NCD & Working People
Working people normally tend to focus more on their careers than their health. This lack of concern for their health is extremely worrying. It is because of this that incidences of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart diseases have been on the rise. Don’t be a statistic, start living a healthier lifestyle today.
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are diet-related chronic diseases and the main ones include obesity, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and cancers. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than nine million deaths worldwide attributed to NCDs occur before the age of 60.
Root of the problem
Your background, lifestyle, and the environment are all factors that are known to affect your chances of developing certain NCDs. Some of the factors which contribute to NCDs are beyond our control, and these include factors such as age, gender, race, and family history.
On the other hand, some factors are well within our control and we can choose to reduce our risk of NCDs if we take the appropriate actions. The factors that are within our control basically involve our lifestyle, which includes physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, smoking, excessive stress and excessive alcohol intake.
Lack of control of these factors results in raised blood glucose, high blood lipids, raised blood pressure, and overweight or obesity.Many of us just seem to be oblivious to the truth and continue to indulge in an unhealthy lifestyle. The proof of this is in the rising statistics for the risk factors of NCDs. A number of people suffer from high blood cholesterol and are obese.It is mostly due to we are having an excessive intake of fat, oils, salt and refined carbohydrates (eg. white rice, sugar, white bread) in our daily diet. More people are now eating out more frequently, and hence have little control over the content of these ingredients in local dishes or fast foods.In addition to our tendency to eat out, we are also consuming larger portion sizes, resulting in consumption of unnecessary calories. Lack of physical activity further exacerbates this problem.
Seven steps to a healthier lifestyle
The only sensible solution to prevent NCDs is to focus on reducing the risk factors that you can change, namely your diet and level of physical activity.Other aspects that you should also look at are learning how to manage your stress levels, getting enough sleep, and quitting smoking.
To begin, you will need to take note of the following:
1. Know where you stand
This is the first step in preventing NCDs. Go for health screening to find out the status of your health at least once a year. Talk to your doctor to find out the normal ranges and what they mean. This will help you understand what goes on in your body.
Once you’ve determined where you stand, you are one step closer to making changes to your lifestyle.
2. Eat right
Many people equate healthy eating with eating bland, boring, and unexciting foods. What healthy eating really entails is getting the necessary “BMV” in your meals. It basically means going for Balanced meals, in Moderate amounts, and with a Variety of foods based on the Malaysian Food Pyramid.
And, eating right does not have to be expensive too!
Other things to look out for in your food choices include:
● Getting your daily dose of fibre for healthy body weight, good digestion and a healthy heart.
● Cutting down your sugar intake to avoid unnecessary calorie intake that could lead to weight gain.
● Using less salt in your meals; instead, spice up your food with herbs and spices.
● Limiting intake of high fat foods to maintain a healthy body weight and heart.
3. Fight NCDs by staying fit and active
Physical activity improves cardiovascular fitness, strength and flexibility, and burns up calories to keep you fit and trim. This leaves you looking, feeling and thinking better.
It is recommended that all adults should carry out 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity at least five to six days a week, preferably daily, to maintain current body weight.When your fitness improves, the intensity and amount of time spent on physical activity can be gradually increased. If you want to lose weight, the duration of physical activity should be at least 60 minutes daily.
Limit physical inactivity and any sedentary habits like watching television, or working at the computer to no more than two hours a day. Also try to be active as much as you can every day in as many ways as possible, eg. taking the stairs, doing household chores, washing your car, etc.
Remember that every bit of physical activity counts.
4. Rest and relax
Prolonged stress has been identified as a factor that increases the risk of NCDs, especially heart diseases. Most adults agree that modern living can be rather stressful. Coping with certain amounts of stress is acceptable, but with prolonged exposure to excessive levels, it mostly definitely becomes harmful.
Some of the ways you can handle stress are to find a companion to share your thoughts or go for a short holiday to relax yourself.
5. Don’t light that next cigarette
Although smoking seems like a harmless puff of fun, each stick contains thousands of chemicals that destroy healthy organs. Smoking can clog up your arteries, reduce blood flow, and cause addiction.
6. Avoid alcohol intake
Too much alcohol does just the same as smoking, and increases your risk of developing NCDs. If you attend gatherings occasionally, choose non-alcoholic beverages or learn how to limit your alcohol intake.
7. Get a good night’s sleep
The quality of your sleep directly affects the quality of your waking life. This includes mental sharpness, productivity, emotional balance, creativity and physical vitality. Hence, make sure you get sufficient sleep in order to wake up feeling refreshed.
These are the seven little steps you need to take to get started on a healthier you. Let’s make a change today. Live healthy and stay free from NCDs.
