Living BetterWhat actually works, with the receipts

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Health

The habits that decide how long you live and how well: smoking, movement, sleep, alcohol, blood pressure and screening.

Get colorectal cancer screening from age 45 through 75

USPSTF recommends colorectal cancer screening for adults aged 45 to 75; FIT is every year and colonoscopy is every 10 years.

Costs: under $100 · a few hours · one habit changeGets: large health benefitEvidence ALast checked

Drink less alcohol

Drinking less alcohol lowers health risks; choosing not to drink also lowers them.

Costs: free · a few hours · one habit changeGets: large health benefitEvidence ALast checked

Get a flu vaccine every season

Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every season, with rare exceptions.

Costs: under $100 · a few hours · one habit changeGets: large health benefitEvidence ALast checked

Lower your blood pressure with regular checks and healthy habits

NHLBI says blood pressure is normal below 120/80 mm Hg, and stage 1 high blood pressure when the systolic reading is 130 to 139 or the diastolic reading is 80 to 89.

Costs: free · a few hours · one habit changeGets: large health benefitEvidence ALast checked

Move more each week

Adults need at least 150 minutes a week of moderate activity such as brisk walking, plus muscle-strengthening activity on at least 2 days a week.

Costs: free · ongoing · one habit changeGets: large health benefitEvidence ALast checked

Quit smoking to improve your health

Quitting smoking improves your health and reduces your risk of heart disease, cancer, lung disease, and other smoking-related illnesses.

Costs: free · a few hours · long-term effortGets: large health benefitEvidence BLast checked

Sleep at least 7 hours a night as an adult

Adults ages 18–60 should sleep 7 or more hours each night; enough sleep can lower the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke.

Costs: free · ongoing · one habit changeGets: large health benefitEvidence ALast checked

Wear a seat belt on every trip

NHTSA says seat belts are the best defense against dangerous drivers and can help keep people from being thrown out in a crash.

Costs: free · minutes · no willpower neededGets: large health benefitEvidence BLast checked