Dr John Chang
Unitedhealthcare of California
Capture healthy this season by refreshing your wellness routine and by building healthier habits for the rest of the year. While many Americans make health of their main objective of their New Year resolutions, 57% of respondents to the recent survey said they were taking healthier life choices than after having medical concern.
As the days lie down and time heats up, it’s the perfect time to move and focus on the life of a healthier lifestyle. There is no better time to start than today.
Here are three steps that you can start to follow right away.
Choose a primary care provider and access preventive screenings
A primary care provider can guide you on your health journey, and studies suggest that access to primary care providers can help people live longer. However, more than 30% of American adults do not have a primary care provider.
An important element to check your health care control list each year is an annual wellness visit with a primary care provider – even if you feel healthy. A preventive care visit can help you better understand your health and detect any problem early. If you do not currently have a primary care provider, consult your health plan for network doctors in your region or other options to access care such as virtual care options. Health plans generally cover preventive care, which means that you can pay $ 0 in its pocket for certain preventive services covered if you go to a network supplier.
You can also be eligible to win rewards thanks to your health plan for activities such as your annual wellness visit, to obtain certain preventive screenings or to carry out a health survey. Some health plans also offer coverage for certain health projections such as those for breast cancer and colorectal cancer.
Check with your health plan to understand your coverage and eligibility and talk to your employer benefits and wellness programs that may be available for you.
Walk 15 to 30 minutes a day
Going out outside during the day and enjoying the sun can be an important source of vitamin D, increasing your mood and helping you sleep better.
Make regular walks, even for 15 to 30 minutes, can be a simple way to get a little sun and fresh air, take your steps and keep your body in motion. In fact, a recent study has revealed that walking more can help prolong life expectancy up to 11 years. Ideally, adults should target each week for at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity as a fast walk, or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity such as jogging or race.
Some employers now offer wellness programs in the context of health benefits available for their employees. Certain health plans sponsored by employers offer eligible members access to programs that allow employees to win financial incentives to achieve certain health objectives such as walking 5,000 stages per day, follow 14 days of sleep or respond to a health survey.
Follow and improve your sleep
Many people have trouble with their sleep habits, with more than a third of adults in the United States, regularly pointing not to sleep enough. Experts recommend that adults sleep seven hours or more per night. Maintaining healthy sleep habits can be beneficial both for your physical and mental well-being, helping to reduce stress and improve your mood, to reduce the risk of certain chronic conditions.
To help improve your sleep, plan to avoid alcohol, caffeine and too much screen time before going to bed, and try to fall asleep and wake up at the same time every day.
The addition of these tips in your daily routine can be a great way to stimulate your overall health and well-being.
Dr. John Chang is the head doctor of the West region for Unitedhealthcare of California.