Medical Directory Articles - Flipbook - Page 21
The recent measles outbreak
that resulted in death for an unvaccinated child in Texas, further demonstrates the need for immunization.
It’s important, Hamidi explains, to
remain on schedule with vaccinations for children:
a long time, giving cancer-causing
substances longer to accumulate in
the lungs.
Abstaining from all forms of
smoking is the recommendation
from physicians and health organizations alike. According to the CDC,
quitting smoking reduces the risk
of premature death and can add as
much as 10 years to life expectancy. Quitting also reduces the risk
for many adverse health effects like
cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD), cancer and poor reproductive health outcomes.
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella
(MMR)
• Polio
• Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis
(DTaP)
• Human papillomavirus (HPV)
for teens
2. Lifestyle Habits
Adopting healthier habits is also
important. Wash your hands routinely. Wear a mask when you’re in
a crowded place. Be aware of your
surroundings; behaviors should differ when visiting a hospital patient
from having a meal outdoors.
A behavior deemed by many as
the most important is exercise.
According to Hamidi, evidence
shows that exercise reduces the
risk of dementia, heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.
The latest CDC recommendations call for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity or 75 minutes
of vigorous aerobic activity each
week. In addition, adults should perform muscle-strengthening activities
twice weekly.
Exercise also plays a part in preventing mental health issues, Hamidi notes.
“People feel better when they
exercise,” he adds. “And they sleep
better.”
3. Diet
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), obesity levels in
the United States continue to climb,
with about 42% of adults ages 20
and above having obesity.
Obesity is attributed, in part, to
what we eat. There’s no question
that vegetarians are healthier, Hamidi notes, as meat is also associated with heart disease and certain
kinds of cancer. How the meat is
cooked and the type of meat also
contributes.
Limiting processed foods is also
a recommendation.
“The standard guidance is to
keep to the outer edges of the grocery store, where the fruit and produce are. The inside is where all
of the processed foods are. If you
look at the processed food section,
which is nice and convenient, there
are a lot of chemicals that aren’t
good for you.”
The mantra to remember is cost
vs. bene昀椀t, according to Hamidi.
“Food is a is a part of our pleasure in our lives, and we shouldn’t
really cut ourselves off from foods
we like, even though they might be
bad for us. We just shouldn’t eat
them all the time, and that makes
them more special when we do eat
them.”
That leads Hamidi to share that
everyone should be aware of their
own habits. Try eating healthier
foods like 昀椀sh and baby carrots, for
example, over meat and chips.
4. Smoking Cessation
Along with a commitment to exercising and watching food intake
is awareness of toxins that some
put into their bodies. The primary is
tobacco, and whether through cigarettes, pipes or vapes, smoking has
been tied to increased risk for lung
cancer and a dozen other cancer
types according to the American
Cancer Society (ACS).
While cigarette smoking reached
an all-time low in 2019, 14% of the
U.S. population still smokes and
smoking accounts for nearly 30% of
all cancer-related deaths.
There are also reasons to consider that marijuana smoke may increase cancer risks, according to the
ACS. Marijuana cigarettes (joints)
are smoked to the end, where tar
content is said to be the highest. In
addition, marijuana is inhaled deeply, and smoke is held in the lungs for
5. Screenings
With all of the toxins, environmental contributors and behaviors
that comprise overall health, the
best practice is to visit your primary
care provider for annual checkups
and screenings.
Part of the evaluation is taking
blood pressure and weight measurements and checking blood and
urine for sugar and cholesterol levels, which can be indicators of issues that need addressing.
Self-administered examinations
are also crucial as you know your
body best. Women should conduct
regular self-breast exams to ensure
there are no lumps present, and
Hamidi also encourages teen boys
to conduct self-testicular exams to
look out for the incidence of cancer.
At age 50, individuals are encouraged to have a colonoscopy,
which screens for colon cancer. Although the preparation – a detox of
the colon – may be uncomfortable
for many, it is worth the effort, Hamidi says.
Again, he employs his cost-bene昀椀t ratio. Screening to detect cancer
early while treatable and curable is
the bene昀椀t that outweighs the discomfort of a one-day detox.
“As we age, the bene昀椀t consideration changes,” he says. “We think
more about risks and whether they
are worth it.”
