Health is a broad term that we’re all familiar with. When some people hear the word, the first thing that comes to mind is going to a GP for a visit. On the other hand, another person may have flashing images of going for a morning run. All of these things are valid aspects of health and it also consists of so much more. When your health begins to decline, it could negatively impact your mental health as well. Health challenges can be draining so it’s essential that you try to mitigate the risk of them occurring. There are a few specific aspects of your health that should never be neglected.
Mental Health
At times, mental health can be so easily overlooked. However, it’s just as important as every other aspect of your health so it shouldn’t be. There are so many approaches to try when it comes to nurturing your mental health, but the first should be to find out where you are presently and what aspects you want to improve on. Take time out to meditate and explore the things that are presently causing any stress or unhappiness in your life. Once you’ve done that, look for practical solutions and ways to ensure you’re happy and satisfied.
Another way to look after your mental health is by making it a habit of talking about how you feel. Find someone that you can confide in as opposed to bottling things up inside and overthinking. If, at all, you feel like you aren’t coping mentally, know that there’s nothing wrong with reaching out and asking for help. There are so many resources available to help you get in a better space mentally.
Eye Care
Your eyes are a significant part of your body. They provide you with vision enabling you to see the many beautiful things around you. Without them, you’d live a very different life so it’s worth keeping them as healthy as you can. You can start with regular visits to the optician. It’s advisable that you look for one near you and that’s reputable so it’s easy to access anytime you need a check-up or assistance. If, for instance, you live in the Auburn axis then Medical Arts Eye Clinic & Optical would be a great place to try.
Looking out for signs that something may be wrong with your eyes is also crucial. Some abnormal signs of eye problems include redness, sudden eye pain, blurry vision in one eye, double vision, and a flood of spots in your field of vision. In case of any other symptoms that you’re uncertain about, don’t hesitate to contact an optician. Also, remember to have a comprehensive exam every one to two years.
If you do find that your vision is impaired, make sure to take all of your options into consideration. You could get glasses in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours – from rimless glasses to cat eye glasses – or you could get contact lenses. You may even want to look into laser eye surgery!
Dental
Your teeth are one of the first things that people see, especially when you smile. Aside from aiming to have white teeth so that you have a nice smile, there is a lot more to dental health. When you don’t look after your teeth it could lead to a number of challenges such as plaque build-up and gingivitis. Other common problems that could potentially arise are cavities, fractured teeth or gum disease just to mention a few. When it comes to dental hygiene, as you probably know, brushing at least twice a day and flossing are part of the basics. In addition to this, you should know that brushing your teeth before breakfast is advised as acid is produced after eating and brushing then rubs it into the enamel. Also, make sure you’re using the right technique whether it’s an electric or normal toothbrush you opt for.
Diet
Your diet can be one of the most difficult things to keep up with, especially if you’re the average working adult. There never seem to be enough hours in the day, so you’ve got to make the most of the ones that you have. The goal should be to incorporate healthy eating into your lifestyle so that it’s less of a burdensome task. If, for instance, you work long hours, then it wouldn’t be practical to make time-consuming meals three times a day. In light of this, focus on finding easy ways to ensure you get enough nutrients in every day. This could mean carrying snacks in your bag or meal prepping for the week on Sundays. Also, if you’re one of those people who feel healthy eating is expensive, you should know that you can eat healthy with as little as £1 a day if you eat a serving of mushroom and pea risotto or white bean, kale, and pasta soup, for instance.
Cardiovascular
Your heart is one of the most important organs in your body. It is one of the reasons you’re still alive and well, so protecting it is critical. To keep up with your cardiovascular health, you usually need to invest time in staying active. As with your diet, it’s something that you can learn to include in your busy schedule. The gym isn’t for everyone, so you may need to simply decide to do more walking instead of taking the car or public transport where possible.
There are other ways to look after your heart aside form exercise. One way is to give up smoking if you happen to do so because it increases the chances of coronary heart disease. Eating fiber from a variety of sources and drinking less alcohol should also help.
Another aspect of your health you should never neglect is your sexual health. If you’ve got a healthy sex life, try and make sure you get a check-up as frequently as you can. This can be done at your local GP or at any sexual health center near you. If you notice any out of the ordinary symptoms, especially, the best thing to do is visit a health professional just to make sure you haven’t contracted an infection, virus, or disease.
Your health is your responsibility and nobody else’s. Equipping yourself with the right knowledge is the first step in doing so in the best way possible. The above tips should get you on your way to maintaining a healthier life.
Mandy X
Author: Mandy Kloppers
Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.
