It’s next to impossible to live a perfectly healthy lifestyle. The world is more full of toxins then ever before, and avoiding them on a daily basis can be incredibly difficult. This being said, anyone who embraces a career in nursing knows that there are a handful of lifestyle changes that can truly make a big difference, and there’s no reason not to explain these to your patients.
Life is all about decisions, and the decisions your patients make can have a dramatic impact on how they feel on a day-to-day basis. It’s impossible to expect your patients to make huge changes overnight, and getting people to change even remotely can be very difficult. It takes quite a bit of willpower to make any of these changes, but the more adamant you can be about the benefits these changes can come along with, the better chance you’ll have of making a difference in the lives of your patients.
Quit Smoking
Try to identify a single common, legal activity that causes more harm to the body than smoking cigarettes; chances are you’re at a loss. Smoking is extremely harmful to the body and is the cause of over 5 million deaths per year in the United States alone, yet most people find quitting to be exceptionally difficult.
While it’s true that quitting smoking is never easy, there are plenty of ways to get help, and the sooner your patients know about them, the better. Smoking cessation products such as nicotine gum and “the patch” have helped millions to quit, and e-cigarettes (the new kids on the block) are helping many smokers to switch over to what some consider to be a less harmful way to ingest nicotine; Victory electronic cigarettes are just one of the many brands currently available on the market with a reputation for helping smokers combat their habit.
Avoid Sedentary Living
More people live sedentary lifestyles today than ever in the past, and it’s starting to show. Desk jobs require many to sit for a period of 8 or more hours a day with little breaks in between, which can not only lead to weight gain but can also be a contributing factor in heart disease.
Many people feel as if they don’t have a choice to be sedentary given their work situation, but there are always options to look into. Some find that working while standing up can be a great middle ground, even if it requires you to shift the way in which your office is configured.
If this isn’t an option, tell your patients to be sure to spend as much time outside of work getting physical exercise as possible. It’s easy to come home from work and sink into the couch, but it won’t do your patients any favors.
Stay Away from Processed Foods
Processed foods may be tasty, but they’re making Americans less healthy by the day. Fast food and other processed foods contain copious amounts of sodium, saturated fats and excess calories, all while providing very little in the way of actual nutrition. Stress to your patients that if they make a habit out of eating this food regularly, they’ll find that the results will be visible in a relatively short period of time. Instead, encourage them to stick to whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, complex carbohydrates and lean proteins.
Living healthy is always a struggle, but if you help your patients to understand the benefits of a healthier lifestyle, you’ll no doubt have a positive impact on their lives.
1 comment