Call (310) 980-9509 to speak with a licensed insurance agent.

Call (310) 980-9509 to speak with a licensed insurance agent.

4 Ways to Improve Your Health in 2019

Posted by Sarah Human, January 3, 2019

January is the time for resolutions, and what is more important than your health? Now is the time to change your habits for the better, by either starting something that will benefit you, or stopping something that could harm you. Or, how about a little of both?

If you hope to make the best long-term impact on your health, we suggest at least one of the following resolutions.

Stop smoking. We know you’ve probably heard it before, but let’s review a few quick facts related to smoking cigarettes. According to the CDC, tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of death in the United States, killing more than 480,000 people per year. Smoking is also linked to more than $170 billion in healthcare costs annually.

It’s important to note that every year, an estimated $41,000 deaths are attributed to secondhand smoke. So, your own habit could even affect someone you love.

Stop (or cut back on) drinking. Here are some more statistics from the CDC: Excessive alcohol use lead to more than 88,000 deaths annually. Perhaps even more importantly, heavy drinking shortens lifespans by an average of thirty years. Aside from car accidents, alcohol use can lead to mental health problems, dementia, high blood pressure, heart disease, increased risk of stroke, and increased risk of many types of cancer. Drinking alcohol can be especially dangerous for those diagnosed with diabetes.

Generally speaking, doctors agree that an occasional drink won’t affect your long-term health. But if you’re a moderate to heavy, regular drinker, quitting can be one of the best things you ever do for yourself.

Kick the sugar habit. As far as unhealthy habits go, alcohol and cigarettes get most of the attention. But because a diet high in sugar causes inflammation, weight gain, and raises your risk of many chronic illnesses, conquering your sweet tooth can be as important as quitting smoking or drinking. Remember to read food labels, and look for words like “sucrose”, “fructose” and “high fructose corn syrup”. These are all just sneaky terms for sugar.

Start exercising. Maybe you’re not the quitting type, or perhaps starting something sounds a bit more motivating. Exercise has been linked to numerous positive health outcomes, from lower risk of heart disease and diabetes, to improved cognitive function and a longer lifespan overall. Aim to exercise at least thirty minutes per day, but remember to get your doctor’s input first.

As you improve your habits, keep attending your regular checkups. While the above resolutions can certainly improve your health, you still need to pursue regular preventive care.

Need more information on your insurance options?

Contact us online to learn more

Contact Us

Close Accessibility Tools
Accessibility Controls Reset
Content Adjustments
Font Size

Default

Line Height

Default

Content Scaling

Default

Highlight Titles
Highlight Links
Highlight Forms
Align Left
Align Center
Align Right
Focus Mode
Color Adjustments
Desaturate
Monochrome
Contrast

Default

Saturation

Default

Accessibility Statement

Despite our attempts to make this website accessible for everyone, there may still be some pages or sections that are not completely accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or do not have a suitable technological solution to make them accessible. Nevertheless, we are always striving to enhance our accessibility by adding, updating, improving its options and features, and incorporating new technologies.

We want to provide our users with the best experience possible, so we strive to support as many browsers and assistive technologies as possible.

If you wish to contact this website's owner, please use the contact form on the website.

Our User Interface Adjustment Options

Font adjustments - With this tool, users can modify font size, style, letter spacing, and line height for improved alignment and readability.

Color adjustments - Users can customize their color contrast profiles to light, dark, desaturated, and monochrome.

Content highlighting - Users can prioritize key elements such as links, forms, and titles.

Content focus - Users can enable focus mode to highlight the current page information based on their mouse movement.

Close