Healthy Lifestyle for Longevity and Well-Being

Eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly must be a daily routine to prevent and manage chronic illnesses, says Jamaican nurse living in the United States (US), Jillianne McKay Burrell.

She was speaking to JIS News about the importance of persons adopting and maintaining healthy lifestyle habits to promote longevity and personal well-being.

Nurse McKay Burrell said that practising a healthy lifestyle also includes regular health checks for early detection of potential health issues, allowing for preventative measures.

She noted that healthy behaviours reduce costs for families by lowering the need for medical treatments, medications and doctor visits.

“It is less costly for [families], for the Government, for the country and for everyone involved,” she pointed out.

Highlighting the importance of physical activity, Nurse McKay Burrell said evidence-based research indicates that regular exercise helps prevent cardiac, musculoskeletal and lung problems. “It is just good for the entire body,” she pointed out.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness recommends that adults get at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise five days a week.

Nurse McKay Burrell, who is a weight management expert, further noted the importance of persons maintaining a healthy weight, quitting smoking and reducing alcohol consumption to reduce the risk of cancers, heart disease and other chronic conditions.

“We know that when you drink or you abuse alcohol, it causes major health issues. Sometimes you drink alcohol, you have alcohol cirrhosis and pancreatitis, and those can lead to cancer,” the PhD student pointed out.

Through her medical uniform company, JMckay Collection, Nurse McKay Burrell recently awarded a full nursing scholarship to a student at her former high school, the José Martí Technical High School, to study nursing at Northern Caribbean University.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness said that maintaining a healthy lifestyle is critical in preventing non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Consuming moderate amounts of complex staples, fruits, vegetables, legumes and foods from animals, and limited amounts of fats and oils, reduces the risk of developing chronic non-communicable diseases such as obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and cancers, the Ministry added.