By Mary Anne Cappellino

Proven Ways
to Stay Healthy

Start today with a focus to prevent health concerns and promote a healthy active lifestyle. Take charge of your personal well being by first taking 100% responsibility of your choices in both preventative activities and lifestyle. Why not start by putting a prevention check list together instead of just treating illness or seeing your doctor when something happens. Schedule an annual health check up with your doctor. This will give you important information to make responsible decisions. If needed, the doctor can advise you on how to stay healthy or point out ways to improve lifestyle.

When visiting the doctor, improve on your communication and make the most of your visit by asking the doctor these three important questions:

1. What is my main problem? This will give you important information on your current health status.

2. What do I need to do about it? This will help you and your doctor put an effective plan together to maintain or improve your health. A step by step approach to be your best.

3. Why is it important for me to do this? When you increase your understanding of good health and prevention you become more effective at healthy living every day.

Asking these questions can help you take better care of your health, prepare for medical tests or treatment, take medications the right way or modify lifestyle in support of better health.

Here are some other activities that should be on your prevention check list:

• Schedule regular dental exams, cleanings and maintenance to keep your teeth, gums and mouth healthy.

• Adults , especially over 65 should have vision exams to be sure they have the correct prescription. This will help prevent falls.

• Schedule, according to your doctors recommendation, preventative procedures, like mammograms, colorectal exams, bone density test, blood pressure and cholesterol screening to be sure that conditions are detected and treated early on.

• Prevent sun damage by applying sun screen and using common sense about sun exposure.

• Wear your seat belt, helmet and other safety devices. Around your home use smoke detectors and keep the walking areas clear of any clutter that could lead to a fall.

Now put your lifestyle check list together.

Evidence shows that some of the leading causes of death, such as heart disease, cancer, stroke and injuries can be prevented by improving your lifestyle. Eating right, staying physically active and not smoking are just a few examples of good habits that can help you stay healthy.

Exercise

Research shows that physical activity can help prevent at least six diseases including heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, and depression.

Build exercise into your daily life. Choose activities that you like to do, ask a friend to join you and make time to stay active. Stop in and see a fitness professional for the best advice on getting fit, checking with your physician before beginning an exercise program.

Eat Right

Eating the right foods in the right amounts can help you live a longer and healthier life. Research has proven that many illnesses, such as heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure can be prevented or controlled by eating right. Try to balance the calories you eat from food with the calories you spend through exercise.

• Eat a variety of foods including vegetables, fruits, whole grains, dry beans

• Eat foods that are low in fat like fish, poultry and low fat dairy

• Limit foods high in fat and sodium

• Drink alcohol moderately or not at all

Ask your doctor or fitness professional about your body weight. Weighing too much or too little can lead to health problems.

Quit smoking

Research has proven that smoking can add risk for heart disease and cancers. If you smoke, set a quit date, get counseling on getting smoke free and replace the habit of smoking with one that promotes better health, like exercise.

Manage Stress

A key strategy in combating stress is to get moving. Exercise can lift your mood, improve your quality of sleep and keep your energy up. Recharge by taking a day for yourself, get a massage, lighten up a hectic schedule and get some rest so that you are not over tired.

Make an important investment in yourself by participating in prevention activities and screenings. Put yourself on the “To Do” list today. Start by visiting your doctor for a checkup, gain important information on your current health status and then focus on a preventative approach to better health. Form a prevention team, including your doctor, a fitness professional, and a nutritional expert. Then together form a plan to maintain or improve your health. Go ahead and start your prevention check list today!

Mary Anne Cappellino is a certified fitness trainer, motivational speaker, lifestyle coach and author of the book “Move Me” which is a collection of stories that reveal the benefits of physical activity. You can contact Mary Anne at the BAC Eastern Hills location