occult blood
tests.
“The New Year is a great time to commit to better health,”
says Dr. Coble. “You’ll feel better, be more active and
greatly reduce the risks associated with life-threatening
medical conditions that stem from ignoring your health.”
For more information, log on to www.ama-assn.org.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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