A HEALTHIER ME IN 2013

'New year resolutions - they never change'

The picture of perfect health is not determined by age or gender. At every age, both men and women can take charge of their lives and be healthy. The choice is entirely yours. And it is a constant choice that has to be made. Here are a few ways we encourage you to be healthier in 2013.

Eating healthy: When we say eat healthy we don’t mean just picking the right food. But also the right portion size, the salt/ sugar content and the time when it should be eaten.

Being active: Too often we hear the word ‘exercise’ and get turned off. At Healthspring we simply encourage you to be active. Move around, stay flexible and incorporate some form of physical activity that you love doing.

Sleep: There is nothing more rejuvenating than sleep. Not only does it help consolidate memory but it also helps the body repair minor damages incurred during the day. Don’t talk yourself out of a good night’s sleep. Just like your laptop and cell phone your body needs to recharge while you sleep.

Smoking: This is easier said than done. You may have tried in the past and failed. But here’s the thing about smoking you may never kick the habit in one go. Our doctors are more than willing to help you deal with the setbacks, prescribe a drug or egg you on with that extra push. After all we do understand that it isn’t easy, health conscious decisions never are.

Stress: Are you one of those people who feels he/she has a million things to do and all of them have to be done by you? If you are we encourage you to stop micromanaging and plan something relaxing at the end of the week. Reward yourself for the hard work of a week. While short bouts of stress can help increase energy, chronic stress can decrease your immunity and cause heart disease, hypertension and other illnesses. So relax, don’t sweat the small stuff.

Alcohol: While 25 ml of spirits is the recommended allowance, long term use of alcohol can lead to liver disease, hypertension and peptic ulcers. Try making substitutions and cutting back on the quantities of alcohol you’re drinking. If you feel compelled by social events to do so come by and talk to us, we have a few tricks to prevent you from caving into pressure.

Regular health check- ups: We check the air in our tyres regularly so why don’t we check our sugar, cholesterol, BP and health regularly. Aren’t our bodies more fragile than cars? Meeting a physician regularly can help identify not just physical ailments, but it can help detect red flags to certain diseases before they take a turn for the worse.

So sit down with us for a cup of tea and together let’s come up with a plan for a healthier you in 2013.

Happy New Year 2013.