6 Havering Extra, February 2012 How to improve your health


BE AQUITTER: TV doctor Hilary Jones says quit- ting smoking is one of the most effective ways a person can improve their health. Giving up tobacco improves circulation and respiration within amonth, and the risk of heart disease and lung cancer can become similar to that of alifelong non-smoker within just afew years. Visit www.nhs.uk/smokefree to find out more.


GET ACTIVE: Professor Mike Kelly, public health director at the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), says physical activity is essential for physical and mental wellbeing, and helps prevent or manage arange of conditions. It is also recommended by Professor Alan Silman, medical director at Arthritis Research UK, who says Yoga provides real, positive benefits for people with chronic low back pain. For moreinformation visit www.yogafor- backs.co.uk


FOOD FOR THOUGHT: One way to maintain healthy eating is by keeping afood diary,suggests


Lucy Hannagan of MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition... Do it!), which runs family healthy eating and fitness programmes. Writing down everything you eat and


Useful


drink can help you identify your dietary strengths and weaknesses. Do forget to drink moreasdehydration can be area- son people choose to snack, as they mis- take thirst for hunger.


MichaelCrabtree/PAPhotos The British Association of Dermatologists (BAD)


CHECK IT OUT: Get ageneral health check-up with your GP if you haven’t seen them for three years, and don’tfor- get to visit your dentist, as Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF), says “there’san increasing body of clinical evidence of the systemic links between poor oral health and some of the biggest causes of seri- ous poor health and death in the UK”.


also suggests checking your skin regularly for any changes, while the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust advises children have regular eye tests, which can also look for signs of moreserious eye conditions. Visit www.bad.org.uk/sunawareness for informa- tion on checking your skin.


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