PREVENTION
PREVENTION
 |
| PREVENTION |
causes of death. As a result, the average
woman outlives the average man by over five
years. But it doesn’t have to be this way. More
than half of these premature deaths are preventable,
along with about 60 percent of
chronic diseases, and most injuries and accidents. By taking charge of your own
preventative care, you can protect your health.
Among men, more than one-half of pre m a t u re deaths
a re pre v e n t a b l e .
STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND
LENGTH OF YOUR LIFE
Below is a summary of important steps you can take to improve the quality—
and length—of your life. We’ll discuss these steps in more detail throughout this
book.
• Eat a varied diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat foods.
• Be especially careful to limit cholesterol intake and avoid saturated fats.
• Moderate exercise for 30 minutes five times a week, or vigorous exercise for
20 minutes three times a week.
• Protect yourself from the sun.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day.
• Limit alcohol to two drinks per day.
• Don’t smoke, and minimize your exposure to second-hand smoke.
• See your doctor regularly.
• Know your family history and discuss it with your doctor.
• If you are over 40, get a baseline PSA (prostate specific antigen) test and
monitor this periodically with your doctor.
• Practice safe sex.
• Wear a seatbelt whenever you’re in the car, and a helmet when on a
m o t o rcycle or bicycle.
• Manage your stress.
• Get help if you need it.
As important as it is for you to take charge of your own health and wellness, you
c a n ’t do it all. Getting regular checkups and age-appropriate screenings is a
proven way to improve health and reduce premature death and disability.
At the back of this book you’ll find a schedule of the most common screenings
you should have and how often you should have them. Remember, if you’re a
member of a high-risk group or have a family history of disease, talk to your
health care provider about the benefits of earlier screenings.
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