How healthy are you?
Want to stay healthy? While you probably can’t guard against every possible injury or illness, there’s still a lot you can do to stay on track.
Improving just two key behaviors that many of us neglect will go a long way toward disease prevention at any age. It may not even take much time or money to make positive changes that truly make a difference.
Get started with these simple steps:
Step One: Get an Annual Physical
- Why it’s important: Develop and maintain a relationship with a health care professional you trust so you know where to turn when something’s not right. Have them screen for curable and preventable diseases like heart disease and skin cancer.
- Time spent: 1 to 3 hours, including travel.
- Money spent: $0 to $200, depending on your insurance. Employer and Marketplace plans often provide free annual physicals and preventive screenings even if you haven’t met your deductible.
- Pro tip: Feeling depressed, anxious or having trouble sleeping? Your primary care doctor can often help (or they can refer you to a specialist).
Step Two: Get Moving
- Why it’s important: Exercise can relieve stress, maintain muscle and bone strength, improve metabolism and keep your heart healthy.
- Time spent: 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity is ideal, according to the American Heart Association. For even more benefits, add strength training twice a week.
- Money spent: $0 to $125 per month, depending on what activities you prefer.
- Pro tip: Exercise doesn’t have to be a chore or a huge time commitment — try going for a walk with a friend or using the stairs instead of the elevator. Even simple physical activity can lead to health benefits.
Have questions about your coverage or anything else? Reach out today.
