15 October 2023 , 07:00
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We're making choices about our health every single day - but have you ever stopped to wonder if your lifestyle could be doing you more harm than good?
If we ever find ourselves not feeling our best, which let's be honest can be quite often, there is much we can do to help ourselves. Dr Deborah Lee, from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy, says: “When we go to the doctor’s feeling ill, so often the solution is not a prescription – we need to look at the grassroots of the problem and take it upon ourselves to make some serious lifestyle changes.”
Therefore, the doctor recommends stripping back your health problems until you get to the heart of what needs changing in your lifestyle. She said it’s very important to look at all aspects of the way you live, and recommended making the following top three tweaks.
Ditching the cigarettes
The World Health Organization says around eight million people die across the globe every year from smoking, including 1.3 million lives lost by passively inhaling other people’s tobacco smoke. Tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 noxious chemicals, with at least 70 being known carcinogens.
“These carcinogens damage DNA creating DNA mutations which is the first step in the cancer process,” she said.
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Aside from causing different types of cancer, smoking can also clog your arteries with fatty plaques, boosting your risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, angina and stroke. But Dr Lee says it’s never too late to stop and you could get free support from the NHS.
Fighting the flab
According to the doctor, moderate obesity (body mass index 30-35), which is very common, shortens life expectancy by around three years, while severe obesity (body mass index of over 40) shortens life expectancy by a whole decade.
Dr Lee said: “Obesity kills mostly by increasing the risk of a heart attack or stroke, but it also increases the risk of cancer.”
In fact, obesity has been linked to a higher risk of 13 different types cancers, ranging from pancreatic cancer to bowel cancer. Being overweight could also increase your likelihood of developing other health problems, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, osteoarthritis and more.
The doctor said: “If you’ve never taken your weight seriously, now is the time to do so. There are many ways to lose weight. The simple truth is that you need to eat less and exercise more. However, this is not as easy as it sounds, and many people need help.”
Dr Lee recommended joining a slimming group or talking to your doctor about weight-loss options.
Cut down on the alcohol
“It’s all very well to have a few drinks from time to time, but if you have fallen into the habit of drinking most days, or throwing caution to the wind at the weekend and drinking till you drop – it’s time to stop,” the doctor said.
Drinking more than 12.5 units of alcohol per week has been shown to shorten life expectancy. The popular drink also kills nerve cells in your brain, damages your liver and even increases your blood pressure reading.
“This means that drinking regularly and excessively increases your risk of a heart attack or a stroke,” the doctor said. Alcohol is also considered the second largest risk factor for cancer after smoking.
It could increase your risk of seven types of cancer, varying from breast to bowel cancer. Dr Lee added: “If you are drinking too much and too often, it’s time to think about how to reduce this or stop completely. See your GP. They can signpost you to specialist services.”
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