Very few places in the world compare to the natural beauty and nonstop activities that can be found right here in Los Angeles. With the beach less than twenty minutes from our front doors, year ‘round sunshine and warm weather beaming down on us 24/7, and all of our favorite things to do pretty much in our backyards (such as incredible dining, our pick of theme parks to choose from, and even a little bit of celebrity watching, too), it’s all but impossible to be bored while living here.
However, while L.A. is arguably one of the best places to live in the entire country, it’s not always going to be a walk in Griffith Park. While we are one of the healthiest cities in the nation, we also have our own unique health challenges that we have to deal with while living here. Fortunately, the good news is that staying healthy here in L.A. is much easier than you might think. If you’re wanting to live your best life in the City of Angels, then here’s a few tips that can help make that possible.
Be Generous with Sunscreen
On average, Los Angeles sees an impressive total of 284 sunny days per year, far more than the U.S. average of just 205 days of sunshine annually. While that means that we have no excuse to go outside and make the most of our amazing community, it also means that we’re at a higher risk of developing UV-related skin damage. Just as we have tons of sunshine here, we also have elevated rates of developing skin cancers, like melanoma and basal cell carcinoma.
Image by Barbara Ribeiro Photo
Avoiding skin cancer, though, is fairly straightforward. Most experts recommend staying in the shade during peak sunshine hours (between 10 am and 4 pm), using wide-brimmed hats and UV-blocking clothes, and slather on ample broad-spectrum sunblock (a minimum of one ounce of 30 SPF) every two hours, or more if you’ve been swimming or sweating. Routine skin checks at your dermatologist, at least once per year, can also help identify any high-risk spots on your skin and increase your chances of a better prognosis.
Focus On Your Mental Health
Research has shown that here in Los Angeles, quite a few of us are struggling with our mental health. A fairly significant portion of us is quietly battling depression, anxiety disorders, and even substance abuse disorder (SUD). Statistics indicate that as many as 4.3 percent of adults in LA have been diagnosed with a serious mental health disorder, and around 7.8 percent of our children also have these same struggles. Even worse, these numbers may be higher, especially with the stigma surrounding mental health.
There are a number of resources available to us, however, to help us. These include the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH), which offers free and low-cost care for all residents of the county. Services they provide include crisis intervention, SUD treatment, rehabilitation, and peer support, and they’re proud to work directly with over eighty different programs in the region. If you or someone you care about are struggling, don’t be afraid to reach out.
Get Your Yearly Screenings
One of the most important ways you can make sure you stay healthy is through preventative healthcare. Here in L.A., a healthy lifestyle is just one piece of the wellness puzzle. Making sure you eat right and exercise are definitely important, but so is scheduling your routine medical checkups. In other words, don’t wait to go to the dentist until that throb in your tooth becomes unbearable, and don’t skip your doctor’s appointments because you think they’re for emergencies only.
In many cases, early detection is vital to help ensure the best possible outcome for you. Furthermore, regular checkups can help identify a huge variety of health issues, including ones that may be asymptomatic. For example, many sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like chlamydia and gonorrhea can fly under the radar, but a Hologic Women’s Health screening from your doctor can quickly pick up on them. The sooner you find and treat these issues, the sooner you can get back on the path to good health.
Don’t Drink and Drive
Sadly, despite the known dangers of driving under the influence, many Angelenos are still getting behind the wheel after having one too many drinks. A heartbreaking 28 percent of our traffic deaths are due to driving while impaired, a number that can be entirely prevented through either proper education and intervention. If you’re going to hang out with your friends and have a drink or two, that’s totally fine — and nobody is going to stop you from doing so!
Nevertheless, if you’re going to have a few drinks while watching the game or dancing at one of our nightclubs, be sure to have a plan in place. That way, you can take measures to avoid getting into a tragic accident that can cost you or someone else their life. When in doubt, call a cab or one of our local rideshare services. Or have a sober friend come pick you up. No matter what you do, though, it’s absolutely essential to make sure you never drive while under the influence, even if you think you’re okay.
Focus on the Positive
Of course, it’s both entirely unfair and completely untrue to suggest that L.A. is unhealthy. Compared to our neighboring states, we’re doing a lot of things right. For instance, we tend to exercise more, smoke less, and even have a lower overall risk of developing heart disease. In turn, we’re also able to enjoy a much longer life expectancy, too. But by taking the time to fine-tune those things that might otherwise harm us, we can help make sure we remain happy and healthy while living in one of the best cities in the world!
Feature photo: Roberto Nickson
