F e a t u r e
2
14
FIND A
PHYSICIAN
MIND YOUR
MIDDLE
FUEL
UP
N°
3
N
°
4
TAKE
THE
TESTS
TAKE
THE
SHOTS
N°
PLAY IT SAFE
6
2
1
M
aybe we should change the name of Jan. 1
fromNew Year’s Day to Clean Slate Day. After
all, the turning of the year offers a great op-
portunity to start fresh. Among other things,
you can use the occasion to make—or
renew—a commitment to good health.
✦
Need some help getting started on that commitment? Here are
14 suggestions on how you can make 2014 a healthy and fun year for
you and your family. Resolve to give some—or all—of them a try.
Quick question:
What helps give
you better health,
lower your health
care costs and ex-
tend your life? The
answer: having a
primary care doctor.
When you build a
long-term patient-
doctor relationship,
you get individual-
ized care. Your doc-
tor knows you and
what you need to do
to stay healthy—this
year and into the
future.
Carrying excess
pounds around your
middle raises your
risk for type 2 diabe-
tes and heart disease.
If you’re a man with a
waist measuring more
than 40 inches—or
you’re a woman with
a waist larger than
35 inches—it’s time
to get serious about
losing some of that
spare tire.
Taking a few minutes for breakfast has more than a few
rewards. A morning meal of lean protein, whole grains, low-fat
dairy, fruits and veggies starts you out right. You’ll improve
your concentration and memory, and you’ll feel less tired and ir-
ritable. And if you’re trying to drop a few pounds, those morning
calories will actually help you avoid overeating later on.
Keeping up with screening tests gives
you the opportunity to find health
problems early on—when they are
often easier to treat. Talk to your
doctor to see when you should be
screened for diabetes, high choles-
terol, high blood pressure and certain
cancers.
Kids aren’t the
only ones who
need vaccines.
Adults need
shots to protect
them from the
flu, shingles,
pneumonia and
hepatitis B, to
name a few.
Even if you’ve
been vaccinated
in the past, im-
munity wears
off. Ask your
doctor if you’re
up-to-date on
all your shots.
You want to stay active,
but you also need to
stay safe. Use the proper
gear if you’re exercis-
ing or playing a sport.
Make sure it fits right
and meets current safety
standards. You may find
that out-of-date footwear,
goggles or pads won’t
protect you from injury.
T I P S F O R A H E A LT H I E R
4
W I N T E R 2 0 1 4
H E A L T H
B E A T
