Make being healthy your resolution. Find ways to get and stay healthy this year. Tips focus on a healthy you, family, and home.
The New Year has long been a time for reflection on the personal changes we want to make as we look forward to a year of healthy possibilities. Health-related goals are popular New Year's resolutions, but sometimes we may not know where to begin. Below, you'll find ways to get and keep a Healthy You, Healthy Family and Healthy Home. Take time to make a healthy lifestyle your resolution.
- Make healthy food choices. Grab a healthy snack such as fruit, nuts, or low-fat cheese.
- Be active. Try simple things such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Be active for at least 2 ½ hours a week.
- Protect yourself from injury or disease by wearing a helmet, sunscreen, or insect repellent when necessary.
- Make an appointment for a check-up, vaccination, or screening.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Be smoke-free. If you think you're ready to quit, call PTHA at 593-0232, ext. 215 for free counseling.
- Get enough sleep. Remember that sleep is a necessity, not a luxury.
- Learn how to be healthy before, during, and after pregnancy. PTHA offers Prenatal Health classes the first Friday of each month.
- Reduce auto-related injuries by using seat belts, child safety seats, and booster seats that are appropriate for your child's age and weight.
- Learn positive parenting tips to keep teens healthy and drug-free.
- Develop and enforce rules about acceptable and safe behaviors for all electronic media.
- Lower the risk of food borne illness as you prepare meals for your family.
- Serve healthy meals and snacks.
- Encourage and support physical activity.
- Gather and share family health history.
- Encourage family members to get check-ups and screenings.
- Store meds safely, put every medicine, including vitamins, up and away when you use it. PTHA offers free locking medicine cabinets. For more information call 593-0232, ext. 215.
- Install smoke alarms on every floor, including the basement, and particularly near rooms in which people sleep.
- Make your home safer to prevent falls among children and seniors.
- Keep cleaning products and medications out of the reach of children.
- Have an emergency plan and practice it often.
Adapted from the CDC