What are Your Health Resolutions for 2010?

As the New Year approaches, people start to table new resolutions, but not all of them guarantee a good health for 2010 and the years after.

Thus, CBS News Medical Correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton has suggested several health-related resolutions that people should focus on.

About Sleep Disorder
Sleep disorders can either be having difficulty in getting sleep or dozing off at inappropriate time.

On "The Early Show" Thursday, Ashton noted that little things add up to big difference-makers over time, and claimed that her advice would benefit everything from the immune systems to the emotional well being of anyone following it.

Get enough sleep

"It is one of the most neglected aspects of our health in terms of preventative health," CBS quoted Ashton as telling co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez.

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Sleep is a barometer of good health in the elderly. Sleep problems in the elderly are controlled by various external and internal factors.

"Few people get the recommended seven-to-nine hours of sleep, and we know that lack of sleep has been linked to a deficient immune system, increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, even certain types of cancers. We see higher cancers on nurses and people who work graveyard shifts and don't get that recommended seven-to-nine hours. This is very important," she added.

And the best way to keep this resolution, in her opinion, is to maintain a sleep schedule.

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Circadian rhythm (also known as sleep/wake cycle or the body clock) is a biological process that follows an internal cycle of roughly 24 hours.

"Go to bed and get up at about the same time every day. It will help keep your body on track and help you fall asleep more easily at night. You have to be strict, you have to be very rigid about it. In my case, it's at the expense of a social life, but I make sure I get that eight-to-nine hours a night!" said Ashton.

Quit smoking, once and for all

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Obstructive sleep apnea should be suspected in overweight middle aged adults who snore loudly and which can cause interruption of breathing for 10 seconds or more and this results in reduced blood o

"This is clearly the single most important thing someone can do for their health. If you smoke, stop in 2010. The American Cancer Society has a great program called Quit-For-Life. You can have help with it. The most important thing, make a plan, set the date about two weeks ahead of time. Have things in place so that, when those obstacles come up, so you know how to deal with them. Get a support group. Even ask your doctor to help you, but it is the most important thing you can do for your health," said Ashton.

Don't set unrealistic diet goals

"This is so easy. Don't drink your calories. Obesity and weight is a huge issue in this country. We hear it again and again and again. It is the easiest thing to do to just remove the excess calories from your diet in the form of beverages. So, don't drink anything with calories. While I don't love to advocate diet soda, any way you can cut calories from your beverages, the better. I had a patient who was able to cut 35 pounds in one year just by reducing the amount of calories she was taking in her coffee," observed Ashton.

Along with a healthy diet-exercise, exercise, exercise

"I'm a big advocate of weightlifting. I think it's great, especially for women, but we can't forget about the cardiovascular exercise. Don't forget about your heart. Do aerobic exercise: I am very BAD at this one! I do a lot of exercise, but it is only weightlifting and, while that's great for bones and for shape, and metabolism, it does nothing for my heart. I am going to try to do cardio twice a week!" said Ashton.

Source-ANI
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