The road to health and fitness

Walking towards health and fitness is not really the hard, arduous job that everybody seems to think it is. When you really think about it, the hard part is often the start. Afterwards, everything else will be easier once you really get the hang of it. All it takes is discipline and commitment.

Below are some tips on how to get a head start on your road to health and fitness. Read each one and you'll realize that it is actually easier to undertake. You just need to take the first few steps.

1. Start small If your favorite dish is something that your doctor asked you to avoid, there is no sense in skipping it altogether and then binging on the dish when you can't take the abstinence anymore. Take moderate steps towards the goal. If you eat the dish everyday, try to cut down on your consumption and make it just three times a week. IF you have managed that, cut down further and make it once a week. That way, you are able to still enjoy the food and not increase your craving for it.

2. Plan modestly Set goals for yourself, but that does not mean that you have to kill yourself to get it and when you don't you'll also kill yourself. Setting too high goals will often only lead to disappointment and frustration. When you plan, make sure that you can do it. How will you know? Be realistic. You know what you are capable of. It is better to set goals for yourself that you know you can do. Accomplishing them will give you a sense of achievement that will make you more confident and more willing to continue with your task.

3. Have a buddy Sharing the aches and pains as well as the joys of accomplishment with a buddy will help make the process easier and more bearable. In fact, people with a buddy when doing a self-improvement project are better able to stick with their plans than those who are doing the projects alone. This is because when you have a buddy with you, he or she acts as a support system that will help keep you on track and prevent you from giving up. Besides having a friend with you experiencing the same things makes the process more fun and more enjoyable.

4. Have discipline This is one of the few things that will make or break your plans to finally live a healthy lifestyle. In order to really stick to the plan, you need to develop self-discipline especially when it involves things that you really want to do or things that you are used to doing. Temptations along the way will be many and you need to be prepared to face all that!

5. Do it for yourself, a lot of people start to live a life of health and fitness when they are trying to get a new guy to notice them or when they want to impress a lover. Although these are valid reasons, sometimes, they are not enough to see you through the entire process. It is better that you do it for yourself because you want a healthier and better you than do it for other people's approval. After all, the only approval that you will ever need is your own.

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Heart Attack and Stroke: Silent Killers on the Loose

Heart attack and stroke two of leading causes of death and disability around the world. Clearly, not enough people know about the risks and factors surrounding these two medical emergencies. For example, many thought that as long as they do not smoke, consume too much alcohol, and regularly have exercise they would be immune from this killer disease. However, a number of individuals fail to watch their diet, which is sometimes composed of fatty foods and fast food orders. These facts should not be taken for granted. Read on to find ways to protect yourself and loved ones from this dreaded disease.

A heart attack develops when an artery becomes blocked, therefore preventing blood that carries oxygen and essential nutrients from reaching the heart. With insufficient oxygen supply, an area of the heart or is permanently damaged. Some heart attacks are abrupt and severe but most cases develop slowly, usually with slight pain or discomfort. Individuals that are affected may not be sure of the symptoms and they seek medical attention when it's already too late.

The following are possible warning signs that can mean a heart attack is taking place:

Discomfort at the center of the chest that may last more than a few minutes. This may feel like squeezing pain that goes away and then comes back;
Discomfort or pain in the areas of the upper body like the jaw, neck, one or both arms, stomach, or back;
Shortness of breath that may take place with or without chest pains; and
Cold sweat, cough, nausea, vomiting, light-headiness, and fainting.

Stroke or "brain attack" occurs because of the absence of blood flow to the brain (ischemic stroke) and, in some cases, there is bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke). According to medical experts, blood vessels in the brain are damaged because if fat deposits or a blood clot that may block a part of the brain. With insufficient blood that carries oxygen and nutrients, brain cells die and cause permanent damage.

The warning signs of stroke include:

Numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg. This numbness usually occur on one side of the body;
A severe headache with unknown cause;
Swallowing difficulties or drooling;
Uncontrollable eye movements, eyelid drooping;
Loss of balance or coordination; and
Personality changes, like depression.

Individuals who experience these signs, they should act fast and go to the hospital immediately. Getting urgent treatment may save the victim's life and reduce the chances of developing a disability. Medical specialists advise patients to receive therapy three hours after the stroke. The stroke should be treated with intensive care and life support that only hospitals can support.

A healthy lifestyle is crucial in the prevention of heart attack and stroke. Some factors that may contribute to the risks of stroke include age, family history of stroke, high cholesterol, smoking, and diabetes. In addition to these risks, alcohol and drug abuse, head injury, and bleeding disorder may increase the risk of stroke.

The possibility of recovering most or all of body functions of those who survived from stroke is only 10 percent. Most even experience long-term disabilities. Therefore, the best immunity when it comes to stroke is having a healthy and active lifestyle.