1. Make sure you and your family get your yearly check-ups.
Kids and adults need annual wellness check-ups. Whether it is for heart health, diabetes screening, or that odd-looking mole on your shoulder, plan ahead for 2010 and schedule your annual exam early.
2. Make sure you and your family are all current on immunizations (shots).
Some immunizations are essential and protect you from potentially serious diseases. Others help to minimize the effects of catching seasonal flu or the H1N1 virus. You can contact Community Health Plan for a list of local clinics where you can get immunizations for babies, children, and even adults.
3. Exercise regularly.
Walk at a brisk pace for 30 minutes, two or three times a week. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Swim, bicycle, or get into your yard and do some light to moderate work. What is essential is that you’re active and that you try to include regular aerobic or strengthening activities each week.
4. Eat healthy.
Try reducing your salt intake by half and adding one extra piece of fruit to your diet each day. This is a powerful way to improve your health. But eating healthy is not just about what you eat, it also means cutting back on some foods, too. Try to limit sweets to one treat a day, and drink less soda.
5. Quit smoking.
Even if you’ve tried to quit before and failed, don’t let it get you down. Locally, there are a variety of free support services, hotlines, and smoking cessation classes to help you kick the smoking habit.
6. Pregnant?
There are many things you can do right away to begin caring for your baby. Call your doctor and make an appointment for prenatal care. Visit www.parenthelp123.org for a list of resources available to moms and babies.
7. Children Safety.
Make sure your children’s car seats or booster seats are properly secured and fitted. This is an essential step for making your child safe while riding in the car. If you need assistance, most fire stations will help you fit and adjust your child’s car seat.
8. Allergy and Asthma Season.
Spring is the beginning of allergy season. You don’t have to be miserable during allergy season. Call your doctor to help you or your children create an allergy or asthma action plan to help manage symptoms and remain healthy.
9. Guard against the bone thief!
Compared with Caucasian women, Asian American women have been found to consume less calcium. Calcium is essential for building and maintaining a healthy skeleton. Eat a well- balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D; exercise regularly, with an emphasis on weight-bearing activities such as walking, jogging, dancing, and weight training; and don’t smoke, and limit alcohol intake.
10. Enjoy life and spend more time with family and friends!
Life can get hectic and stressful so it’s very important to take a break, have fun and spend good times with your family and friends. It’s an important step to a happier and healthier you!
Community Health Plan provides managed care for more than 240,000 individuals and families throughout Washington. It is the state’s sixth largest provider of the Basic Health Plan and the second largest health plan serving members of the state’s Medicaid program, including Healthy Options, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, and GA-U. For more information about affordable and quality health care, please call the Community Health Plan customer service team at 1-800-440-1561 or go to www.chpw.org. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please call TTY 1-866-816-2479 (toll free).
