"Know Your Enemy"

Isn't about Sun Tzu's The Art of War, it’s about our lifestyle.

If we did not put attention to our lifestyle it can be our most terrifying enemy someday, it can torture our body anytime and anywhere before killing us with painfully.
Here's some of our “lifestyle” enemy:
- Smoking: The risks of lung cancer due to tobacco smoke are too great to ignore. A person smoking one pack a day has increased their odds for getting lung cancer by 30x or more when compared to a nonsmoker. And, the more cigarettes you smoke every day, the greater those odds become. Plus, the number of years a person smokes continually increases their chances of developing lung cancer, but not only does it affect the lungs, it can cause kidney, pancreatic, cervical, and stomach cancers and acute myeloid leukemia. Quitting smoking immediately decreases your risk factor for cancer.
- Food: Do you like hotdogs, doughnuts, french fries, processed meats and bacon, and chips / crackers / cookies? Well, those are some short list of foods that should be avoided. As most people give themselves cancer through the foods, drinks and products they choose to consume, it is important to know that the key to avoiding cancer-causing foods is knowing which ingredients are carcinogens. A diet composed of fruits, vegetables, and fibers are important in promoting overall health and preventing cancer. Vegetables are effective cancer fighters. Tomatoes contain lycopene, a substance that is essential in fighting certain kinds of cancer, while broccoli is contains sulforaphane, another anti-cancer compound. Cauliflower, celery, lentils, peas and other vegetables also possess anti-cancer properties.
- Physical Activity: Reduction of excess body fat plays a vital role in maintaining good health and avoiding disease. Medical evidence shows that obesity poses a significant threat to health as well as to longevity. Excess body fat is connected to heart disease, cancer, diabetes, gall bladder disease, gastro-intestinal disease, sexual dysfunction, osteoarthritis, stroke and overweight people often also have high cholesterol levels, making them more likely to develop arteriosclerosis. When blood vessels are so narrow that vital organs like the heart, kidneys or brain don’t get enough blood, this becomes life-threatening. Exercise like yoga, aerobics, walking and running are great activities to prevent diseases and reduces the chances of becoming obese.
- Sex Activity: Sexually Transmitted Diseases are diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, and parasites. It can easily be transmitted through body contact during sex. There are at least 25 different sexually transmitted diseases that can be spread during sexual contact, especially during vaginal, anal, and oral sex. Sometimes, it takes a long time to detect since some of the symptoms may appear only when the disease is in the advanced stages. The following are some of the most common sexually transmitted diseases that affect individuals who engage in unprotected sex: Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Bacterial Vaginosis, Crabs or Pubic Lice, Epididymitis, Genital Herpes, Genital Warts, Gut Infections, Hepatitis, Molluscum, Non-Specific Urethritis, Scabies, Syphilis, Thrush, Trichomonas Vaginosis, and Balanitis. Practicing unsafe sex can also increase your risk of developing a virus called HPV. HPV is a group of over 100 viruses, medically known as human papillioma virus. HPV increases your risk factor for cervical, anal, vulva and vaginal cancer. Indeed, sex is a natural human activity that should be openly discussed. One must learn to practice a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships. By increasing awareness about the sexual rights of every individual, people will have a healthier outlook towards sex. Sexual activities should be enjoyed to the fullest. However, maintaining mutual respect and making sure both partners are protected must always be a top priority.
- Environment: Overexposure to ultraviolet sunlight (UV rays) or other ultraviolet radiation, including tanning beds is believed to be the dominant external factor in a person’s development of skin cancer. A skin cancer is a cancer that results in the overproduction of harmful cells on the skin. This cancer is usually detected by looking for a pigment called melanoma. Signs of skin cancer include a sudden change in the appearance of the skin or the presence of wounds or sores that don't heal. Exposure to asbestos, a group of minerals found in housing and industrial building materials can cause a variety of medical problems, such as mesothelioma. Mesothelioma or the cancer of the mesothelium is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancerous cells can also spread called metastasizing from their original place to other parts of the body. Most cases of Mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum, i.e. the lining surrounding the chest and the lungs. In malignant Mesothelioma, which is a rare form of cancer, the cancerous or malignant cells are found in the sac lining the chest (the pleura), the lining of the abdominal cavity (the peritoneum) or the lining around the heart (the pericardium). Studies have shown that people who are exposed to high amount of benzene are at risk for cancer. Benzene is a chemical found in gasoline, smoking, and pollution.
By reading this article, you can choose what kind of lifestyle better for you and the people you loved.