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RESOLVE TO HAVE BETTER
HEALTH IN THE NEW YEAR
ARCHBOLD.ORG•
WINTER 2016
17
Smoke out!
One way to get expert help is to call
877.448.7848
, the smoking
quitline of the National Cancer Institute. A trained counselor will help
you come up with an effective strategy to transform you into an
ex-smoker.
James W. Falconer III, MD
Internal Medicine Physician
McIntosh Clinic
A BURST OF MOTIVATION—
that’s what Jan. 1 triggers in lots of us.
“The new year, after all, is a powerful cue to change our lives for the better—and often in
ways that will improve our health,” said internal medicine physician James W. Falconer III, MD.
But turning good intentions into reality can be tricky. Yes, you want to move the scale in the
right direction or stop lighting up. But where do you begin?
Dr. Falconer recommends that you start with the following tips. They can give the worth-
while resolutions on this page something they might otherwise lack:
staying power.
Kick some butts
If you smoke, you know quitting is hard. But your odds of success
increase if you have support.
Drop a few pounds
Small, manageable changes can help you slim down. Eat from plates, not packages,
and eat slowly by putting down your fork between bites. Also keep tabs on your
daily diet with a food diary.
Get screened and get seen
Regular checkups and screening tests can often detect health problems in their
early, most treatable stages—or they may even prevent problems altogether.
Start the new year by asking your doctor what exams, tests and shots you need.
Move more
Sneak exercise into your routine. The next time you watch TV, do some sit-
ups. Bypass escalators and elevators and head straight
for the stairs. When you chat on the phone, pace
back and forth. You get the idea.
Sleep like an adult
Most adults need seven to eight hours of shut-eye
every night. If falling or staying asleep is a problem
for you, try to go to bed and get up at the
same times every day. If you’re still
having trouble catching those ZZZs,
check with your doctor.