National Wellness Month 2022
August is National Wellness Month and we are sharing some ways to focus on self-care, stress management, and healthy routines. The state of wellness is defined as being in good health, especially as an actively pursued goal.
Being aware of healthy habits will make your journey toward wellness easier and even enjoyable. Physical and mental health are equally important when aligning life goals towards wellness. Which goals of wellness do you actively pursue?
The State Of Wellness in the U.S.
As a nation, we struggle with wellness as our numbers for obesity, heart disease, general activity, mental health conditions, and addictions continue to climb.
According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, the obesity epidemic continues to grow for adults and children. The prevalence of obesity in adults is 42% and 18.5% in children.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. In the US, every 40 seconds an American suffers a heart attack. Heart health is important to maintain overall wellness.
Related: Hypertension Treatment Online
Physical inactivity paves the misguided path to wellness. Reports show that over 25% of adults do not engage in leisure-time physical activity. It is time to get moving!
Take control of your health and wellness. Each day, you have the power to choose healthy habits that will align with wellness. The wellness path is paved, brick by brick, with consistency and determination acting as the glue holding it all together.
Wellness and COVID-19
The Covid-19 pandemic has caused a chain reaction of unparalleled events. It is especially difficult to focus on wellness during these unprecedented times, but with knowledge and creating new routines, wellness can be achieved.
Related: COVID-19 Resource Center
For many, these challenges have involved a loss of work, reduced social interaction, anxiety and illness. Overcoming adversity signifies mental strength and determination, which can be transferred into many areas of life.
At PlushCare, we encourage you to choose yourself during these times, so that you can be there for loved ones, friends, and even strangers.
Practicing self-care allows you to feel happier, be less stressed and live a healthy life; all things that we desperately need during this stressful time. Wellness starts at home with you!
Top 5 Tips to Boost your Wellness
The journey to wellness will be different for everyone. But the following tips are a great starting point!
Increase your water intake: unless contraindicated by some diseases such as heart or kidney disease, increasing your water intake can be beneficial. Water is involved in many bodily functions. Without water your body does not function at its’ maximum potential, ultimately affecting your wellness in a negative way.
Get regular exams: Contrary to “only going to see the doctor when sick,” people should take advantage of Primary Care options. Preventative medicine is crucial to maintaining wellness. You should get regular check-ups annually to prevent chronic illnesses. This works by catching problems early in the disease process rather than too late.
Exercise: The old adage of “diet and exercise” is true. We have heard it a million times! But exercising does not mean you have to sign up for a gym membership. Exercise is simply the movement of your body. This includes going for a walk, riding a bike, rollerblading, stretching, completing workout apps, or workouts from Pinterest posts. Anything you can do to get your heart pumping, gives your body oxygen rich blood, which enriches the body and mind.
Healthy Snack Options: Sometimes you are tempted to choose sugary, high calorie snacks. If possible, select fresh fruit and veggies for snacks. Healthy snacks can even help with depression. In general, shop on the perimeter of the grocery store for your snacks. These are the fresher and healthier options.
Get some rest: Restful sleep rejuvenates your body and mind. Poor sleep patterns affect your day and cause a vicious cycle. If you suffer from insomnia, make sure to reach out to your healthcare provider on ways to treat insomnia. Medications, meditation apps, and even aromatherapies have been shown to help with insomnia.
The Importance of Mental Health and Wellness
Your mind and body are intimately connected. One directly affects the other. Mental health is extremely important for health and wellness.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety is extremely prevalent among Americans, with nearly 40 million people experiencing an anxiety disorder in any given year.
Related: Get Anxiety Treatment Online
Perform daily emotional “check ins” with yourself. Ask yourself how are you feeling today? Pay attention to the emotions you are feeling. You can even journal when you feel these emotions and try to describe the emotions in detail.
Rather than saying “I feel sad,” try to distinguish why. Do you feel let down, discouraged, lost, grim, disappointed, or pessimistic? The better you become at describing the actual emotion, the better you will be at tackling it.
Read: Feeling a Little Blue?
Therapy can help with mental health and wellness. Nowadays, therapy can be done virtually via phone apps with great success. Sometimes online doctor prescriptions are necessary to help with symptoms of depression and anxiety.
At PlushCare, our board-certified doctors are available online to work with you to create a comprehensive treatment plan, including necessary prescription medications, such as antidepressants online, to relieve your symptoms of anxiety and depression.
How PlushCare can Help You and Your Family Stay Healthy
Covid-19 has forced us to create new routines, including how we obtain our healthcare. With many people unable or unwilling to go into their doctor's office, digital solutions are taking center stage.
With PlushCare's virtual primary care, urgent care, mental health, and online therapy services, you can get a wide variety of medical care online to boost your health and wellbeing. Our doctors have trained at the top 50 medical schools and have an average of 15 years of experience.
If you're committed to improving your wellness this August and think we can help, book an appointment with a top online doctor at PlushCare today.
Read More About Wellness
Sources
Center for Disease Control and Prevention, (2020). Obesity Data and Statistics. Accessed on June 19, 2024 at https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/php/data-research/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/index.html
American Heart Association. (2020). 2020 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistical Update Fact Sheet At-a-Glance. Accessed August 12, 2020 at https://www.heart.org/-/media/files/
Wellnessmonth.com. Accessed August 12, 2020 at https://wellnessmonth.com/
