Having healthy habits can minimise your risk of developing the disease.

Nowadays, nearly 40% of people with cancer manage to overcome it. Each year, statistics show that the survival rate for this disease is growing and that our lifestyles, eating habits and exercise routines can have a strong influence on minimising the risk of it emerging.

To mark World Cancer Day (4 February), this article reviews the health recommendations issued by the World Health Organisation to help prevent this disease.

– Don’t smoke. It doesn’t matter whether you use cigarettes, cigars, a pipe or rolling tobacco. They are all damaging to your health. If you currently smoke, try the INhealth challenge to go 100 days without smoking, and stop smoking today.

– Avoid smoky spaces, whether at home or work.

– Stay at the right weight for your age and physical constitution.

– Stay active. Being sedentary is one of the biggest enemies to health. Try doing moderate physical activity at least twice a week, or five days of light activity, like walking.

– Watch what you eat. Opt for fresh food and reduce animal fat and sugar. Remember that your diet should be balanced and varied.

– There is no good amount of alcohol. Try to reduce it as far as possible, since it can cause irreparable damage to your circulation, liver and nervous system.

– Attend all the periodic medical check-ups recommended for your age: gynaecologist or urologist, mammograms and other tests that can detect tumours, like hidden blood in faeces or the PSA analysis (to detect prostate cancer). If cancer runs in your family, talk to a doctor about this.

– Do the analyses needed to monitor sugar, uric acid and fat. Check your blood pressure at least twice a year and visit the optician and the dentist each year.

– Get enough rest, at least seven or eight hours a night. This way, you will restore your body.

Remember that having the right lifestyle habits will help you feel better and prevent and reduce the risk of cancer emerging.

This post is also available in: Portuguese (Portugal)