80-90% of illnesses are a result of lifestyle choices. Technology keeps on evolving to offer better treatment options. Chronic illness can either be genetic or arise from lifestyle choices. Lifestyle medicine plays a key role in ensuring the root cause of fatal illnesses is addressed. The pillars of lifestyle medicine are;

Sleep

Many factors are considered when determining the quality of sleep one deserves. The worries and responsibilities of life can cause sleep to be elusive. However, there are ways to ensure you sleep better;

• Set your internal clock by sleeping and waking up at the same time every day
• Manage your drinking and eating habits before sleeping
• Use relaxation techniques to have a restful environment
• Be active during the day
• Avoid napping during the day

Additionally, it is crucial to have a comfortable bed to sleep in. Research shows that a good bed enhances the quality of sleep by 90%. It is normal to lose sleep occasionally, but one should visit the doctor if chronic insomnia persists. Quality sleep helps the body to heal faster and more naturally.

Exercise

Before beginning a workout routine, it is important to know which part of the body you are working on. Many people find themselves having the wrong routines with no results. Some forms of exercise are aerobics, boot camps, strength, calisthenics, and high-intensity interval training. Exercises are good as they help in blood circulation and losing fat, preventing life-threatening conditions such as obesity. Seeking a physical examination before a workout will help you understand your limits and prevent any potential injuries from underlying health conditions.

Nutrition

Countries like the US have adopted and implemented policies that enhance and support organic food production and nutrition for school-going children. These policies have greatly reduced the number of diabetic and obese children. Nutrition is classified into major groups; macronutrients and micronutrients. Through a lifestyle specialist, one can have healthy living and lower the risk of chronic illnesses.

Stress management

Everyone has different stress management techniques. Some can manage the balance of life while others don’t. High stress levels can result in hypertension and blood sugar problems that are life-threatening. There are simple tips that are applied to avoid stress. They include:

• Taking a walk every day for a few minutes. Research indicates that exercise reduces the production of endorphins which cause stress.
• Focus on breathing every few hours, take some minutes off, and breathe in silence. Also, to prevent headaches while multitasking, use the 20 seconds rule.
• Creating a journal helps in processing emotions and events that happened during the day or week.

Healthy relationships

Forming and maintaining healthy relationships is not everyone’s cup of tea. Introverts find it difficult to maintain friendships in the workplace and friends, while extroverts find it difficult to take care of themselves. Keeping relationships realistic will help you maintain a healthy social space, preventing mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety disorders. Communication is the essence of maintaining a healthy relationship all around. Both men and women have different styles of communicating. Studies show that women tend to communicate better and live longer because of their ability to connect and empathize.

Toxic substances

Exposure to risky substances such as chemicals, drugs, and substance abuse can result in many fatal diseases. The health risks depend on various reasons, such as; the period one was exposed to or used, the amounts, type of chemical or drug used, age and overall health, and the means of exposure, whether through food, skin, or air. Many forms of cancer are a result of toxic substances.

Through healthy lifestyle choices, fewer cases of chronic illnesses will be reported. Healthy living is advocated at all levels of life.