You Could Reduce Your Risk Of Chronic Disease If You Quit Doing This

Trying to live a healthy lifestyle isn't just about getting clearer skin or losing weight. Many lifestyle choices can actually help you prevent chronic diseases that can impact the rest of your life. Here are some of the ways you can reduce your risk of certain diseases.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smoking is one of the biggest risk factors for many diseases. It can lead to cancer, heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, and premature death. If you currently smoke, you can significantly reduce your risk of those diseases by quitting. There are many ways you can begin your journey to quitting your smoking habit, so visit your doctor if you'd like to learn more.

You can also reduce your risk of chronic diseases if you quit eating so much processed food. Indulging in your favorite snacks is fine occasionally, but you should aim for a well-balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables, and other whole foods. According to the CDC, eating healthy can "prevent, delay, and manage heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and other chronic diseases."

While quitting some habits can improve your life, starting others will also help. Physical activity is crucial to our overall wellbeing and getting enough physical activity can reduce your risk of many chronic diseases. "Most of us can walk. So start with a 10-minute walk. Repeat this two or three times a day," lifestyle medicine specialist Mladen Golubic, MD, PhD, told Cleveland Clinic. "Then try to walk faster, have a minute of more intense walking or climb a flight of stairs. If walking is not an option, any physical activity will do. Simply move more and sit less."

Just as important as physical activity is sleep. Aim for seven to nine hours of sleep each night to reduce your risk of developing ​​diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and depression. Being active during the day will help you sleep better at night if you're struggling. You should also have a consistent bedtime, limit alcohol and caffeine later in the day, and keep your bedroom dark at night to get the best night's sleep.