Personal Health
Looking after your own personal health can be very difficult in the high pressure, fast-paced world in which we live in today. However, if we do not take the time to look after our health the effects can be disastrous. Personal Health does not just mean diet and exercise but also relates to your mental health, sexual health and habits such as drinking and smoking. We at the ERHA have put together a brief Health Information guide to minding your own personal health.
Diet and Exercise
Eating a Health Diet is all about getting a balanced amount of nutrition from varying food groups. We need to keep some balance in our diet. It is not healthy to put a strong focus on a certain food types, for example protein, and ignore another. Many Fad Diets may advocate this but a varied Diet is key to staying health in the long term. A healthy diet is not just about staying slim. Unhealthy amounts of cholesterol can build up from a bad diet. Being slim does not necessarily equate to being healthy. We recommend the Food Pyramid as a guide to a healthy Balanced Diet.
Exercise is extremely important for our physical and mental. Regular exercise helps keep weight down, builds muscle, improves our cardio fitness and also increases HDL (known as Good Cholesterol). It also reduces the risk of Heart Disease, Cancer and Diabetes among other diseases. Exercise also releases the chemical Endorphin in the brain. Endorphins help put you in a good mood and feel good. Adults should aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise daily. This can include light activities such as walking and this exercise can be accumulated throughout the day. If you find it difficult to do this amount of exercise remember that some exercise is better than no exercise.
Drinking Alcohol
Alcohol is very much entrenched within Irish Society. Drinking Alcohol in a sensible manner does not cause any damage to our health. However, large amounts of Alcohol can have very serious effects on both our physical and mental health. Alcohol is a source of many social problems and abuse of the drug can destroy relationships and friendships. Abuse also has a very dangerous effect on our bodies. Long Term Alcohol abuse can cause Liver Damage and increase the risk of Heart Disease. However drinking large quantities of Alcohol over a short term (Binge Drinking) can also be very dangerous. Binge Drinking is generally defined as consuming more than 6 standard drinks in one session. Alcohol poisoning can occur and injuries can arise due to Alcohol’s effect on the brain’s ability to reason and judge. An Alcohol Blood Concentration of over .40% can be fatal.
Health Experts agree that over 14 Standard Drinks for a female and 21 standard drinks per week for a male is dangerous for your health. If you believe you have a problem with Alcohol we would advise seeking help from your local GP or Alcohol Counselling Service.