Reduce Your Risk for Chronic Conditions

Do chronic health conditions run in your family? Many diseases and chronic problems can be hereditary, but that doesn’t mean that you will fall victim to them. You can significantly reduce your risk for chronic conditions if you have the right diet for your body and if you get enough exercise. Other habits may directly be causing your health condition. Use these tips and bits of knowledge to increase your awareness and to focus on a healthier diet to reduce chronic conditions!

Chronic Conditions In the Body

No one can get through life without some health problem or injury. However, your daily actions, diet, exercise and more can determine if you live with a healthy body or one racked by chronic conditions. Most conditions are caused by your daily decisions, however, most people don’t know this. Because of this, countless chronic conditions happen to the population as a whole and are ones that we often treat such as:

• Fatigue
• Migraines/headaches
• Herniated discs
• Pinched nerves/neuropathy problems
• Allergies and sinusitis
• Chronic pain or centralized pain in the body
• Digestive problems and daily heartburn
• Weight gain, weight loss
• Diabetes and blood sugar problems
• Arthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Nutrient deficiencies
• Irritability, depression, and mood issues
• Poor immune system and frequent illness
• Obesity
• Exercise, work, or home injuries

How Is Your Diet?

Many people try to find a cause for their chronic condition that stems from something other than their diet and exercise habits. However, diet and exercise habits are the cause of most chronic conditions, especially those that are not genetic. Why? Everything you put into your body will be used by the body. You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Garbage in, garbage out.” That’s a saying for a reason. If you are putting crap into your body constantly, that is what your body will run on and what it will turn into. If you provide amazing fuel through a great diet full of nutrients, your body will run amazingly well.

A healthy diet is one that is full of at least 6 essential nutrients: fat, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and water. You need fat, protein and carbs for your main energy sources for all your body’s processes. Vitamins and minerals (along with proteins) build and nourish your body’s cells, determine how your body functions, heals, runs, and even determines how long you will live. Cutting out nutrients, getting too much food, eating foods high in sugar and low in nutrients and many other habits will leave you with chronic conditions and diseases. If you have daily low-grade symptoms, or even major chronic conditions, a complete redo on your diet can determine if that condition sticks around or not.

Don’t underestimate the value of healthy exercise either. Your body needs to keep muscles and tissues strong and it can’t do that if your body is stagnate all day! The American Heart Association recommends that every person get at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week. Aim for that goal (or more) and work with a medical or exercise professional if you want to exercise for weight loss, to kick a chronic condition, or to train for a sport.

Tobacco and Alcohol Use

Do you drink or use tobacco products? Anti-tobacco campaigns in the last 15 years have reduced the amount of people using tobacco products. However, alcohol is being consumed like never before. This substance works like a poison in the body, killing nerves and causing damage to tissues that you can’t restore. Even moderate or mild consumption can lead to:

• A shrinking brain
• Behavioral changes
• Blackouts, hallucinations, and reduced brain function
• Slurred speech
• Dependence and addiction
• Heart, liver, lung and stomach damage
• Infertility, birth defects and sexual dysfunction
• Malnutrition
• Neuropathy symptoms and numbness
• Coordination changes, muscle cramps, and thinning bones
• Frequent diarrhea and stomach distress
• Fatigue
• Diabetes complications (like amputation), pancreatitis, and lung infections
• Death

Skip the drinks and stick to water if you want to avoid chronic conditions.

Knowledge Is Power

The phrase “knowledge is power” is so true when it comes to your health. Many people don’t even realize they are at risk for injury or disease until it has already happened. If only you had known the signs or learned what not to do! If you have a chronic condition or disease that runs in your family, research that condition thoroughly. Know what habits to avoid and what you need to do with diet and exercise to reduce your risk for that chronic condition. There are many health guidelines set by countless health organizations in the United States to keep the people as healthy as possible.

Know how much you should be eating each day and from what sources. If you don’t know how many nutrients you are getting in your diet, get a nutritional assessment. This is a medical test that directly tests your blood for nutrients your body has and lacks, which can directly cause your health problems. Getting tested and working with a professional can clear up your problems.

Medications can also cause side-effects and long-term health problems. Find out what your medications do. Help your children and other loved ones to know their risk factors for family conditions as well. Help them reduce their risk and gain knowledge about the conditions that run in your family. With so many chronic conditions, knowing what to avoid is the key to never having the condition. When health symptoms happen, get professional help instead of living with those symptoms or trying to get your body to heal on its own. There is a treatment or therapy for every patient that will be successful. To have your health assessment or to start effective therapies for your chronic condition, call Texas Spine & Sports Therapy Center today at (512) 806-0015!