10 Healthy Habits for Your Brain
Positive, everyday actions can make a difference in brain health,
even lowering the risk of cognitive decline and possibly Alzheimer's and
dementia. Incorporate some or all of these habits into your life to
help maintain a healthy brain.
Take charge of your brain health today — it's never too early or too late to start.
Challenge your mind
Keeping track of all the stroke research out there is challenging. Is your competent? doctor doing that? NO! Then you don't have a functioning stroke doctor.
Be curious! Put your brain to work and do something that is new for you. Learn a new skill. Try something artistic. Challenging your mind may have short- and long-term benefits for your brain.
Stay in school
Education reduces the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Encourage youth to stay in school and pursue the highest level of training possible. Continue your own education by taking a class at a local library or college, or online.
Get moving
I do 6-8,000 steps 4-5 times a week.
Engage in regular exercise. This includes activities that raise your heart rate and increase blood flow to the brain and body. Find ways to build more movement into your day — walking, dancing, gardening — whatever works for you!
Protect your head
Yep, but had to buy a magnetic clasp for the bike helmet to be able to put it on one-handed. Did your therapist inform you of that possibility?
Help prevent an injury to your head. Wear a helmet for activities like biking, and wear a seatbelt. Protect yourself while playing sports. Do what you can to prevent falls, especially for older adults.
Be smoke-free
Nope, but a couple cigars when on international vacations.
Quitting smoking can lower the risk of cognitive decline back to levels similar to those who have not smoked. It's never too late to stop.
Control your blood pressure
Controlled, found out the problem when donating blood.
Medications can help lower high blood pressure. And healthy habits like eating right and physical activity can help, too. Work with a health care provider to control your blood pressure.
Manage diabetes
Nope, not even pre-diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or controlled by eating healthier, increasing physical activity and taking medication, if necessary.
Eat right
Better, but still needs work.
Eating healthier foods can help reduce your risk of cognitive decline. This includes more vegetables and leaner meats/proteins, along with foods that are less processed and lower in fat. Choose healthier meals and snacks that you enjoy and are available to you.
Maintain a healthy weight
Well, if my competent? doctor had bothered to tell me about metabolism slowing down past 50 and that because he fucking completely failed at getting me recovered I couldn't keep doing all the activities that burned massive amounts of calories!
Talk to your health care provider about the weight that is healthy for you. Other healthy habits on this list — eating right, exercising and sleeping well — can help with maintaining a healthy weight.
Sleep well
My doctor did nothing about getting me a sleep protocol and never found or tested for my sleep apnea.
Good quality sleep is important for brain health. Stay off screens before bed and make your sleep space as comfortable as possible. Do all you can to minimize disruptions. If you have any sleep-related problems, such as sleep apnea, talk to a health care provider.
Terms for understanding brain health
"Cognitive decline" refers to changes in the ability to think that
happen as people age. Some changes are a normal part of getting older,
but you can take steps to slow that decline. More significant decline or
severe changes are not normal and may be a sign of Alzheimer's disease or other dementia.
"Dementia" is a general term used to describe problems with thinking and
memory that are severe enough to interfere with a person's daily life.
Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia but there are several
kinds of dementia. Dementia is not a normal part of aging.
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