National Cancer Prevention Month: Take Steps to Reduce Cancer
By Mountain-Pacific
One-third of cancers are preventable, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
You have the power to prevent most types of cancer by making healthy lifestyle choices like eating better and exercising regularly.
If you have not made your New Year’s resolution to live healthier, or if you are not sticking to your plan, remember that it is never too late. Below are five actions you can start today to better your life tomorrow and beyond.
Eat healthy foods.
A healthy diet can lower your chances of getting cancer. Read our healthy eating blog to learn how to improve your diet. A poor diet is attributed to 30 to 35 percent of cancer deaths, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Exercise and keep a healthy weight.
Controlling your weight through exercise is one of the most important steps – right next to eating healthier – you can take to reduce your odds of cancer. It does not take much to achieve health benefits. A 20-minute walk, some gardening or yard work or another similar activity is enough keep you at a healthy weight and even build muscle strength. If you have a health condition that limits exercise, talk with your doctor about activities you can do instead.
Avoid tobacco.
Quit smoking or chewing today! If you need some help and resources read our quit smoking blog where you can find free programs and services. According to the NIH, roughly 25 to 30 percent of cancer deaths are due to tobacco.
Limit alcohol.
Drinking alcohol regularly can raise your blood pressure, hurt your heart and liver and increase your risk of mouth, throat, breast and bowel cancer. Limit alcohol to one or two drinks per week.
Protect your skin.
Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer and is also one of the easiest to prevent. Read our save your skin blog to learn how to prevent skin cancer.
For more information on healthy living, check out our other blogs on our website. Below is a short list of our blog topics:
- Managing diabetes through the holidays
- Pressure injury prevention
- How to become a more engaged patient
- Home care and private duty services
- Liver awareness
- How to choose a nursing home
- Breast cancer awareness
- Aging healthy
- Flu prevention tips
- Heart health
- Heat prevention
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