Doctors use the term \u201cmodifiable risk factors\u201d to describe those aspects of a person\u2019s life that are potentially dangerous but which can be reversed, or modified. Conversely, some risk factors are less modifiable. If you have a family history of a certain cancer, you can\u2019t order a new set of genes, but you can have regular check-ups and avoid substances known to trigger your particular cancer risk.<\/p>\n
Of course, doctors must first decide that something is a risk factor to begin with. For example, up until the 1950s, cigarettes weren\u2019t regarded as unhealthy and tobacco ads routinely showed doctors happily puffing away, with the phrase \u201cMore doctors smoke Camels than any other cigarette\u201d plastered above his head, bold as brass. In fact, when I was in training, doctors routinely smoked during hospital rounds and interns bummed smokes from nurses and patients alike.<\/p>\n
The debate about alcohol has also gone on for decades. Probably one of the numerically largest studies I\u2019ve ever seen on any condition was published in the December 11, 2006, issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. <\/em><\/p>\n The authors looked over the data of (brace yourself) 1,105,835 people to come up with the following: women enjoy longer and healthier lives if they allow themselves 1 to 2 drinks a day, meaning 1 to 2 ounces of spirits or an equivalent amount of wine or beer. Bear in mind that 1.5 ounces of hard liquor has the same amount of alcohol as 4 ounces of wine–or one half cup.<\/p>\n Men can have up to 4 drinks a day. Both total alcohol abstinence or drinking more than these amounts are less healthful (unless you have an alcohol problem, in which case abstinence is quite good for you).<\/p>\n The same issue contained an article listing the most significant modifiable risk factors in middle aged women. You probably know this list in your sleep but since it\u2019s a new year, let\u2019s go over them again.<\/p>\n Your life will be shortened if you:<\/p>\n The easiest to eliminate is high blood pressure, which usually requires just one pill daily–a very safe one with few side effects–to get under control. If you\u2019re addicted to cigarettes and are serious about stopping, I\u2019ve been seeing excellent results in my patients who are taking the new prescription medication Chantix, which blocks the receptor sites in your brain that are hooked on nicotine. Ask your doctor.<\/p>\n The tough duo is obesity and inactivity, but neither is insurmountable. If you can afford it, I recommend working professionals: a nutritional counselor and a personal fitness trainer. Three weeks of healthy eating and regular exercise later you\u2019ll have geared your brain to \u201chabit\u201d mode and you\u2019ll actually find it difficult to return to your old ways.<\/p>\n And, as a reward, your two glasses of wine aren\u2019t particularly fattening.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Doctors use the term \u201cmodifiable risk factors\u201d to describe those aspects of a person\u2019s life that are potentially dangerous but which can be reversed, or modified. Conversely, some risk factors are less modifiable. If you have a family history of a certain cancer, you can\u2019t order a new set of genes, but you can have regular check-ups and avoid substances known to trigger your particular cancer risk.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2087,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,50,2331,3,4],"tags":[319,320,321,322,132,323],"class_list":["post-3258","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog","category-healthy-lifestyle","category-internal-medicine","category-knowledge-base","category-r","tag-alcohol","tag-cigarettes","tag-high-blood-pressure","tag-risk-factors","tag-sleep","tag-weight"],"yoast_head":"\r\n\n