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Buckeye Community Health Plan urging adults to form checklist of
Healthy Habits for New Year
An Ohio Medicaid care coordination plan,
Buckeye
Community Health Plan (Buckeye), is urging
adults to formulate a checklist for healthy habits so they can
be prepared to improve any bad habits at the beginning of the
new year.
“This is the time of year when people start thinking about how they
want to improve their lifestyles and start making resolutions,
“says Ronald A. Charles MD MHA FACP FACHE, Vice President
of Medical Affairs for Buckeye. “Resolutions to improve health
habits are a smart direction to take and if people start making
a checklist now of the main areas they’ll focus on in 2012,
they’ll have a better chance of really accomplishing their
goals.”
Dr. Charles suggests these areas to consider when making your
checklist:
·
Sleep
– Sleep is vital to good health and emotional well-being. The
National Sleep Foundation says more than two-thirds of older
adults suffer from sleep problems and many adults don’t get the
minimum amount of shuteye. To avoid lagging memory, sluggish
learning and illogical reasoning, adults need at least 7 hours
of sleep.
·
Get Regular Exercise - According to the Center for Disease Control more than 60% of
Americans do not get regular exercise. Benefits include
controlling weight, promoting psychological well-being and
reducing the risk of heart disease. Short term results include
helping people think and move better, managing stress and
getting an energy boost.
·
Eat Breakfast Everyday – Studies have shown
people who have a morning meal tend to take in more vitamins,
less fat and cholesterol. The result is a leaner body, a lower
cholesterol count and less chance of overeating.
·
Snack Healthier
- The ADA recommends five or more servings of fruits and
vegetables a day as part of a healthy diet. These plant foods
can do many things to boost good health, including reducing
risks of some cancers and enhance the immune system.
·
Enhance Natural Resistance to Colds
– Eat smart, get enough sleep and exercise, turn the thermostat
down and keep humidity high in your home.
·
Get Flu Shots
- Especially if older than 65 years of age or have chronic
health problems. Best to get a shot earlier in the year, but
even a shot in January may protect against a late winter
outbreak.
·
Drink Water
- The body needs water to keep properly hydrated and individuals
vary widely in how much water they need. Joints need it to stay
in motion, and vital organs such as the heart, brain, kidney,
and liver need it to work properly.
·
See your primary care physician
and your dentist regularly, rather than waiting until you get
sick.
·
Take a Daily Walk
– Ways to infuse walking into your routine during the winter
months include things like pacing during phone calls, while
brushing your teeth or watching your kids play soccer.
·
Plan
– If you plan things like daily exercise, activities, grocery
lists and meals you will be working towards staying aligned with
your healthy habits checklist.
Positive reinforcement and education about items on a healthy
lifestyles check list can also make the difference in
accomplishing the goals.
“Buckeye now orchestrates initiatives like the ‘Healthy
Lifestyles’ program to teach plan participants how to eat
healthier, stop smoking and incorporate exercise into their
daily lives,” adds Dr. Charles. “The important thing is to
understand what areas you need to improve, find out the best way
to make the changes, and stay motivated so you will notice
positive changes throughout the coming year.”
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