10 Tips to Keeping Yourself Healthy

shutterstock_116229451Check out these 10 tips to keeping yourself healthy!

1. Be Social

It’s not easy to do while you’re out there on the road. Drivers can go most of the day without having any contact with others (besides quick exchanges with dispatchers and cashiers). Keep in contact with your friends and loved ones. Call or Skype your family members, stay active on social media networks during your breaks, join an online community like CDLLife.com, and if it’s comfortable – spur conversations with those around you. Making positive connections with others is great for your health!

2. Supplement Your Diet With Vitamins

You want to take a minimal approach to supplementing your diet – too many additional vitamins can actually be harmful to you. Be sure to take them in moderation, and to pay close attention to recommended daily doses. Check out these 7 Most Common Nutrients Linked to Deficiency.

3. Get Quality Sleep 

Quality sleep is vitally important to your health. For optimal health, we need at least seven hours of sleep each night. Not getting enough sleep could lead to depression, hight blood sugar, diabetes, a weakened immune system, and creates many other health risks. Check out these 10 Tricks To Falling Asleep Quickly And Soundly.

4. Don’t Put Off Getting Medical Care If You Need It

It’s common for healthy people to put off a doctor’s visit for something that seems like a small issue – especially for drivers. Finding the time to get to your doctor or a clinic can be next to impossible. Keep in mind that the quicker you receive treatment, the more effective the treatment methods will be. If you start to notice that you’re having troublesome symptoms that threaten to become more severe, make time to see your doctor.

5. Limit Your Sodium Intake 

All too often, we get caught up in watching sugar, calories, and carbohydrates – but we forget about sodium. Consuming too much sodium is linked to an increase in risk of high blood pressure. Excess sodium is commonly found in packaged and processed foods – so it’s important to check nutrition labels and limit your intake to under 2,300 milligrams per day.

6. Don’t Treat WebMd Like An Actual Doctor

We’re all guilty of self-diagnosing with the help of the internet. Don’t get us wrong, it’s an excellent resource – but it’s not a substitute for a doctor, so don’t treat it like one. Seek medical help if you feel you might need it.

7. Eat Your Fruits And Vegetables

You know you aren’t eating enough of them. We’re supposed to have 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every single day. Stock up on produce, pack it, and snack on it throughout the day. It tastes great, it’s refreshing, and it’s great for you!

8. Read Nutrition Labels

Nutrition labels are there to inform you, so let them! It’s important to know how many calories, how much sugar, fat, fiber, and sodium you’re consuming. A simple look towards the back of the box or bottle is a great way to develop healthy eating skills. – The ingredients list and portion size on the Nutrition Facts label can also be very telling.

9. Don’t Skip Checkups

Don’t skip checkups, medical, dental, or otherwise. Preventative care can often be the most important kind of care to seek. Early screening tests, noticing symptoms of serious illness, monitoring weight, and keeping track of your oral health are vitally important to staying happy and healthy longterm. Find out how Gum Disease Effects Overall Health.

10. Have Knowledge of Your Health Records

It’s very important to have a strong knowledge of your health records and family medical history. These pieces of knowledge are immensely helpful to doctors when diagnosing illness, screening for problems, and understanding symptoms. The most important pieces of medical information to keep track of are vaccination records, screening tests (results as well as dates), and surgical procedure history/information.

Source

Health | Learn more about 27 Mistakes Healthy People Make

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