Medical Professionals Are Revealing The "Essential" Health Tips Not Enough People Actually Follow, And Honestly, We Should All Be Listening

Taking care of yourself isn't always easy, but it is important. So not too long ago, Reddit user Sea_Fig1387 asked doctors to share the one important thing they recommend everyone do for their health. While these answers can't be taken as actual medical advice and shouldn't replace conversations with your own doctor, there are some tips that might help you look after yourself a little more...

1. "Exercise. I'm an orthopedic surgeon, and it’s the biggest difference I see in my patients. I know 90-year-olds who feel and act 65, and 65-year-olds who act and feel 90. The difference is exercise. You don’t have to do anything absurd. Just do something and be consistent. I will also add that in my opinion, the majority of arthritis is genetic programming (not age, weight, sports, etc.), and the only thing that slows it down is, you guessed it, exercise."

—Flaky-Wedding2455

2. "The longer I’m in medicine, the more I realize how important the basics are for increasing your chances of living a long life. Cook your own food more often, exercise, get enough sleep, connect with your friends and people, and drink alcohol in moderation. Unfortunately, all of the above may be a luxury not afforded to many."

—asystole_____

3. "Oral health is often overlooked, so this is for anyone who uses a manual toothbrush: If you can afford it, buy a cheap electric toothbrush. Most people aren’t great with their toothbrush technique, and an electric toothbrush makes it so much easier for most people to get plaque off. Just 2 minutes each time, twice a day. Point the bristles toward the gum line at a 45-degree angle and let the electric toothbrush do its magic!"

—Dentina

4. "Please floss your teeth. Between your teeth is the dirtiest part. Skipping it is basically the equivalent of showering and not washing your butthole."

—PrimalPineapple927

5. "MD here: Be curious. Why are you the way you are? Why do you think the way you think? Why do you do what you do the way you do it? None of us is given a manual for being, yet understanding our being provides so much more agency in life. If you can afford therapy, great. If not, self-help books, CBT apps, online courses and workshops, podcasts and YouTube channels, journaling, mindfulness/meditation, and self-reflection exercises are all helpful. All the other things you'll likely read here — exercise, stopping alcohol/cigarettes, eating healthy, better sleep hygiene, wearing sunscreen, oral hygiene — they're behavioral changes made easier when you understand your cognitions themselves."

—jsolex

6. "I have a PhD in psychology/neuroscience. Get enough sleep and do so regularly. You’re setting yourself up for serious cardiac and neurological problems later in life if you are constantly accumulating sleep debt now. If you’re one of those people who thinks they don’t need very much sleep or are too busy to get enough sleep, try getting at least 7–8 hours per night for 2 straight weeks. You’ll see that you’re more effective at work (less distractible, less error-prone) and more emotionally centered in general. If you have anxiety-related issues that keep you from sleeping, start exercising (aim for an elevated heart rate and preferably work up a bit of a sweat) at least three times per week."

—TheTrub

7. "Emergency physician here. Get comfortable with talking about what we refer to as 'goals of care' conversations with your family. In an instance where a family member can't advocate for themselves, what is important to them when it comes to their quality of life? I see so many situations every day where I have to ask families about if their elderly loved ones were to have the natural process occur and their heart were to stop, would they want want to have CPR done, for instance, which is very violent, often involves breaking ribs, and requires me to put in breathing tubes and connect people to ventilators. It's much more brutal than TV.

"In the face of an emergency situation, when your loved one cannot advocate for themselves, I see so much (understandable) decision paralysis because people have to think about things they've never discussed before, and saying 'no' seems like giving up or not advocating for your family.

Talk to your family. Talked to your loved ones. Get your state-specific goals of care forms and keep copies available. Let your loved ones dictate their care while they still can."

—brady94

8. "I'm a hospice nurse. When we reach our natural destination, the folks surrounding you are all you have left... Community is very important for healthy longevity."

