Despite all our technological and medical advances, a great number of people seem to be less healthy in comparison to previous decades. There are a variety of reasons why this is the case two of which are our sedentary lifestyle as well as pollution and other health hazards.

First and foremost, technology has been integrated into our everyday life to such an extent that the average adult spends over 5 hours per day on a computer. For example, more and more people are employed in positions which require them to be glued to a screen for the better part of the day. As a result, there is lack of exercise which often leads to unhealthy eating habits and obesity. To make matters worse, young people seem to be following the same adult path. They lead, that is, sedentary lifestyles, by spending too much time on their computer or phone. As the whole world appears to be shrinking and fitting into a smart phone screen, our brain seems to spend all its energy on processing this abundance of information while our body remains stagnant and inactive. 

Another factor for our health problems are all the substances that we breathe in and consume every day. These have become less tangible as we have grown accustomed to their role but they are omnipresent nevertheless. One only has to consider one's exposure to the noise pollution and exhaust fumes to realize how harmful this is to one's health. Not only does it elevate stress levels but it can also cause high blood pressure, irritation and headaches.  In addition, many chemicals are used in order to cultivate the fruit and vegetables  that we consume on a daily basis, which often prove dangerous to our health.

To conclude, our contemporary way of life is clearly affecting our physical condition. Our nutrition coupled with our sedentary lifestyle in an urban environment can have an adverse effect on our health. 

Here's a valuable tip to bear in mind mainly for Listening, Part 2 of Cambridge Exams (First, CAE, CPE)! One of the most common mistakes candidates make are in numbers or dates. Make sure you practise listening to these, make sure you understand them correctly and that you can do so quickly. You can also add examples of confusing numbers to the comments to help your fellow students!