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Staying healthyStaying healthy<img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/Staying%20Healthy%20Header.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /><div class="ExternalClass872BF7F00164470B968CF8CA75DEDF89"><p>A healthy society is the foundation of a healthy city. We work closely with all our communities to ensure Capetonians have access to environments, facilities and treatment centres that can help create healthy lifestyles. </p></div><h2 class="sectHeading">​​​​​​​​​​​​Start with the basics<br></h2><p>By being aware of our physical and mental health, we can create the foundation for a healthy, vibrant society. </p><h4> Basic foundations for good general health: </h4><ul><li>Educating yourself on health issues that affect you, your family and community</li><li>Understanding your health profile (e.g. your family health history)</li><li>Making healthy lifestyle habits</li><li>Getting the right treatment when you are sick</li></ul> <span> <h2 class="sectHeading">​​​​​​​​​​The five pillars of good health </h2></span> <p>Your lifestyle affects your health! Here are five lifestyle guidelines which can help you feel more energised, more positive and in charge of your health. With simple changes, you’ll be taking a giant step towards preventing lifestyle diseases.</p> <span><figure class="subtopic-fullsize-img"><img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Inline%20Images/Health%20-%20Five%20Pillars%20-%20Inline%20Graphic.jpg" alt="" style="width:602px;" />​ </figure></span> <span> <div class="mobile-scroll">​​ <table> <caption> <strong>​The five pillars of good health</strong></caption> <thead><tr><th colspan="2"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td> <strong>Pillar 1:</strong> Eat a balanced diet </td><td>A healthy diet involves eating lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, choosing whole grains over processed foods, avoiding junk food, limiting sugar, <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Forms%2c%20notices%2c%20tariffs%20and%20lists/Salt_Awareness_Notice.pdf" target="_blank">salt</a> and alcohol, and drinking lots of water. It also means quitting smoking! A healthy, balanced diet helps us to get all the nutrients our bodies need, giving us energy. </td></tr><tr><td> <strong>Pillar 2: </strong>Exercise regularly</td><td>Moving is good for the body and for the mind – and it increases your energy levels. Limit the amount of inactive hours in your day and make exercise a fun part of your daily routine. Choose an activity you enjoy, or join a team sport. Even a brisk daily walk of 30 minutes makes a big difference.  </td></tr><tr><td> <strong>Pillar 3</strong>: Stay positive</td><td>Research suggests that thinking positively boosts the immune system. This helps fight diseases. Being positive involves setting goals in life, believing in yourself, looking at the bright side of a situation, spending time with positive people, doing activities/hobbies you enjoy and reaching out to someone when you are feeling down or unhappy.</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="1">​<strong>Pillar 4:</strong> Reduce stress  </td><td rowspan="1">​Ongoing (chronic) stress affects your physical and mental health significantly. Lower your stress levels with different relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation. Make time for fun and laughter, and try to avoid stressful situations. It’s best not to manage your stress with substances like cigarettes, alcohol or drugs. </td></tr><tr><td rowspan="1">​<strong>Pillar 5:</strong> Maintain a healthy weight </td><td rowspan="1">​This will be much easier to do if the pillars above are strong. If you need to lose weight and are struggling, speak to a health care worker at your nearest clinic. Losing weight is much easier when you have support! </td></tr></tbody></table></div>​​</span><br><span> <div class="infographic bg-font-adjust-bg">​​​​​​​​​ <figure> <img class="responsive" alt="placeholder" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Inline%20Images/Health%20Staying%20Healthy%20Five%20Pillars%20-%20Thumbnail.jpg" /></figure> <figcaption> <p> <span class="infoGraphicSpan">PDF</span><span class="infoGraphicSpan">​​<strong>five pillars of health</strong></span></p> <a title="5 pillars of good health" class="btn dark-blue" href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Graphics%20and%20educational%20material/Five%20Pillars%20of%20Health%20-%20Poster.pdf" target="_blank"><i class="icon download"></i>Download PDF</a> </figcaption> </div></span> <span> <h2 class="sectHeading">​​​​​​​​​​Visit a treatment facility​​​​​​​</h2></span> <p> <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Departments/City%20Health%20Department">City Health</a> aims to maintain and improve the health of all communities in Cape Town by providing free and professional primary healthcare services. </p><p>Working closely with our local and provincial partners, we pay special attention to the most common infectious illnesses in our city, like <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/Personal-health/infectious-and-chronic-diseases/TB">TB</a> and <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/Personal-health/Sexual-health/Hiv-and-aids">HIV</a>, as well as chronic illnesses like diabetes and hypertension. </p><p>If you are sick, you can visit one of <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/See-all-City-facilities/Our-service-facilities/Clinics%20and%20healthcare%20facilities">our clinics</a> for primary care. Our clinics can give you a referral if you need specialised or secondary care. </p><p>You can also go straight to a provincial health centre if you have a health concern. You can find a full list of hospitals and treatment centres in the <a href="https://www.westerncape.gov.za/dept/health/facilities" target="_blank">Western Cape on the Western Cape Government’s Facilities listing page.<i class="icon link-external"></i> </a></p><h4> How the Healthcare system is categorised</h4><ul><li> <strong>Primary health care</strong> is the most basic kind of science-based health care a person can get. It refers to the work done by health professionals who act as a first point of consultation for patients. </li><li>If your primary health care practitioner refers you to a specialist, this is an example of <strong>secondary health care</strong>. </li><li> <strong>Tertiary health care </strong>refers to advanced medical care usually taking place when a patient is already in hospital, such as cancer management or neurosurgery.</li></ul>GP0|#8abb7772-1eb9-4dc7-8cc0-721c99eb2a82;L0|#08abb7772-1eb9-4dc7-8cc0-721c99eb2a82|Staying healthy;GTSet|#ef3a64a2-d764-44bc-9d69-3a63d3fadea1;GPP|#f227728e-21e0-4124-8d37-5bb94e6a8c44;GPP|#090e430c-3809-42d5-a80b-caea93b2beaf;GPP|#245ec7aa-a528-4cd3-bcac-597c292db711Find out how you can keep your body health and where to seek treatment in Cape Town.0

 

 

Five Pillars of Health PosterFive Pillars of Health Poster617668GP0|#591e1d8b-7507-4dd3-8a9a-59b5cdd318c6;L0|#0591e1d8b-7507-4dd3-8a9a-59b5cdd318c6|Poster;GTSet|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP|#5340fe0b-73a7-472c-bef7-04e450fb5c4f;GPP|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e;GP0|#f10f836d-5770-43e9-a733-7b3eee03d477;L0|#0f10f836d-5770-43e9-a733-7b3eee03d477|Infographic;GTSet|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP|#5340fe0b-73a7-472c-bef7-04e450fb5c4f;GPP|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e2015-12-31T22:00:00Z
Salt Awareness NoticeSalt Awareness Notice192226GP0|#c3444de2-1204-414d-a436-593b4be81c13;L0|#0c3444de2-1204-414d-a436-593b4be81c13|Notice;GTSet|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP|#3a03f9b9-d2e9-49b1-92e1-37b654747f82;GPP|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e2024-03-11T22:00:00Z

 

 

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