The 9 Best Ways to Prevent Cancer

 

These tips help you stay healthier, so you’re more likely to lead a cancer-free life.

With so many types of cancer and so much advice available on how to prevent each type, it can all be a bit confusing. But although the abundance of cancer prevention information can be overwhelming – and sometimes contradictory – there’s one way you can’t go wrong when it comes to cancer prevention: follow a healthy lifestyle.

Practicing healthy habits lowers your risk of most cancers. These same habits make it less likely you’ll develop heart disease, diabetes and other chronic health conditions. Although there’s no way to know for sure if these habits are the key to cancer prevention, you’ll be doing your body a world of good by embracing a healthier lifestyle. So although these tips may not seem like an evolutionary breakthrough to living a cancer-free life, they may help and certainly won’t hurt your chances of being as healthy as you can be.

Here are 9 healthy lifestyle habits that up your chances of preventing cancer:

1. Eat healthy foods – If you mostly follow a healthy eating plan based on low-fat, low-sodium and low-carb guidelines (meaning low in added sugar and white flour), you’ll be ahead of the game on all cancer prevention fronts. Fill your plate with vegetables, fruits, whole grains and other plant-based foods such as beans, nuts and seeds. Eat enough lean protein, healthy fat and complex carbohydrates. Limit ultra-processed foods, fried foods and foods high in saturated fat, added sugars and empty calories.
2. Exercise regularly – Being physically active is good for your health in many ways and helps you maintain a healthier weight. This helps protect you from various types of cancer, as well as heart disease and other serious health issues. Aim to get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week along with some strength training exercises.
3. Limit alcohol consumption – Although the amount of alcohol you drink may not affect all types of cancer, it does raise the risk of some common types such as cancer of the lung, colon, liver and breast. The more you drink, the higher your risk, so drink in moderation, if at all.
4. Maintain a healthy weight – By following the first three tips in this list you’re more likely to be at a healthy weight. All of these actions combined help minimize your risk of many types of cancer.
5. Don’t smoke – This seems like a no-brainer but still needs to be said. Smoking raises your risk of lung cancer, as well as several other types of cancer. Being around second-hand smoke may also raise cancer risk, as does chewing tobacco and vaping.
6. Be sun-smart – Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer and is one of the easiest to prevent. Get in the habit of using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher daily, even if it’s cold or cloudy outside. Limit time in the sun during the middle of the day. Also, don’t use tanning beds or sun lamps.
7. Get vaccinated – Some cancers may develop from viral infections, such as HPV, HIV or hepatitis. There are vaccinations against some of these viruses, such as HPV and hepatitis B.
8. Get routine check-ups and screenings – The best way to treat cancer is to find it early so stay up-to-date on preventative appointments and recommended screenings, such as mammograms, colonoscopies and other tests.
9. Pay attention to your body – You know your body best so if something doesn’t look or feel right, trust your gut and get it checked out by a medical professional.

Copyright 2024-2025 © Baldwin Publishing, Inc.  Health eCooks® Heart Healthy Recipes® is a registered trademark of Baldwin Publishing, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein without the express approval of Baldwin Publishing, Inc. is strictly prohibited.

Date Last Reviewed: December 19, 2024

Editorial Review: Andrea Cohen, Editorial Director, Baldwin Publishing, Inc. Contact Editor

Medical Review: Perry Pitkow, MD

Learn more about Baldwin Publishing Inc. editorial policy, privacy policy, ADA compliance and sponsorship policy.

No information provided by Baldwin Publishing, Inc. in any article is a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical condition. Baldwin Publishing, Inc. strongly suggests that you use this information in consultation with your doctor or other health professional. Use or viewing of any Baldwin Publishing, Inc. article signifies your understanding and agreement to the disclaimer and acceptance of these terms of use.

 

Be Kind: It Can Make You Healthier Random Acts of Kindness Day

 

Acts of kindness can make everyone happier and healthier – and it costs you nothing!

If you were like most kids, you were probably encouraged to be kind to others from a very young age. Acts of kindness were rewarded with praise by parents, teachers and other adults. While that warm fuzzy feeling was nice as a kid, what you may not have realized all those years ago was that you were improving your own physical and mental health with each small act of kindness.

There are plenty of good reasons to be kind. For one, our society and planet can use all the kindness it can get, especially these days. But if you need a little push to make kindness a regular part of your day, think about all of the benefits it provides to you, the do-gooder. While that may not be the most selfless reason to be nice and helpful to others, it is still a win-win in the end. The recipient of your kindness benefits from your actions and you get a boost to your well-being, too!

Here are 5 ways kindness promotes a healthier you:

1. It improves your mental health. It’s hard to be in a bad mood when you do something kind and see how your actions affect others. Being kind is a great mood booster, increasing levels of serotonin and dopamine which make you feel good. When you’re kind to others, it also increases your self-worth and can improve your self-esteem.
2. It strengthens your social connections. Feeling lonely or finding it hard to connect with people? You’ll likely find that when you’re kind to others, it’s easier to connect with them and improves relationships. This decreases feelings of loneliness and isolation, which is not only good for your mental health, but also your physical health.
3. It lowers stress levels. Being kind to others may lower your cortisol levels. Chronically high levels of this stress hormone can negatively affect your health. Not only will you likely feel less uptight after being kind, but less stress may also reduce your blood pressure.
4. It reduces the perception of pain. Acts of kindness can lead to the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkiller. Even though the physical sensation of pain may not go away simply by doing a good deed, you may not be bothered as much by your aches and pains.
5. It may extend your life. It sounds crazy to think that just being kind can help you live longer, but it may be true. One study showed that older adults who volunteer for two or more organizations are 44% less likely to die early than people who don’t volunteer. The exact cause of this connection is not fully understood, but volunteering may be a way to simultaneously enhance your health and well-being while improving the health of society.

