3 New Year’s Health Resolutions that Delve Deeper Than Diet
It’s officially a brand-new year—which means health resolutions are abound! We’re all about scaling back on pizza, skipping the extra salt, and avoiding those late-night sweet snacks, but there’s also so much more to leading a healthy lifestyle than just our diet choices. Today, we’ll cover:
- The importance of getting that check-up you’ve been putting off
- Why visiting the dentist tells you about much more than your teeth
- The importance of scheduling that screening, procedure or dreaded colonoscopy
Now, let’s dig in:
So much of our overall health revolves around how often we do (or don’t) make it to a medical professional’s office. Below, we’re breaking down our top 3 New Year’s Health Resolutions that delve far deeper than diet. Read on, and get ready for a healthy, happy 2018:
- Get That Much Needed Medical Check-Up
Regardless of whether you’re a gym rat or a professional Netflix surfer (or both), there tends to be one aspect of our health that so many of us (even health nuts) avoid: getting regular medical checkups. If you haven’t already, we encourage you to add getting an annual exam to your 2018 health resolutions list, as it plays such a key role in your overall health. It’s a great way to get a bird’s eye view of everything that’s going on with your body—your doctor will record your height, weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol—which then gives you a baseline to use in the future for insightful comparison. Plus, with 7 out of 10 U.S. deaths caused by chronic disease, early detection is absolutely key…and an annual medical exam is really your best bet for finding anything life-threatening when it’s still treatable.
- Visit the Dentist
One of the most common healthcare mistakes people make is avoiding going to the dentist. In fact, according to a 2010 study, only 59% of respondents visited a dentist at least once a year (as compared to 73% who visited a general medical provider). We’ve all been there—we get the postcard in the mail or a voicemail on our phone saying it’s time for our annual cleaning, and we think, I’ll call them and schedule that next month…or maybe the month after…only to eventually find that an entire year has gone by without getting a dental cleaning or oral checkup. The dentist’s office isn’t fun, which is why so many of us avoid it—but it is absolutely imperative to our overall health. Our mouth gives doctors tons of information about what’s going on with the rest of our body. According to the Academy of General Dentistry, more than 90 percent of all systemic diseases produce oral symptoms. Plaque buildup in our mouth can also lead to an array of other health problems. In fact, according to recent research, there may be a link between oral problems and medical issues like poorly controlled diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In short, the 60 minutes you’ll spend in the dentist’s chair is so worth the endless health benefits of a clean, healthy, plaque-free mouth.
- Schedule the Procedure or Screening You’ve Been Avoiding
Whether it’s getting wisdom teeth removed, scheduling a mammogram, or preparing for a colonoscopy, a large majority of us have something we know we need to do that we’ve been putting off (and off…and off). We encourage you to turn that beat around in 2018 and take control of your health by finally picking up the phone and scheduling that pesky procedure you’ve been avoiding. Nothing will feel better than knowing you’ve finally checked that dreaded item off of your healthcare to-do list. Plus, that medical screening or procedure you’ve been avoiding may just end up saving your life or providing you with imperative medical information about your overall health.
As we embark on a brand-new year, we hope you’re inspired to use this fresh-start as an opportunity to take stock and get serious about your health resolutions in 2018! Remember, the best healthcare approach is comprehensive one—one that balances diet, lifestyle, and proper medical care. Happy (and Healthy) New Year, from the entire ClearFast Team!