Was it just me or did 2014 seemed to fly by like the Mazda car commercials? Zoom! Zoom! So here we are ushering in a new year with hopes of greater purpose, productivity, and increased health and wellness. Most of us are contemplating how to accomplish such lofty aspirations for this upcoming year. Therefore, in regard to your wellness goals, I have comprised my top six recommended resolutions.
#1: Resolve to stop smoking!
What better way to kick of the list than to toss out those expensive, foul smelling, cancer causing cigarettes! One in five deaths can be attributed to cigarette smoking. Did you know that more women die each year from lung cancer than breast cancer? Tobacco smoke contains over 7,000 chemicals and hundreds of them have been linked to cancer. Quitting smoking is far from easy so ask your doctor for help. Medications, patches, gum, and several other methods are available to assist you in eliminating this largest preventable cause of disease in the United States.
#2: Resolve to take care of your mental health!
This past year has been trying for many of you and now is the time to get help with all of those unresolved issues. Maybe you suffered the death of a spouse, child, or sibling. Maybe you have battled depression and anxiety for years but chose to just “deal with it.” Help for mental illness is available to you through your job in some cases, your insurance plans, and free for some people. Seeking help does not make you a failure; it releases you to live an abundant happier life.
#3: Resolve to schedule a physical with your doctor!
Start the year off right by making an appointment for a routine wellness exam. This visit will allow your doctor an opportunity to assess how current you are on routine preventative maintenance testing such as mammograms, colonoscopies, immunizations, bone densities, and pap smears. These types of exams are also important for setting goals in regards to your wellness plan. And just as a reminder, please remember that not all of your 15 health issues may get addressed at that visit. Therefore, it is imperative that you see your doctor regularly so that all medical problems will eventually get the appropriate attention it deserves.
#4: Resolve to get moving!
I am declaring 2015 as the year of movement! So many people try to make exercise the new “four letter word” but it is not. Your body is begging you to get out of your seat and do something, anything. There are no limitations on the types of exercise that you can try in order to reach your fitness goals! Try something different like rowing! Maybe you are a traditionalist so consider jogging in Forest Park. If you are new to the exercise arena, then try walking in the local malls with a friend. No willing friend to join you, then make new ones as you window shop along the way. 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise five days per week is your target.
#5: Resolve to do a random act of kindness!
Pay it forward! A Stanford University Professor Sonja Lyubomirsky, in 2006 conducted a study with students and found that random acts of kindness improved happiness in the test group as compared to the controls. I’m sure many of you know of people who enjoy doing nice things for others. So, why don’t you join them and see how much better you feel!
#6: Resolve to make lifestyle changes
Slow down! Take time for yourself even if it is nothing more than a quiet bath with jazz playing in the background. You deserve some quiet in your life: it slows down your pulse and lowers cortisol levels, which in turn decreases inflammation in your body. Turn off the television, stop updating your Facebook status, and refrain from texting for one week. I hypothesize that you will get more rest and become far more productive than you have been in quite some time.
Stretch a little and try eating fresh and wholesome for one week: no processed foods, no meat! Get acquainted with new ways to cook vegetables. You will be impressed with how delicious these nutrient-packed foods can be. This new way of eating will provide benefits such as regular soft stools, lack of bloating and even weight loss. If you want to look great (meaning better than your friends) for that upcoming high school or college reunion, start now and stay consistent with your plan. Good habits take longer to form than bad ones.
Happy New Year!
Yours in Service,
Denise Hooks-Anderson, M.D.
Assistant Professor
SLUCare Family Medicine
yourhealthmatters@stlamerican.com
