Government estimates tell us that 60% of Americans suffer from at least one disease that is preventable through lifestyle choices. The World Health Organization says that 40% to 80% of chronic diseases can be prevented through the same lifestyle choices. Eat right and exercise, and you can reduce your chances of illness significantly. Working towards wellness doesn’t stop with the foods that you eat or how often you exercise, however. Regular wellness visits with your primary care physician are a critical part of maintaining wellness that is often overlooked.
Maintaining wellness is an ongoing process
Eating a balanced, nutritious diet – and eating the right portion sizes – helps you maintain a healthy weight and get all of the nutrients you need each day.
While the recommendations for how much water a person needs varies, you need to drink plain water every day.
Everyone needs physical activity every single day regardless of age. Every minute of physical activity counts towards your daily goal, according to the recent changes in Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.
In addition to a healthy diet and regular exercise, you need plenty of good quality sleep each night.
Remember that health and wellness isn’t just about your physical health. It also includes taking care of your mental health.
Making healthy choices includes the things that you don’t do as well. Avoiding unhealthy lifestyle choices such as smoking, drinking, and risky behaviors contribute to wellness.
A healthy diet, regular exercise, and good sleep each night are a great start, but you can do more to work towards wellness. There's no substitute for regular visits with your primary care physician! #HealthandWellness Click To TweetWellness exams keep you healthier
The idea behind wellness is that you should take actions to improve and maintain your health before there’s a health problem. This is also true for visiting your primary care physician. In fact, visiting your doctor on a regular basis is a fundamental part of wellness. Don’t wait until you have symptoms to see your doctor. Schedule an annual wellness exam.
Visiting your primary care physician on a regular basis is an easy and effective way to improve your health. Your doctor can work with you to ensure that you are making the best decisions for your health. Regular wellness exams can help prevent certain health issues, and your primary care physician can also help detect health problems early when they are most treatable.
Wellness exams can also improve your relationship with your doctor, and make visits more comfortable. Seeing your doctor regularly promotes easier communication of health information and leads to better health outcomes.
FirstCare Family Doctors offers comprehensive health care for your entire family. Schedule an appointment with FirstCare today.