It’s true. Our health is priceless. Just ask someone with a chronic condition, recovering from a bad car accident, going through treatment for cancer, or undertaking rehab for a stroke. While you can’t predict your future health, you can take small steps today to give yourself the best possible medical outcome. Preventive care and a healthy lifestyle are the keys to your future.
Importance of Preventive Health Care
How often do we take our health for granted? How often do we neglect taking the steps which will help us prevent disease? How committed are we to optimally maintaining our physical and mental well-being?
There are things you can do to give yourself the best possible outcome should you get sick or injured. By focusing on your health now, you can also slow down aging and give yourself the best possible outcome as an older American.
You can’t predict the future, so why not take every measure possible to give yourself the possibility of living the happiest, most pain-free life?
Given the challenges we encounter as adults, it becomes even more vital that we provide the support to our girls – daughters, nieces, granddaughters, goddaughters – which will help guide them as they move from infancy to young adulthood.
Here are a few tips to consider as you lead the girls in your life along the path of optimal health.
- Know the types of preventive care needed.
- Find a healthcare partner.
- Take small steps to improve your life because you’re a powerful prescription.
Types of Preventive Care
Knowledge is everything, so understand the types of preventive care needed. At what age are well visits, preventive screenings, and immunizations recommended? Use this chart from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force to see what screenings and preventive measures are needed at every age.
While there’s a lot of focus on getting babies to the doctor frequently for regular checkups, it’s just as important to get a teenager to the doctor at least once a year. There are social, behavioral, reproductive and sexual health questions that a family physician can explore with an adolescent or young adult.
Make adjustments to the screenings as needed, based on the specific circumstances of each individual. Therefore, you should always discuss what is needed for each child with your pediatrician/healthcare professional.
Patient doctor partnership
Second, find a physician/healthcare practitioner with whom you feel comfortable and with whom you can have a real conversation, ask questions, discuss your concerns, and address any fears.
Be a healthcare rebel. In other words, be an advocate for yourself and those you love. Speaking up allows you to get the best possible health outcome.
It takes bravery to speak up, but it’s your life, and you can control some outcomes.
Take small steps
You are one of the most powerful prescriptions. Model the behavior you want the girl(s) in your life to display. Children believe and replicate what they see much more than what they’re told to do.
Is healthy eating, regular physical activity, sleep, and relaxation a priority in your life? Are you sending messages and creating an environment in which a healthy lifestyle is a goal and expectation?
Do you get stressed? Take time to manage your stress, with techniques, tools, and guided books. Take steps today to be less stressed, because the next generation is watching. Find an outlet for your stress whether it’s mindfulness, exercise, or writing.
Take small steps to a better outcome for you and others.
If you have not done so already, now is the time to begin to engage in actions which will lay the foundation for and provide some tools to the girl in your life to enjoy the healthiest life possible. It may mean baby steps at the beginning, but make up your mind to make sure health is on her mind.
[The foregoing information, resources, links and/or references (collectively, the “Materials”) are provided solely for informational purposes and are not intended as medical or other professional advice. No representation or warranty of any kind is made in connection with the content of the Materials. The Materials may not be current and no one should take any action based on the Materials without first consulting their health care professional.]
