One’s lifestyle can either reduce one’s chances of developing a potentially terminal disease, or it can increase those same chances (Schiff 9). In most cases, people can, in fact, live longer, healthier lives by adjusting their diets, increasing their exercise levels, and changing various other detrimental aspects of their lifestyles (25). Furthermore, simultaneously possessing multiple healthy lifestyle characteristics provides additional benefits towards improving one’s health (Loprinzi et al. 432+). In a day and age where disease risks are at a high, many aspects of people’s lifestyles impact not only their life spans, but also the quality of their lives.
Many people associate smoking and drinking as unhealthy lifestyle choices that increase …show more content…
In the modern era, it has been stressed that getting the proper amount of sleep is extremely important for living a healthy lifestyle because a lack of sleep contributes to high stress levels, memory loss, high blood pressure, and weight gain; however, too much sleep can also lead to sleep apnea and death. (Hamilton 110). The late Renaissance authors also advocated the importance of sleep, or as they referred to it: sonno e vigilia, meaning sleep and wakefulness. These Renaissance authors associated sleep, along with healthy eating habits, with a clear mindset and active engagement in various activities. Although the authors’ mindsets tended to differ when it came to the proper way to sleep, they all agreed that one should strive to obtain between seven and nine hours of sleep each night (Cavallo and Storey …show more content…
Smoking, for example, greatly increases one’s risk of developing arteriosclerosis, which is characterized by a hardening of the artery walls. Diabetes, high blood cholesterol levels, obesity, and a lack of physical activity are all additional factors that can further increase one’s risk of developing arteriosclerosis. Typically, the more risk factors that one has, the higher one’s chances are of contracting the disease in question. Arteriosclerosis also contributes to the development of hypertension, which is characterized by abnormally high blood pressure levels. The increased blood pressure attributed to hypertension can cause the hardened arteries to burst, leading to severe bleeding and even death (Schiff 183). However, one can reduce the risk of developing arteriosclerosis by reducing the level of LDL cholesterol, which is attributed to saturated fats, in one’s body. This can be accomplished by consuming foods that are rich in monounsaturated fat such as avocados, olives, and almonds, and by achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight
Many people associate smoking and drinking as unhealthy lifestyle choices that increase …show more content…
In the modern era, it has been stressed that getting the proper amount of sleep is extremely important for living a healthy lifestyle because a lack of sleep contributes to high stress levels, memory loss, high blood pressure, and weight gain; however, too much sleep can also lead to sleep apnea and death. (Hamilton 110). The late Renaissance authors also advocated the importance of sleep, or as they referred to it: sonno e vigilia, meaning sleep and wakefulness. These Renaissance authors associated sleep, along with healthy eating habits, with a clear mindset and active engagement in various activities. Although the authors’ mindsets tended to differ when it came to the proper way to sleep, they all agreed that one should strive to obtain between seven and nine hours of sleep each night (Cavallo and Storey …show more content…
Smoking, for example, greatly increases one’s risk of developing arteriosclerosis, which is characterized by a hardening of the artery walls. Diabetes, high blood cholesterol levels, obesity, and a lack of physical activity are all additional factors that can further increase one’s risk of developing arteriosclerosis. Typically, the more risk factors that one has, the higher one’s chances are of contracting the disease in question. Arteriosclerosis also contributes to the development of hypertension, which is characterized by abnormally high blood pressure levels. The increased blood pressure attributed to hypertension can cause the hardened arteries to burst, leading to severe bleeding and even death (Schiff 183). However, one can reduce the risk of developing arteriosclerosis by reducing the level of LDL cholesterol, which is attributed to saturated fats, in one’s body. This can be accomplished by consuming foods that are rich in monounsaturated fat such as avocados, olives, and almonds, and by achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight