Based on 35 years of research in Caerphilly by Cardiff University Healthy Living Based on 35 years of research in Caerphilly by Cardiff University

Each of us is responsible for the protection of our own health Regular Physical Exercise A Low Body Weight A Healthy Diet Not Smoking A Low Alcohol Consumption If you follow all five of these, or perhaps even four, you will love a healthy lifestyle with all its benefits. Following five of the behaviours is the ideal and any less than four is an unhealthy lifestyle.

Heart disease and stroke People who follow a healthy lifestyle have less than half the number of heart attacks and strokes than those who live an unhealthy lifestyle

Diabetes People who keep their body weight down have far less diabetes – almost 70% less than those who become overweight!

Cancer Non smokers have a huge reduction in the risk of cancer-one third less…and not just lung cancer, but almost all cancers. Non smokers also have one third less heart disease than those who smoke. Eating fruit and vegetables daily reduces cancer and hence the ‘five portions per day’ rule.

Dementia In Caerphilly, the men who followed a healthy lifestyle had huge protection from loss of brain power – almost 70% less dementia. The men who followed a healthy lifestyle but still got dementia were, on average, seven years older than those who followed none of the behaviours and got dementia. “Use it or lose it!”

This is serious Wales is ‘the sick man in Europe’ and the Welsh hold records for following the most unhealthy lifestyles

This is serious Wales in 2009 Smoking Obesity Diet Exercise Alcohol 25% of adults still smoke 20%of young girls smoke Obesity 50% of people are overweight or obese Diet 70% fail to eat enough fruit and vegetables Exercise 70% fail to take a reasonable amount of regular exercise Alcohol 50% admit they regularly exceed the guidelines, and 28% admit to frequent binge drinking

Targets For Health A low body weight A healthy diet Regular exercise Not smoking Low alcohol consumption

The Challenge Take up one additional healthy behaviour today and stick with it tomorrow, the next day and the next…….

Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the former. Albert Einstein