—stacey-e-clark

9. "Dermatologist here. Everybody recommends wearing sunscreen every day, but I honestly don't care as much about that. Wear sunscreen when you're going to get a lot of sun — when you're outside all day, going to the beach, going on a road trip, playing tennis, etc. Just don't let yourself sunburn. Don't let perfect be the enemy of good. If you wear sunscreen during the days when you get the most sun, and you don't let yourself get burned, you should be able to minimize most of your risk of skin cancer. Sure, wearing sunscreen every day at all times is amazing, especially for reducing photoaging, but just wearing sunscreen during the big times and preventing sunburns is huge for reducing skin cancers."

—PersonalBrowser

10. "Use ear plugs and preserve your hearing for as long as possible. Noise-induced hearing loss is the number one preventable hearing loss. Untreated hearing loss is the number one modifiable risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia. Mowing the lawn? Ear plugs. Attending a concert or even a loud bar with live music? Ear plugs. Shooting a gun (yes, even just one shot)? Ear plugs. Ear plugs come in pretty styles and designs these days. Spend a few extra dollars on the musician ear plugs to maintain good speech understanding. Ear plugs are cool. Protect your ears!"

—Massive_Pineapple_36

11. "I'm a radiologist. Keep your coins, earrings, batteries, and magnets away from children. And don't buy motorcycles... It's just not worth it. Don't buy trampolines either."

—KetchupLA

12. "I'm a retired internist and pathologist. Don't smoke or chew tobacco. Get your blood pressure and fasting glucose checked periodically — hypertension and diabetes are both common and treatable conditions. Try to get regular dental care, brush and floss as recommended — tooth loss and replacement can be painful and expensive."

—konqueror321

13. "Keep up with regular check-ups, and don't hesitate to get something checked out further if you are concerned. This is even more critical if you have a family history of cancer."

—blusteryflatus

14. "Sit back and use the backrest in your chair. Your lower back will thank you for it."

—sidekickrick

15. "Avoid stress. So many conditions and diseases are flared up by it, and the long-term effects of constantly elevated cortisol levels really take a toll on the body. Meditation is great — just sit in a comfortable position, close your eyes, take some deep breaths, and really pay attention to your body. Also, doing some light to moderate exercise is the cherry on top. Sincerely, a friendly family MD."

—salmon4breakfast

16. "I work in a hospital: drink some water. It's easy to get dehydrated without realizing it."

—SailorVenus23

18. "I'm a dietitian. If you need help managing your diet, your nutritional needs, or anything related to food, don't ask your doctor. Find a registered dietitian (not a nutritionist). Doctors sometimes don't know jack shit about any of it... There's so much bad advice. Oh, and if doctors could stop telling people that all their issues would be solved if they just lost weight, that would be great! Yes, we all know being obese isn't great for your health, but there are so many things that can prevent a person from losing weight, and you're leaving your patients in a really shitty spot by not continuing to investigate while patients try to lose said weight. PLEASE help your fucking patients. Don't just tell them they're fat and call it a day."

—sp0rkify

19. "Diet and exercise, of course. And listening to our recommendations on other things, such as vaccines."

—bananosecond

20. "Respiratory therapist here: Quit smoking. And your vapes are no better than cigarettes."

—ashxc18

21. "Get a colonoscopy. The screening age is at 45 years."

—kathode

22. "If you snore, get tested for sleep apnea. If you have sleep apnea, then treat it."

—Direct_Discipline166

23. "Wear your seatbelts and helmets! They're ubiquitous for a reason, and you are not too cool for life-altering injuries. I also cannot emphasize enough how bad smoking is."

—allenvor

24. "I'm an MD. Take Vitamin D, exercise, get regular check-ups, eat healthy, and if anything seems out of the ordinary (heart, lungs, fitness, pain, stool, odd sensations) — find a way to see a doctor."

—affectionate_md

25. "If you’re having surgery or a procedure, don’t lie to your anesthesiologist. No, we don’t judge, but we do need to know."

—sine-theta

What's one piece of health advice that has changed your life? Share in the comments or the anonymous form below!

Responses have been edited for length and clarity.