A healthier you for the new year

Every year, we make a list of ways to start the New Year right. Staying healthy or becoming more fit is always part of that list. To help jumpstart this particular resolution, MediCard Philippines, one of the country’s leading health maintenance organizations, shares some tips to help you start the year right:

1 Invest in your health. Do you know where you stand when it comes to health? Taking a good look at your lifestyle or physical appearance may not be enough. If you subscribe to an HMO, you might want to schedule a physical checkup soon. For those who do not have an HMO, it might be a great idea to avail of a health maintenance service similar to an HMO that covers consultations with a family physician when you are sick. An example of this is MediCard Philippines’ Health Plus card which includes free consultations, oral prophylaxis and discounts on certain lab services for only P1,100. Shelling out a little more than a thousand per year for a service like Health Plus card may actually help prevent diseases and save you from huge hospitalization bills later.

2 Get into a proper diet. Like an engineering feat, our bodies require fuel to work. Just like any machine you need the right amount of fuel to make your body last long. A healthy diet is recommended by nutritionists. What comprises a healthy diet? Eating the right amount of fiber, carbs and other nutrients the body needs. Minimize both sugar and fats because most of the time, they can trigger health problems like hypertension and diabetes.

3 Getting the right amount of exercise. Exercise is important and is a big step in your commitment to being healthy. If you have not been exercising, start slow with a 30-minute morning jog or if you start your day at night, take a brisk walk regularly. This simple exercise is not meant to tire your body but to strengthen your heart and keep the blood pumping. You don’t need to spend an hour or more to be active, just half an hour is enough according to most experts.

4 Get enough rest. Many studies have been made emphasizing the importance of rest. For adults, the ideal time for rest in a 24-hour period is 7 to 8 hours. This allows your body to renew itself by doing biological maintenance while the body is at rest. To start the habit of sleeping regularly, keep a sleep schedule. Using this method for a week or two should give you an idea how much sleep you actually need. You may want to keep out electronic gadgets out of your room as they distract you and your body’s ability to be at rest.

5 Minimize health risks. What activities do you regularly indulge in that might cause health problems later? Smoking and excessive drinking are two of the common causes of death. If it is too difficult for you to quit cold turkey, you should at least lessen the amount of cigarette or alcohol that you consume. Additionally, the growing addiction to online entertainment is another cause for concern. Spending too much time in front of a computer to play video games or interact online may strain your eyes. This also includes excessive use of mobile devices as they increase the chance of straining neck muscles. Taking some time off by doing physical activities away from your electronic gadgets is a great way to lessen health risks.

6 Be on your toes for an emergency. Just like any sound investment, emergency coverage is essential because we never know what can happen. Setting aside an amount for health/medical emergencies is a sound plan. If you don’t have an HMO card, you might want to check out a health plan you can subscribe to annually to cover emergency room expenses. An example of this is MediCard Philippines’ RxER which provides emergency coverage at a reasonable price and covers you for one year.