I’m a medical professional – these are the ‘must-follow’ rules I swear by for living a long and healthy life

Doctors around the world have revealed their top ‘rules’ for everyone who wants to live a healthy life.

Professionals on Reddit recently came together to highlight important safety advice and niche titbits that might improve your quality of life long-term.

Vein surgeons share why you should exercise regularly

Doctors emphasise how important it is to move your body every day – even if it’s just walking. 

‘It’s good for your heart and veins. A majority of patients are obese, often with diabetes, and [doctors] have to do a ton of necessary amputations just because folks are so sedentary and don’t take care of themselves.’

Another also shared how it helps you later on in life. 

‘If you want less issues in your old age, start working out now. The people that weren’t as active in life are usually the ones stuck in wheelchairs and walking with walkers,’ an old age home worker said.

‘The amount of people that just have zero physical activity their whole life then wind up not being able to get up off a toilet, then we have to send them to a nursing home from the hospital in their mid 70s is astounding and preventable.

‘I wish I could just get in a time machine and tell these people in their 30s and 40s, START NOW.’

A speech therapist revealed adults around children should speak to them constantly 

Speech therapist on why you should talk to children 

A speech therapist revealed parents and adults around young children should be speaking to them constantly.

‘Research suggests [babies] need to hear 40million words within the first four years to acquire conversational language early.

‘This is the earliest building block to literacy. The command of language and literacy will be one of the biggest things separating classes of people as we move forward towards imminent and widening class divisions.

‘You want your kid ahead? Expose them to language constantly. Speak your thoughts out loud (obviously use discretion lovingly for their sake), talk with them and to them among friends and family, put on the subtitles on the television ALWAYS so they can see it and start to relate symbol to meaning. Talk to them about the mundane.’

Doctors reveal why you should keep a journal

The speech therapist also recommended adults constantly write things down where in a notebook or on their computers.

‘Writing promotes neuroplasticity. The more novel and creative it gets the better, but even recalling events and interpreting them onto the page is a cognitive work out. Stay sharp and healthy!’ she said.

First responders recommend always wearing your seat belt when you’re in a car

Paramedic on why you should wear a seatbelt 

First responders recommend always wearing your seat belt when you’re in a car. 

‘I’ve seen people walk away from mangled wrecks with little more than a scratch when using all safety equipment. I’ve seen people ejected onto the highway through windows just from sideswiping a barrier,’ one revealed.

Another also said you should always keep your car tidy and free of items that could hurt you in a crash. 

‘In an accident, everything in your car becomes a projectile that can and will cause you further injury. If you’re not tied down, you will become a projectile.’

Never lie to your doctor

Medical professionals cannot provide you with proper care unless they know the true extent of what is wrong. 

‘The paramedic who scooped you off the ground at the music festival knows you’re on [drugs], and he doesn’t care. He just wants to make sure you don’t die [because of it],’ one provided an example.

Brush your teeth twice a day and floss every night 

A dentist shared that keeping up a good dental hygiene routine is the only way to prevent gum disease.

‘Bacteria that cause gum disease are linked to heart disease, cancer, premature births, and Alzheimer’s.

‘Your mouth is connected to the rest if your body and if it is a cesspool of bleeding and infection the rest of your body will suffer the consequences.’