Hurdle Over Bad Habits

Benjamin Franklin once said, “It is easier to prevent bad habits than to break them.” Knowing that, many of us still spend too much time on our phones, don’t save enough money or make excuses not to exercise.

We’re not trying to trip you up, but the three health hurdles we need to clear are alcohol consumption, smoking and food choices.

Experts recommend consuming a maximum of one alcoholic drink daily for women and one or two for men. That’s because alcohol can increase heart rate, blood pressure, stress hormones and cause weight gain. And, if you have a known heart condition or other health concerns, the recommended amounts may be even lower.

Similarly, smoking can strain the heart. The chemicals you inhale when you smoke cause damage to your heart and blood vessels, making you more likely to develop plaque buildup in your arteries. Even occasional smoking can cause damage to the heart and blood vessels.

Another bad habit we often fall prey to is eating foods high in fat, cholesterol and sodium, which can contribute to hypertension, high cholesterol and obesity. This is especially true when we dine out. The average American dines out six times a week, and the average household spends $3,500 annually eating out. But even when getting takeout, we can make better choices, such as ordering veggies instead of french fries.

While it may be hard to hurdle over these bad habits, we believe in you. Even better, kicking these habits could help you save some Benjamin Franklins.

Part of the problem with bad habits is that we don’t always know when they’re happening. In fact, 43% of actions are done habitually. To break these habits, try to:

• Identify triggers, such as stress or boredom.
• Replace your habit with something more positive, like chewing gum instead of smoking or drinking flavored water instead of alcohol.
• Visualize what your life will be like when you’ve finally kicked the habit for good.
• And, finally, cut yourself some slack. You may backslide occasionally, but just start again. Consistency is the key to success.

If you can’t quit smoking, stick to a healthy diet or have concerns you are overusing alcohol, talk to your doctor, who can suggest ways to change your lifestyle.

We know you didn’t sign up for anything too scary, but next time we’ll talk about the heart’s “silent killer” and how to avoid a hypertension jump scare!