5 Steps to Keeping Your Memory Sharp

Hello dear readers,
Did you know that the way you live, what you eat and drink, and how you treat your body affect your memory as well as your physical health and wellbeing? Well,yes.
I have five suggestions about what you can do every day to keep mind and body sharp.

Manage your stress levels: The constant beat of daily stresses such as deadline pressures or petty arguments can certainly distract you and affect your ability to focus and recall. If you don’t have a strategy in place for managing your stress, protecting your memory is one reason to get one. Deep breathing, meditation, yoga, and a “mindful” approach to living can all help.

Get a good night’s sleep. People who don’t sleep well at night tend to be more forgetful than people who sleep soundly. A good example is brain block on exam day after cramming all night.*You know what i mean*. A good night’s sleep is essential for consolidating memories. That's why it’s best to try improving your sleep habits.

If you smoke, quit. Easier said than done, you know. I quite agree. If you need additional motivation, know that smokers have a greater degree of age-related memory loss and other memory problems than nonsmokers. People who smoke more than two packs (40sticks) of cigarettes a day at midlife have more than double the risk of developing dementia in old age compared with nonsmokers. However, those who stop smoking by midlife and those who smoke less than half a pack a day have a similar a risk of dementia as people who have never smoked. So its not too late to drop the habit.

If you drink alcohol, do so moderately. Drinking too much alcohol increases the risk for memory loss and dementia. The loss of memory after being drunk already attests to this. People with alcoholism have difficulty performing short-term memory tasks, such as memorizing lists.

Protect your brain from injury. Head trauma is a major cause of memory loss and increases the risk of developing dementia. Always use the appropriate gear during high-speed activities and contact sports. Wear seat belts when riding in cars. Car accidents are by far the most common cause of brain injury, and wearing seat belts greatly reduces the chances of severe head injury. Wear a helmet when bicycling, riding on a motorcycle. This has to be consciously practised as one cannot deny the Nigerian factor here especially in Kano State.* Winks*

Dr dileem,

The Likita Bokanturai
Kano Nigeria

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