For Immediate Release:
January 4, 2008

Contact:
Nanci Gonder, Office of Public Information
573-751-6062

In 2008, Live Like Your Life Depends On It
Missourians are urged to make healthy lifestyle choices

Live like your life depends on it. That’s a resolution the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the Live Well Message Alliance would like to see all Missourians make for 2008.

“Living like your life depends on it is the key to a long and healthy life,” said Jane Drummond, director of the state health department. “Smart lifestyle choices will definitely improve the quality of your life – for the rest of your life.”

Missourians will be hearing the phrase, “Live Like Your Life Depends On It,” throughout the coming year as the health department and dozens of other health-related organizations across the state work together to encourage residents to make choices that will help prevent and control chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer.

The ultimate goal is to reduce chronic disease, which causes nearly seven out of 10 deaths in Missouri.

Some of the most serious chronic diseases are more common in Missouri than much of the rest of the country. Nationwide, Missouri ranks ninth in the prevalence of heart disease and seventh in stroke prevalence. The state ranks sixth in deaths caused by smoking-related diseases, primarily lung cancer and cardiovascular disease.

“In recent years, Missouri has made some progress in reducing chronic diseases such as heart disease and stroke, but we have a long way to go,” Drummond said. “If all Missourians would make one or more changes in their lifestyle, our state would be a healthier place.”

So how does a person live like their life depends on it?  The health department is focusing on five recommendations:

• Eat smart:  Make healthy food choices.
  • Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables every day. Add vegetables to your favorite soup or casserole. Serve     fruit for dessert or a snack.
  • If you’re a gardener or would like to become one, check out seed catalogs for a variety of vegetables to plant this spring and harvest all summer long.
  • Use low-fat or fat-free milk and milk products.
  • Start your day with a bowl of whole-grain cereal for breakfast.
• Move more:  Be active at least 30 minutes on most days of the week.
  • Set a regular time every day to walk with a friend or family member.
    
  • Don’t let winter weather keep you inside – put on your warmest clothes and play outside with your kids or grandkids.
    
  • If it’s too cold outside, find a place indoors, such as a shopping mall or community center, to be physically active.
    
• Maintain a healthy weight:  Keep your weight at a healthy level by eating right and getting plenty of physical activity. If your weight starts edging upward eat a little less and increase your physical activity to keep extra pounds from adding inches to your waistline.
• Be tobacco free:  Don’t smoke or breathe someone else’s secondhand smoke. If you do smoke, call Missouri’s Tobacco Quit Line for free telephone counseling and information on how to stop smoking. The number is 1-800-QUIT-NOW. Try a nicotine replacement product or talk to your doctor about one of the new prescription medications that can help you kick the addiction. Quitting smoking can be difficult, so ask your family and friends for their support.
• Get recommended health screenings:  Regular maintenance is the best way to keep your house and your car in tip-top shape. You should do the same for yourself. Health screenings can detect problems early so you can make changes in your lifestyle to prevent or manage chronic diseases. Talk to a doctor about the right time to get tested for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, colorectal cancer, and – if you’re a woman – breast and cervical cancer.

“As we begin a new year, people are often very motivated to make positive changes in their lives, and many of those resolutions focus on health issues,” Drummond said. “By encouraging people to live like their life depends on it throughout the coming year, we hope to help Missourians keep the promises they make to themselves and their families to live healthier lives.”

The Life Like Your Life Depends On It campaign was developed by the Live Well Message Alliance, a group of health-related organizations from throughout the state, including the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. More information about healthy lifestyle choices can be found at www.cdc.gov/HealthyLiving.