Never too late to choose a healthy lifestyle

Stress, bad diet and unhealthy habits have brought our society face-to-face with a number of illnesses that are costing millions and impacting the lives of thousands of people. However, this does not have to be the case. As part of the Government Employees Medical Scheme's (GEMS) ongoing effort to educate our members and future members on a range of healthcare topics, we would like to provide you with some valuable information on Healthy Lifestyle Awareness Week.

An important day to remember
South Africa is often thought of as a nation of sport and outdoor activities. However, below the surface we have a population that is badly impacted by the effects of unhealthy lifestyle choices. In the country today, 6.6 million people suffer from hypertension, one in five people is diabetic and 60 people die as a result of a stroke every day.

These are just a few examples of the lifestyle-related illnesses that are affecting South Africans all over the country. But one does not have to be powerless against these diseases.  With the correct lifestyle choices, many can be avoided altogether. That is why 18 February is such an important day to remember - it is Healthy Lifestyle Awareness Day.

The vicious cycle of bad habits
You most probably already know that smoking, excessive drinking, unhealthy eating habits, a lack of exercise and stress are bad for one's health. Yet many people do not realise just how damaging an unhealthy lifestyle can be until it is too late.

Cigarettes, alcohol and highly processed foods such as crisps and fizzy drinks rob the body of energy while flooding it with poisonous toxins. Once you have developed a habit of drinking heavily, smoking or eating unhealthy food it becomes a cycle that is very hard to break. The long-term continuation of these habits can be highly dangerous and result in a host of serious illnesses.

Adding to the effects of what we put into our bodies is how much or how little exercise we get. A sedentary lifestyle makes diet much harder to manage. Without any exercise our bodies require very little energy but we tend to continue to eat normal portions, which leads to weight gain. After some time you may find that you have become very unfit and overweight, making it difficult to begin exercising. This in turn contributes further to the problem as you might now lack the motivation to get moving. You continue eating more than your body is using up and so the cycle continues.

One of the greatest causes of lifestyle-related illnesses is one that we cannot see, touch, taste or smell. We can only feel it. Stress has been directly linked to a number of dangerous diseases, including cancer. Managing stress can be particularly difficult in today's world where many people are constantly under pressure. Stress can result in a lowered immune system and a vulnerability to multiple infections, leading to bad health in the long run. Many people also turn to unhealthy habits to cope with stress, such as smoking, drinking or eating the wrong foods, which further jeopardises their health.

Taking control one step at a time
Some believe that living healthily costs a lot of money and requires a great deal of time. However, this is not at all the case as healthy habits can be introduced in the place of unhealthy ones with no extra strain on your wallet or your schedule.

Here are some tips on how to make healthier choices:

• Swap your usual snack of a packet of crisps or a candy bar for an apple
• Take the stairs instead of the lift whenever you can
• Drink a few extra glasses of water every day
• Walk instead of driving or taking the bus when possible
• Keep a positive outlook - try to see the bright side of things to avoid becoming overly stressed
• Have one alcoholic beverage instead of two or more, or stagger each beverage with a glass of water - this way you are likely to drink less
• Use the time you usually spend in front of the TV to partake in an activity that you enjoy, such as a group sport or creative hobby
• Eat more raw fruit and vegetables - they are inexpensive and you save time on not having to cook them
• Break down your daily schedule into small, manageable tasks - a series of small steps is far less intimidating and stressful

Making responsible lifestyle choices
South Africans are urged to take action on Healthy Lifestyles Awareness Day by starting to change their bad habits and replacing them with healthy ones. By making responsible lifestyle decisions, each individual can benefit their own life as well as that of their loved ones and their greater communities.

For any GEMS member queries, please contact the GEMS call centre on 0860 00 4367 or visit our website at www.gems.gov.za. GEMS will assist you in every way possible to ensure your family's health and wellbeing.

Sources:
The Heart and Stroke Foundation - www.heartfoundation.co.za
Diabetes South Africa - www.diabetessa.co.za
WebMD - www.webmd.com
Mayo Clinic - www.mayoclinic.com
Avert - www.avert.org