An unhealthy lifestyle can increase the risk of various diseases, including degenerative diseases. You need to adopt a healthy lifestyle as early as possible to avoid the disease.
Degenerative diseases are generally caused by a gradual decrease in the performance of the body's cells which then affects the function of organs in general. Most degenerative diseases arise due to aging, not due to viruses or bacteria. a bad lifestyle also increases the risk of this disease.
Lifestyle factors that can increase the risk of developing degenerative diseases are diverse. Those of you who like to eat unhealthy foods, are lazy to move or exercise, and have habits that interfere with health, are more at risk for degenerative diseases. Habits that can interfere with health, among others, are smoking and consuming alcoholic beverages in excess.
Degenerative Diseases That Often Occur
Some degenerative diseases are triggered by bad daily habits which then cause disorders in certain organs. Some of the most common degenerative diseases are:
- Type 2 diabetesType 2 diabetes is generally also influenced by genetic factors, so children of parents with type 2 diabetes need to check themselves and take better care of their lifestyle, especially diet. In addition to heredity and age, the risk of type 2 diabetes can also increase in people with certain conditions, such as people who are sedentary, overweight, or accustomed to eating foods rich in fat and carbohydrates. This lifestyle triggers disturbances in the system for regulating blood sugar levels in the body.
- Cardiovascular diseaseCardiovascular disease is generally caused by the buildup of fatty plaques in the blood vessels leading to the heart, known as atherosclerosis. This buildup can then block blood flow to the tissues and organs of the body. This condition can be caused by various bad habits, such as lack of exercise, unhealthy diet, stress, and smoking.
- OsteoporosisIn addition to vitamin D deficiency which causes bone fragility, osteoporosis is more prone to occur in people who have paralysis or in people who are less active every day. All day sitting watching TV or sitting working in front of a laptop can accelerate the decline in bone density quality. In the long term, smoking and consuming alcoholic beverages also play a role in reducing bone density.
- Cancer
Cancer is generally caused by mutations in the DNA in the body's cells. Mutations in these genes can be passed down from parental DNA or can arise later in life. There are many things that can trigger gene mutations, namely a bad lifestyle such as smoking habits, obesity, lack of exercise, and consumption of foods that contain carcinogenic substances (cancer-causing chemicals).
In addition, diseases associated with changes in brain structure and function, such as Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, and Parkinson's, are also degenerative diseases. These conditions can be inherited genetically, and can affect a person's memory (senility) so that it interferes with daily activities.
How to Implement a Healthy Lifestyle
The risk of degenerative diseases can actually be prevented from an early age by living a healthy lifestyle. This can be started by reducing the consumption of processed foods, especially high fat ones, such as red meat and sausage. Healthy foods such as vegetables, fruit, and low-fat meat are recommended, because they contain a variety of nutrients that the body needs.
In addition, get used to being active on the sidelines of daily activities and avoid sitting for too long. For workers who spend their time sitting in front of the computer, use lunch time to socialize at a friend's desk or go to lunch outside the office, to keep the body active. Limiting the use of elevators and switching to stairs is also a wise step to start a healthy life.
In order for the body to be more active, get used to regular exercise at least 20 minutes every day or an average of 2.5 hours per week. Don't forget to avoid smoking and alcohol before you get addicted and it's hard to quit.
Degenerative diseases can be minimized by adopting a healthy lifestyle as early as possible. It is also recommended to regularly check your health or undergo medicalcheckup, so that the disease can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.