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Learning Outcome 3- Benefits of a healthy lifestyle

- Physical activity- Healthy eating

- Risks of lifestyle choice in substance misuse

- Work, health & wellbeing

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Benefits of a Healthy Lifestyle

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WeightRisks• Being overweight increases

the risks of heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes

• Being overweight is associated with cancer of the uterus, post menopausal breast cancer, bowel & kidney cancers

• Inactivity combined with a high calorie diet increases the risk of obesity

© RSPH 2008

Physical InactivityRisks:

• Doubles risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes and osteoporosis

• Associated with cancer of the breast & uterus in postmenopausal women and cancer of the colon

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Physical ActivityGet active

• Take regular moderate exercise for 30 minutes, 5 days a week = 2 or 3 bouts of 10-15 minutes daily

• Moderate means enough to make you breathe faster yet able to talk comfortably

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Poor dietAssociated with increased risk

of

• Cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity

• One third of all cancers and heart disease are linked to poor diet

• Most adults and children do not eat a healthy diet

© RSPH 2008

Healthy eating Adult recommendations

• Eat 5 portions or more of fruit & vegetables every day

• Include foods that are high in fibre

• Reduce foods high in fat, salt and sugar

• Eat less red meat and processed food

• Drink plenty of tap water

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One portion =• One orange or apple

• Two Kiwi fruits or two tangerines

• A cupful of grapes or strawberries

• Two florets of broccoli or three heaped tablespoons of peas or two tablespoons of carrots

• A cereal bowl of mixed salad

• A medium glass of fruit juice(one)

www.dh.gov.uk/fiveaday

© RSPH 2008

Substance misuse• Smoking

• Alcohol All have harmful effects on major organs

of the body and their functions as well as increasing the risk of accidents

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SmokingCauses• Heart disease, chronic

lung disease & lung cancer

• It increases cancer of: cervix, lips, mouth, tongue, throat, larynx, oesophagus, stomach & other cancers

• Passive smoking causes disease & death in non smokers

• Smoking & alcohol combined increases cancer risk

© RSPH 2008

SmokingThere is no safe level of use

• Don’t start smoking• Quit as soon as

possible; it’s never too late

• Avoid smoky environments

www.nhs.uk/gosmokefree

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AlcoholAssociated with

• Cancer of the mouth, throat, oesophagus, breast, liver and bowel

• Insomnia, low energy levels, depression, impotence, raised blood pressure

• Increased risk of injury and attacks. Deaths from accidents

• Liver cirrhosis and brain damage

© RSPH 2008

AlcoholDrink in moderation

Follow guidelines for sensible drinking: -

• Men: 3-4 units per day or 1.5 pints beer at 4%

• Women: 2-3 units per day or 1 glass of wine (175mls)

• Drink plenty of tap water

• Have two alcohol free days per week

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Substance misuse (cont.)• Inhalants

• Ecstasy

• Cocaine

• Marijuana

• Methamphetamine

All have harmful effects on major organs of the body and their functions as well as predisposing an individual to accidents

© RSPH 2008

Substance misuse may cause • Brain damage, addiction, anxiety, paranoia and depression

• Visual problems

• Nasal damage and deformity

• Respiratory failure, lung cancer and disease

• Heart attack or irregular heart beat

• Liver damage

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Substance misuse may cause • Changes in appetite

• Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain

• Muscle weakness, tension or cramp

• Genito-urinary problems

• Impotence, low sperm count, irregular menstrual cycles and birth defects

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Work, Health and Wellbeing Good health is good business: health and wellbeing programmes produce economicbenefits across all sectors and sizes of business

Major causes of sickness absence and worklessness due to ill-health:• Mental Health

• Physical /Musculoskeletal health‘Working for a healthier tomorrow’ Review of Britain’s working age population

2008

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Work in health and wellbeing

Benefits include:

Mental health-promoting mental fitness, personal esteem, dignity and respect

Physical health - promoting physical health through return to work

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Mental Health

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Health and Safety& road safety

• 4% of cancers caused by exposure to a cancer-causing substance at work, 50% of these by asbestos. Cancer can take 30-40 years to develop.

• Exposure to two or more chemicals together increase cancer risk e.g. smoking with alcohol

• UV radiation; those working outdoors are at greater risk of skin cancer

• Driving - 3,500 road deaths per year in Britain

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Health and Safety& road safety

• Follow health and safety instructions

• Take care when handling dangerous substances

• Wear protective clothing

• Think road safety – slow down, don’t drink and drive, wear a seat belt, make time for a break

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Be awareBody, sexual and mental

Know what is normal for you – recognise persistent problems and seek help and advice

See your doctor about persistent moles, sores, lumps, coughs, constipation, hoarseness, blood in stools or urine

Discovered early, most STIs are easy to treat, and the sooner the better.

© RSPH 2008

Sexual Health

• Use in-date, kite marked condoms and water based lubricant

• Condoms help to reduce the risk and spread of STIs as well as help prevent unwanted pregnancy

• When used correctly condoms can be 100% effective

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Early symptoms

• Not recognising early symptoms delays prompt treatment & advice for physical, sexual and mental health problems. Many conditions can be cured or controlled if caught early

• Early recognition of sexually transmitted infection can prevent infertility and pelvic infection

• Recognising stress can lead to timely help and advice

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Screening - Why it is important • Breast cancer accounts

for 30% of all new forms of cancer, more than 39,500 new cases diagnosed per year

• Unprotected sex & many sexual partners increases the risk of contracting human papilloma virus (HPV), increasing the risk of cervical cancer

© RSPH 2008

ScreeningWomen attend when invited

• Breast screening by mammography every 3 years for women 50-70

• Cervical screening (every 3-5 years for 25-64 year olds)

• If worried about symptoms see your GP - do not wait for your next screening invitation

© RSPH 2008

IT Resources

www.nhs.uk/lifecheck

www.dh.gov.uk

www.dh.gov.uk/fiveaday

www.Healthspace.nhs.uk