A Resolution for Better Health
New Year’s resolutions related to health are nothing new: Lose weight, eat healthier, get more exercise. But now that 2022 is upon us, it is more important than ever to renew our commitment to healthy lifestyles due to the impact the COVID pandemic has had on our health and health routines.
Many of my patients stopped exercising, began overeating, and increased their alcohol intake. The results of these behaviors have added to the prevailing health problems of obesity and insulin resistance, a condition that impairs the body’s ability to utilize insulin, the hormone that controls levels of blood glucose (sugar). I suspect we will be seeing the downstream effects of this in terms of increased hypertension and diabetes in the next few years. My advice to all patients and to you is to revisit the healthful routines you followed before the pandemic. First, see your primary care provider and get a reality check on any changes in your weight, lipid levels, and blood glucose. Renew your commitment to exercise. If you previously exercised at a gym but aren’t going back, it’s time to choose a new exercise regimen. One of the easiest ways to increase your physical activity is to start walking more: Count your steps and aim for more than 10,000 steps daily. If you need structure to restart a healthy diet, consider one of the prepackaged meal plans; these plans can help you “reboot” your diet, even if you do it for just a month or two. Or see a nutritionist remotely using tools like FaceTime or Zoom. Since the pandemic, almost all types of counseling (psychological, nutritional, and other) have become easily accessible. There are also many health information platforms that allow you to input your meals and your exercise and help you keep track of your progress.
Also use the visit with your primary care provider to catch up on any screenings you may have missed, such as mammograms, colonoscopies or bone density scans. And make sure your vaccines for influenza, pneumonia, and shingles are up to date. It’s now easier than ever to access health-care professionals, so resolve to make 2022 a year to refocus your priorities and reset a healthy routine.
The post A Resolution for Better Health appeared first on University Health News.
