Every year February 4 marks the date where the global medical community seeks to involve more people in multiple campaigns to raise awareness about the importance of preventing cancer, since early detection is the most effective way to combat it.
At BMI we seek to contribute to the dissemination of information on changes in habits that can help reduce the development of some type of cancer. The following recommendations will improve your health significantly and will be a giant step in the work of prevention of this degenerative disease.
Testing for early detection is crucial. Some examples of these are:
- Mammogram ages 50 to 69 for breast cancer
- Cytology or HPV (Human Papillomavirus) test every 3 to 5 years for cervical cancer
- Fecal Occult Blood Test Age 50 to 69 for Colon Cancer
Consult with your doctor what type of exams are recommended for you, taking into account your age and physical condition.
In addition to the above, take into consideration the following recommendations:
Avoid the consumption of tobacco and alcohol. We know that eradicating these two habits is a mission of great difficulty, but it must be a priority, since we know that the use of tobacco and excessive consumption of alcohol almost inevitably leads to some type of cancer: lung, liver, mouth, throat , larynx, pancreas, bladder, cervix and kidney.
Protect yourself from the sun. Skin cancer is one of the most common types, but also one of the easiest to prevent. Some steps to follow are:
- Try to expose yourself the least amount of time to the sun between 10 am and 4 pm, when the sun's rays are strongest
- Use a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) suitable for your skin and the climatic circumstances in which you find yourself, this should be done even on cloudy days
- Avoid sun beds or sunlamps, as these light rays are just as harmful as sunlight
Maintain a healthy weight and decrease sedentary lifestyle with physical activity. In addition to helping you control your weight, physical activity alone can reduce the risk of developing breast and colon cancer. To gain substantial health benefits as an adult, you need at least 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity, or a combination of both. As a general goal you should consider at least 30 minutes of physical activity in your daily routine.
Eat a healthy diet. One of the main recommendations is to limit processed meats, since, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the specialized body created by the World Health OrganizationEating large amounts of this kind of food can increase the risk of developing certain types of cancer.
Following a Mediterranean diet is an excellent option to improve the quality of your diet, since it mostly includes foods of plant origin, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts, as well as including healthy fats, such as oil olive instead of butter, and fish instead of red meat.
As you can see, these small actions, in addition to improving our health in general, are effective ways to prevent this condition.
BMI health plans provide coverage for some types of cancer, contact us and receive timely information about the benefits you can receive.
