Five Ways to Upgrade Your Routine for a Healthier Life

Your health is result of the choices you make every day. If you don’t get enough sleep every night, for example, you may be a little groggy and, lets admit it, hardly any one of us think much about the long-term consequences. However, chronic lack of sleep puts you at risk for a number of chronic conditions, obesity, depression, and more. Doctors and medical researchers are now increasingly prescribing lifestyle-related interventions to help patients prevent health events from happening.

If you were to look at your routine, there are probably a few changes you could make to improve your health. Although they may seem small, over the course of a lifetime, they can be very significant. It takes as little as 21 days to break a bad habit for good, so you may be able to experience the benefits of these changes in less time than you would think.

By adjusting your routine, you may able to stay out of the doctor’s office and experience better health. In addition to that, you’ll feel better physically and emotionally, and you may lose some weight as well. If you can, ask your partner, a family member or a friend to try these upgrades with you to increase your chances of success.

Healthy Upgrades You Can Implement for Better Health

• Fill your plate up with vegetables. Vegetables provide a number of health benefits. Also, when you load your plate with veggies, you have less room for unhealthy items.
• Meditate. All you need is twenty minutes each day to experience more calmness and a better mood.
• Take a break from the desk every hour. Sitting for long periods of time has been linked with a number of chronic conditions.
• Keep in good company. Social gatherings are an important part of longevity.
• Go to bed at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning for improved sleep habits.

Doctors at the Hope4Cancer® Institute treat the underlying cause of the disease and not just the symptoms. Most doctors do not realize how important it is for cancer patients to not just focus on getting rid of the cancer, but in changing the lifestyle parameters that most likely caused it in the first place. If you are looking to prevent cancer, making healthy lifestyle upgrades can eliminate or reduce the impact of many risk factors. It is now known that only 5% of all cancers are inherited. What that means is that the rest are being caused largely by our habits and environment, and gives us something to work towards. Statistics show that 2 out of 1 men and 3 out of 1 women will end up getting cancer in their lifetime. The good news is that the preventive measures for cancer apply equally to those for many other life-threatening diseases. So is it worth the effort? You decide.

So the next time you realize that you are feeling tired all of the time, take a look at your sleep routine instead of reaching for that cup of coffee. If you are gaining weight and don’t know why, take a look at your diet and activity level to see if improvements can be made. Bad habits are hard to break, but the benefits of making these changes to your routine are well worth it. Try one or all of these changes to avoid the doctor’s office and feel healthier overall.

Five Questions You Should Ask Your Doctor at Your Next Physical

When you go to the doctor’s office, how honest are you about your lifestyle, any symptoms experienced, etc.? Unfortunately, many of us aren’t 100% forthright with our doctor, which is a shame because doctors do rely on the patient to speak about any lifestyle hiccups, pains felt, and other factors to make an accurate diagnosis. Why are many of us so reluctant to speak up when going to the doctor? Here are several often cited reasons:

• Shame for drinking too much, eating the wrong foods, etc.
• Fear of asking for clarification when you don’t understand something
• Feeling rushed or pressed for time
• Feeling lazy or scared about doing the work that you imagine will follow
• Doctor is not responsive or is intimidating

Although these concerns may feel important, they do not fit in the grand scheme of things, and could actually hurt you in the long run. It’s important to be honest with your doctor and speak more. If your doctor is not responsive or you find it difficult to talk to him or her, then it may be time to get a new one.

Questions You Should Ask Your Doctor during a Check-up?

As you speak more with your doctor, you do have the right to ask questions about your health in order to get the correct treatment. Doctors are people too, and most are very pressed for time, experience stress, etc. You are the one who knows your body best, so any questions you ask may help to ensure you get the best care possible. You may ask yourself what questions you should be asking. While there are no bad questions, these five can certainly help you gain a better understanding of your health:

• Which screening tests do I really need?
• What does my family history say about my health now and in the future?
• Is my weight in a healthy range?
• Are my medications still relevant?
• Are there any lumps or discolorations that I should be concerned about?

Doctor-Patient Relationships at the Hope4Cancer® Institute

Patient care is a crucial part of the core mission of the Hope4Cancer® Institute. Patients come to the cancer clinic in Baja California, Mexico with many questions and concerns. They most likely have been to other facilities and tried conventional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation, and they are now looking for new answers on how to best manage the disease. Take, for example, Sissy Alexander, who went through five grueling years of ravaging chemo and radiation to treat three types of cancers until she finally found Hope4Cancer, where she is improving steadily (Read story). The Hope4Cancer® Institute has added many new doctors, nurses, and staff to make the stay as comfortable and effective as possible.

The Hope4Cancer® Institute has implemented many new technologies and alternative treatments that have been thoroughly researched and shown positive results in eliminating cancer cells without harming the body any further. Each patient receives an individual treatment plan that doctors feel would be best depending on the stage and type of cancer. Along the way, doctors and staff are always available to answer any questions and address any concerns you may have. When it comes to your health, it’s best to always speak up to ensure you’re getting the best care possible.