After 12 years, this will be my last column for USA WEEKEND Magazine. It has been tremendously rewarding to be able to provide helpful hints on health. I'd like to leave you with a few of my thoughts on maintaining good health. Given all the uncertainties the national health care debate has brought, it makes even more sense to make personal health maintenance a high priority. So here are some tips to remember:
Health is your responsibility. It is not the doctor's job, the hospital's job, your spouse's job or the government's job to keep you healthy — it's up to you. We suffer from chronic diseases that are too often the result of poor habits. The choices you make today usually determine the health you have tomorrow.
Stay active. If you're looking for the fountain of youth, look no further than that pair of sneakers in your closet. A daily “dose” of 30 minutes of moderately intense exercise will go a long way toward keeping you healthy as you age.
You are what you eat. Diets high in saturated fats and refined sugars provide lots of calories and little nutrition. Imagine your plate in four quadrants; three of them should be filled with colorful fruits and vegetables. This is a simple but very important image to maintain whether you're at home or eating out.
Stop smoking. Smoking is the greatest modifiable health risk facing our nation. For people who want to try to kick the habit on their own, stop-smoking aids are available at the local pharmacy. For those who need an extra push, professional help can be found with the help of your local doctor. However you do it, live smoke-free.
Keep a healthy emotional outlook. Life has ups and downs for all of us, but how we react to adversity influences not only our own psychological health but also the quality of life of those who live and work with us. It's like Grandma Moses said: “Life is what we make it — always has been, always will be.”
TEDD MITCHELL, M.D., is president of Texas Tech Health Sciences Center.
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