We all know how important it is to be healthy, but it can hard to gauge whether you’re hitting the right targets or not. It’s easy to equate healthiness to looking a certain way but looks can be deceptive. In fact, your overall health often has very little to do with how you look, which means we need other ways to help us to determine whether we’re healthy.
Although regular visits to your physician will help you to establish whether you’re healthy, there are factors in your day-to-day life that can give you an indication of whether you’re healthy. If you want to ensure you’re taking care of your physical and emotional well-being, take a look at these five signs you’re in pretty good health:
1. Full, shiny hair
When your hair is full, glossy, and growing at a regular pace, it can be a good indicator of your overall health. To grow healthily, your hair relies on your body’s ability to develop a proper hair shaft. Furthermore, the health of hair is impacted by the health of the hair follicle and your skin. When your hair is full and shiny, it’s a good sign that things are going well.
Conversely, damaged, dry or brittle hair can be a sign that an underlying issue is present. Hypothyroid is a common cause of thinning or easily damaged hair, for example, while vitamin deficiencies and stress can also affect hair health.
2. Fresh Breath
A good oral hygiene routine can ensure your breath smells fresh but even regular flossing doesn’t always cover the signs of an underlying health issue. If you notice that your breath smells sweet, for example, it could be a sign of diabetes, while a sour smell can be indicative of sleep apnea. Similarly, an unpleasant odor can signal reflux or gut issues.
When your breath is fresh, however, it can mean that your body is functioning well. While it might be tempting to increase your use of mouthwash to eradicate bad breath, finding out whether there’s a specific cause is always your best bet.
And if you require dental care, you can fix that toothache with the general dentist in Roseville or find ways to rid your bad breath.
3. Clear Eyes
They say that the eyes are a window to the soul, but they also give a pretty good indication of your general well-being. Your eyes can show signs of physical illness, as well as emotional distress. Yellowing of the eyes can be linked to jaundice or gallstones, for example. Additionally, bloodshot or tired eyes can be a sign that you’re not getting enough sleep or that you’re stressed, depressed, or anxious.
In contrast, if your eyes are clear, it can show that your physical and mental health is good. Bright, energetic eyes, along with an animated face, are a great indicator that you’re content and happy, for example.
4. Firm Gums
Your gums can tell you a lot about your physical health, which is why it’s vital to take care of them. Gum disease has been linked to increased rates of cardiovascular function, for example, so you’ll want to do everything possible to reduce your risk of developing periodontal problems. When your gums are healthy, they’ll feel relatively firm, be pink in color or not bleed easily.
As the gums are interlinked to your general physical health, it’s essential to follow a good oral hygiene routine. If gum disease has already affected your smile, the Advanced Center For Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry can help to restore your confidence and boost your health. Even when gum disease is present, visiting your dentist regularly can help to reduce the symptoms and restore your health.
5. Waist Circumference
Many people use Body Mass Index (BMI) calculations to determine if they’re a healthy weight, but this isn’t the only indicator you should rely on. Even if you’re a healthy weight, carrying a significant proportion of fat around your abdomen can be a sign of potential health issues. To determine whether you’re at risk, it can be advisable to measure the circumference of your waist.
According to the CDC, women with a waist measurement of over 35” and men with a waist measurement of more than 40” are at a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. The fat you store around your abdomen is believed to be more metabolically active than fat in other areas, which is why it can be so harmful to your health.
If your waist measurement falls below these parameters, it can be a good sign that you’re a healthy weight and aren’t storing abdominal fat. As this indicates that you’re not at increased risk of developing certain conditions, it can be a good way to gauge your overall wellbeing.
6. You Don’t Get Angry Often
Good health doesn’t only relate to your physical wellbeing; your mental and emotional health is important too. If you don’t get angry often and when you do, you deal with your emotions in an appropriate and proportionate way, it’s a great indicator that your emotions are in balance.
Conversely, being irritable, struggling to contain your emotions, or experiencing frequent outbursts can indicate just the opposite. Hormonal imbalances, excessive stress, or feeling out of control, are just some of the reasons why you might angry more often than is usual, although there are many other reasons too.
Learning to Recognize the Signs of Good Health
As you assess your mind and your body for signs of good health more often, you’ll become more adept at noticing when things are amiss. This ensures you’re able to notice the first signs of potential illness and take action. From consulting with a physician to exercising more, improving your diet, and reducing your stress levels, there are a variety of ways you can enhance your health.
While regular check-ups are always important, being able to recognize your own signs of good health is vital. When you can monitor your own body, you’ll feel more empowered and better able to have a positive impact on your own health, wellbeing, and happiness, which is what we all want, isn’t it really?
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