1. Exercise for life
A regular exercise program has many beneficial effects, from aiding proper digestion and intestinal action to promoting better circulation and a stronger, healthier heart muscle. Exercise burns calories, reduces fat and trims muscles. Exercise is a self-esteem builder that makes you feel good about yourself and your relationship with others.

2.  Practice proper nutrition
Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet can help you feel better and live longer. A healthy, balanced diet is essential for maintaining physical and mental energy levels and also helps avoid illness. Experts recommend eating a balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables and grains.

3.  Drink 6-8 glasses of water throughout the day
75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger. Even mild dehydration will slow down one’s metabolism as much as 3%.

4.  Limit alcohol consumption
People who drink alcohol in amounts that exceed the limits of moderation have higher death rates than do moderate drinkers. Heavy drinking is associated with severe risks to the safety of the drinker and others. Heavy drinking is also associated with increased risks of liver disease, high blood pressure, alcohol-related heart diseases, and some types of cancer.

5.  Find stress relief
Stress is an integral part of life, playing a key role in daily life, influencing¬–if not governing–happiness, productivity and health. Conservative estimates indicate that stress is the major contributing cause in 75 percent of all human illnesses and has been implicated in diseases ranging from backaches to headaches, from hypertension to chronic degenerative diseases. Taking regular exercise breaks, talking things through and making time to relax can refresh you. Use the time to calm yourself, regain perspective on what’s important, or even figure out a solution to a problem.

6.  Don’t smoke
If you can, stop. If you can’t, cut down. Cigarette smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema and other serious diseases. Smokers are far more likely to develop serious diseases, like lung cancer, than non-smokers.

7.  Be safe on the roads
When you drive, make sure to follow the rules of driving. You can stay safe by using seatbelts, paying attention to unsafe road conditions or aggressive drivers, driving the speed limit, not taking risks, and using a designated driver when drinking.

8.  Get regular screenings
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. By receiving health screenings, you are helping to preventing illness and life threatening diseases, one of the most important responsibilities you have in maintaining health and the quality of your life.
 
9.  Lose weight
Reducing your weight by five to 10 percent can decrease your chance of developing heart disease or having a stroke. You can improve your heart function, blood pressure and your levels of blood cholesterol and triglycerides.

10.  Get plenty of rest
Inadequate sleep weakens the immune system, leading to colds, flu or other infections. Lack of sleep has recently been linked to the rise in obesity and diabetes. Sleep improves memory and one’s ability to learn.

11.  Know your medical history and your risk of illness
Health Risk Assessments (HRA) are designed to measure critical health factors and interpret the current health status of individuals so problems can be caught at the first signs by estimating the risk of future illness, disability, excessive health-care utilization, and risk of death. HRAs can be found on the Internet or by asking your health care provider.

12.  Wash your hands frequently
The simple and inexpensive measure of hand washing is the single most effective method to prevent the transmission of disease. Children who did this missed 75 percent fewer days of school.

Content provided by Geisinger Health Plan -2008