Keep your body strong and healthy to prevent illness.

It seems like we are always reading about the latest health ailment or illness and how it can harm us. In 2020, in particular, our attention turned to the coronavirus pandemic. If past health concerns weren’t enough, one thing that COVID-19 did do was raise awareness for preventive health care. As the illness seemed to focus on the elderly and those with underlying health conditions that could be exacerbated by the virus, those outside of those risk groups took to preventive health care strategies to hopefully lessen their symptoms should they contract the virus. Preventive health care measures are always necessary, however, not just as a response to a pandemic.

Practice these 8 preventive health care strategies and your body will thank you.

Taking care of our bodies has always been important. Preventive health care is essential to our daily lives as it helps us stay healthy and lessens our symptoms and side effects when we do get sick. Further, practicing preventive health care can significantly reduce our overall medical expenses. Suppose you aren’t familiar with the concept of preventive health care. In that case, we’re merely referring to a health care strategy intended to shift the focus away from treating illness and towards maintaining wellness and good health. So, preventive health care takes place every day and needs to happen long before we feel sick.

Check out our list of 8 preventive health care strategies designed to keep you healthier every day.

1. Move your body every day.

There are varying schools of thought about how much physical activity you should get each week. Still, almost all researchers and health care providers would agree that about 15 to 30 minutes of cardio, four times a week is a minimum.

2. Stretch your body.

Not only should you stretch both before and after a workout, but you should also strive to get in a good stretch at least once per day. Stretching helps to keep your muscles flexible, strong, and healthy. The process of stretching builds the range of motion in your joints, thus protecting your body when you exercise.

3. Keep your blood pressure in line.

Though it varies for men and women, an average blood pressure level is less than 120/80 mm Hg. When your blood pressure is regularly higher than the normal range, it increases your risk of heart disease, heart attacks, heart failure, strokes, peripheral arterial disease, aortic aneurysms, kidney disease, and vascular dementia.

4. Pay attention to your oral health.

Taking charge of simple steps such as getting your teeth cleaned twice a year, having your cavities fixed by your dentist, and receiving regular dental examinations can prevent gum disease, known as periodontitis, and additional dental health problems. Your oral health serves as a window, or gateway, to your overall health. When we don’t take good care of our teeth and gums, it can make us more susceptible to endocarditis, cardiovascular disease, birth complications, and pneumonia.

5. Get teeth and gums cleaned regularly.

Making visits to your family dentist at least twice a year provides the benefit of a professional cleaning, fluoride treatment, and oral assessment. A dentist is trained to seek out potential dental problems in their infancy so that treatment is established early, reducing the risk of more severe issues later on.

6. Get cavities filled as soon as your dentist suggests.

Another benefit of seeing your dentist twice a year is that your cavities can be treated sooner. When you go ahead with a filling as soon as your dentist suggests it, you prevent more extensive dental procedures down the road. Further, untreated cavities sometimes require root canal treatment and the placement of a dental crown.

7. Be sure to get your beauty sleep.

Though we use the term “beauty sleep” in jest, the truth is that sleep plays a vital role in your physical health. Your body needs sleep to heal and repair your heart and blood vessels. A good night’s sleep can help lessen the risk for heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes. Not only that, but sleep can help our bodies to lower our stress levels naturally.

8. Reduce stress.

Stress can negatively affect your health in a variety of ways. Though some stress is good for you, too much can lead to a weakened immune system and cause high blood pressure, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and even heart disease. In particular, too much adrenaline, also known as epinephrine, can be harmful to your heart. Strong emotions correlated with stress, such as fear and anger, can release epinephrine into your bloodstream, leading to increased heart rate, blood pressure, and sugar metabolism.

Take charge of your preventive health care and schedule your dental appointment today.

If you are overdue for your dental appointment and cleaning, there is no time like the present to get back on track. We make scheduling your appointment easy. Just give our office a call or request an appointment through our online form. Dr. Alhadef and the Dallas Cosmetic Dental team can’t wait to see you and help you get back on track for a lifetime of preventive health care and good decisions.