Guest Blogger, Kara Masterson
Heart disease is the leading cause of death among Americans, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, followed by cancer and chronic respiratory issues. That’s why it stands to reason that one of the best ways to protect you and your family is to make sure that everyone is staying healthy. However, taking care of your family also means keeping them safe and making sure they’re cared for in case something happens to you. Here are 5 ways to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Eat a Healthy Diet and Exercise
Make sure you, your spouse and kids are eating healthy foods. Start by consuming more lean proteins like fish, chicken and lean beef. It is also a good idea to buy more fresh fruits and vegetables such as lettuce, cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes, grapes and berries. Eliminate foods that are high in saturated fats and sugar as they can cause obesity. Sugar also increase blood pressure and cholesterol, according to the Journal of American Medical Association. Similarly, it is essential for you to start exercising more to improve your cardiovascular health. You can start taking regular walks as a family or even join a gym.
Get Regular Examinations
Contact you doctor and make sure all your family members are getting the proper number of checkups each year. If you’re a middle-aged man, start getting regular prostate and colon exams to help prevent cancer. Women should also get pap smears and breast exams to detect early signs of ovarian or breast cancers. Check with your doctor as to the frequency of these medical tests. The American Cancer Society recommends that women start breast exams when they’re 40.
Invest in a Security System
Protect your family from break-ins and violence by purchasing a security system. Most modern systems can be operated by smart phones and remote devices. Similarly, use smart phone GPS devices to keep track of the whereabouts of your kids. By using devices like this you can make sure that your home and family are safe no matter where you are.
Get Insured
When it comes to keeping your loved ones safe insurance is essential. Be sure to purchase insurance from a good, high quality insurance provider such as the Great Northern Insurance Agency. Insurance agencies like this have low monthly payments to meet your budget. They can also determine the amount of coverage you need for your home, vehicles and even traveler’s insurance to protect your assets. That way you don’t lose everything you have if disaster strikes.
Write Out a Will
Life is unpredictable and nobody’s exempt from personal tragedies. That’s why it’s essential that you write out a will so you can continue to provide for your love ones if something happens to you. Contact a lawyer to get started if you don’t already have one. There are also online software packages available for writing wills.
Overall, there is no way to prevent accidents from happening. However, there are so many things you can do now to help keep you and your family happy and healthy. Just by doing the small simple things every day you can really help keep all of the people you care about safe.
