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AMA releases tips for a healthy 2007

Physician Practice Advisor, December 27, 2006

"The start of another new year provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the past 12 months and look ahead to changes we can make today to improve our health tomorrow," AMA President-elect Ron Davis, MD, said in a press release about resolutions for a healthy 2007 that the American Medical Association (AMA) released Tuesday.

The following are among the tips for next year:

• Don't smoke. The U.S. Surgeon General reported this year that there is no risk-free level of exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS), and the California Environmental Protection Agency estimates that SHS kills 50,000 Americans each year.
• Eat your fruits and vegetables. Two cups of fruit and two or three cups of vegetables each day can reduce the risk of developing heart disease, cancer, stroke, and high blood pressure.
• Cut back on salt. Limit salt intake to one teaspoon per day (half a teaspoon for those 50 or older) to help lower blood pressure and decrease chances for heart disease or stroke.
• Limit fat in your diet. Eat a diet low in fat, saturated fat, and trans fats to reduce cholesterol levels and the risk of developing heart disease.
• Check cholesterol. Keep your cholesterol level under 200.

Other resolutions include reducing soda intake, taking appropriate preventive action (e.g., getting a mammogram or colonoscopy annually), and protecting skin from exposure to sunlight. Check out the AMA Web site for more information.

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