Need more reasons to be kind? There’s no downside to giving of yourself. And if you’re thinking about how to fit more kindness into your life, remember to not only be kind to others but to also treat yourself with empathy, respect and grace.

Copyright 2024-2025 © Baldwin Publishing, Inc.  Health eCooks® Heart Healthy Recipes® is a registered trademark of Baldwin Publishing, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein without the express approval of Baldwin Publishing, Inc. is strictly prohibited.

Date Last Reviewed: December 19, 2024

Editorial Review: Andrea Cohen, Editorial Director, Baldwin Publishing, Inc. Contact Editor

Medical Review: Perry Pitkow, MD

Learn more about Baldwin Publishing Inc. editorial policy, privacy policy, ADA compliance and sponsorship policy.

No information provided by Baldwin Publishing, Inc. in any article is a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical condition. Baldwin Publishing, Inc. strongly suggests that you use this information in consultation with your doctor or other health professional. Use or viewing of any Baldwin Publishing, Inc. article signifies your understanding and agreement to the disclaimer and acceptance of these terms of use.

 

What Is Heart Failure – and How Do You Know If You Have It?

 

Heart failure affects the heart’s ability to pump enough blood, but you may not have symptoms.

If you’ve been diagnosed with heart failure, it can be scary because it sounds like your heart is no longer working. But heart failure doesn’t mean your heart is not working – it just means it’s not working as well as it should. Although it is a serious condition and has no cure, many people with heart failure lead full lives, as long as the condition is managed properly.

What is heart failure?

Heart failure is a condition in which the heart muscle can’t pump well enough to keep up with the body’s demands for oxygen-rich blood. When this happens, a person may experience fatigue, breathing problems and difficulty performing everyday activities.

Is it easy to know if you have heart failure?

In early stages of heart failure, your heart, blood vessels and kidneys try to compensate for the heart’s inability to keep up with the body’s demand for blood and oxygen. The heart may respond by enlarging or pumping faster to increase blood output. The blood vessels may narrow and/or the kidneys may retain more water and salt to keep blood pressure up, which allows the heart to pump stronger. These changes may help for a little while until heart failure worsens.

Because the body has ways to initially compensate for the heart’s diminished capacity to pump enough blood, the best way to know if you have heart failure is to see a doctor. The earlier you find out you have this condition and start treatment, the more likely you can delay the progression of the disease.

What are the signs of heart failure?

The most common signs of this chronic condition include fatigue and shortness of breath. You may also experience these symptoms:

• Persistent coughing or wheezing
• Swelling in feet, ankles, legs, fingers and abdomen
• Heart palpitations (fast heart rate or throbbing)
• Difficulty performing everyday activities due to fatigue and breathing problems
• Sudden and unexplained weight changes
• Digestive problems, such as feeling full, nauseous or not having an appetite
• Memory loss, disorientation or impaired thinking

Symptoms may not be noticeable in the early stages of heart failure because your heart and body try to make up for the heart’s failing ability to pump enough blood. Therefore, you may not notice some or all of these symptoms until the condition gets worse.

When should I see a doctor about heart failure?

If you have any possible symptoms of heart failure or suspect you may have the condition even if you don’t have symptoms, see a doctor. Regular check-ups are also a good way to detect heart failure even when symptoms are not yet noticeable.

How is heart failure diagnosed?

If your doctor suspects you might have heart failure, he or she will typically order blood tests or imaging tests to see how well your heart is working. Blood tests measure how much oxygen and electrolytes are circulating in your blood. An echocardiogram shows the structure and function of your heart. Most notably, it provides information about your heart’s ejection fraction, which measures its ability to pump blood to your body. The lower the number (calculated as a percentage), the harder it is for your heart to keep up with your body’s need for oxygen-rich blood.

Copyright 2024-2025 © Baldwin Publishing, Inc.  Health eCooks® Heart Healthy Recipes® is a registered trademark of Baldwin Publishing, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein without the express approval of Baldwin Publishing, Inc. is strictly prohibited.

Date Last Reviewed: December 17, 2024

Editorial Review: Andrea Cohen, Editorial Director, Baldwin Publishing, Inc. Contact Editor

Medical Review: Perry Pitkow, MD

Learn more about Baldwin Publishing Inc. editorial policy, privacy policy, ADA compliance and sponsorship policy.

No information provided by Baldwin Publishing, Inc. in any article is a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical condition. Baldwin Publishing, Inc. strongly suggests that you use this information in consultation with your doctor or other health professional. Use or viewing of any Baldwin Publishing, Inc. article signifies your understanding and agreement to the disclaimer and acceptance of these terms of use.