A new study in Ontario has shown that five unhealthy lifestyle choices; smoking, alcohol, poor diet, lack of physical exercise and stress, can account for up to 60 per cent of all deaths. Those who were found to be in the healthiest category for all five risks were found to live, on average, seven years [...]
A new study in Ontario has shown that five unhealthy lifestyle choices; smoking, alcohol, poor diet, lack of physical exercise and stress, can account for up to 60 per cent of all deaths. Those who were found to be in the healthiest category for all five risks were found to live, on average, seven years longer. This study also found that almost all Ontarians had at least one risk factor.
Smoking is one risk factor that can be mitigated by pharmacists, “Individually, if we all make one change like smoking less or being more physically active, then collectively we would be significantly healthier and live much longer” says study author Doug Manuel. However, pharmacists can actively play a role in promoting healthy living through reducing alcohol consumption, maintaining a healthy weight and diet, increasing daily exercise, and reducing stress. Not only will modifying these risk factors lead to a longer life, but they can also reduce the risk of developing other chronic disease such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, diseases which can be expensive for an already costly health care system.
The study involved researchers from the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Public Health Ontario, the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and the University of Ottawa.
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