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Take Care of Yourself

                              Take Care of Yourself

 

 

Photo                  by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

Take care of yourself is a familiar phrase that we have been using more lately. It may sound like a cliché, but it carries weight. It appears that the days are shorter and before we know it, it will be December 31st and we will be setting goals for the new year. It is actually 77 days left in 2021. I said that to make a point, because we focus on the mundane, hustle, bustle, busy things of life and we forget to take care of ourselves. We care for so many things and others we totally put our needs on the back burner. I hope by the time you finish reading this blog you will have a new sense of self.

A new sense of self is not meaning for you to be selfish, self-absorbed, or self-centered. It merely means pay attention to what your needs are. I am not telling you to forget your obligations or the things you need to do a daily basis, but to make sure you become more aware of what your needs are and “take care of yourself.”

This is national breast cancer awareness month. My question to you is have you done your monthly breast exam, yearly mammogram (if appropriate for your age) or had your annual well women’s exam?

Well women’s exam consists of vision, dental, heart/lung/thyroid/kidney/liver health labs, glucose (A1c), breast exam and pap smear. Also, may need a referral to a podiatrist to make sure you are wearing the appropriate shoes to maintain healthy feet and spine.

We need to be more intentional about ‘listening to our body.’ Women of childbearing age are so in tune with their body that they know when they are ovulating and know if their menstrual cycle is 21 or 28 days. They know if their late as well. It is vital to take heed to your health warning signs. We do it with our cars. When the check engine light comes on, we know that we need to address it right away, because if not we may be buying a new vehicle. We need to fix the problem while it can be fixable. Our bodies give us warning signs. If you have a continuous headache, seeing spots before your eyes (floaters), feeling dizzy, this could be a warning that you have high blood pressure or another serious condition. Also, if you find a lump in your breast (no matter the size), please schedule an appointment to see your Healthcare Provider immediately. Early detection and treatment are the keys to the survival rate for breast cancer.

Other ways to take care of yourself:

·         Engage in regular exercise-30 minutes 5 days per week      

·         Eat 4-5 servings of vegetables and fruit per day

·         Take in less that 2,300 mg of sodium per day

·         Drink a least 6-8 glasses of water per day (different recommendations for age & gender)

·         Decrease your stress level-maintain healthy relationships, communicate with positive minded people, talk with a counselor or therapist on a regular

·         Do things that bring you pleasure and fulfillment

·         Listen to music, take a walk in the park, paint a picture, knit, needle point, crochet, sing, get a massage,  manicure/pedicure (safely schedule a spa day) ….        

·         Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night (“Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man, healthy, wealthy & wise”-Benjamin Franklin quote)                                            

I also want to give a shot out to all of the men who are familiar with their health numbers; Blood Pressure, BMI (Basic Metabolic Index), Cholesterol, A1c, and PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen). It is equally important for you to take care of yourself. We want you to experience longevity and a quality of life too.  

The biggest message that is being conveyed is to “Take Care of Yourself,”  

 

 

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