A Slice of range V o l u m e
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A new year, a new you
NEW YEAR IS A GREAT TIME TO REINVENT YOUR LIFE. THAT’S WHY MOST OF US MAKE NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS. BUT WHY JUST RESOLVE TO CHANGE ONE THING, WHEN YOU CAN RE-INVENT YOUR LIFE INTO ONE FILLED WITH HEALTH! Another year has come, and for many it means one more year older, one year weaker. But your age really is just how old you think you are. A mental framework like that can wreak havoc on your psychological well-being, maybe even
lead to clinical depression. Depression, on the other hand, is a major risk factor for heart disease, obesity, and drug abuse. Overall, depressed individuals have a shorter lifespan than their happier counterparts.
So get out of that vortex of self-pity, stand up and take control of your life! It’s never too late to re-invent yourself for a healthier you, in mind, body and spirit!
A Slice of Orange is a newsletter designed to help clarify basic health information and offer juicy tips on uplifting your health.
Editorial team Alvin Delfin Christine Llenes-Delfin Ivan Olegario, MD
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HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT IT? TRY THESE THREE TIPS.
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5 things to make sure are NEW this year
Some things grow better with age. Not the next five things! Make sure these things are new as the New Year begins. 1. Your toothbrush. Not only do germs thrive on your toothbrush as time passes, but the bristles deteriorate. Even just a few misaligned bristles can hurt your gums.
Make a personal life inventory Charting your current state will help you monitor if you are progressing in your quest for a healthier, happier you. So take a moment to note down the following: 1. Things that are good in your life, job and body. 2. Things you don’t like about your life, job and body.
Once you’ve answered that, set out small steps to get to where you want to go. Smaller steps mean that the chances of you succeeding in each step will be higher. This also means that your re-invention will take time. So be patient and self-forgiving.
Take small steps After figuring out where you are, the next step is to know where you’re going. How do you want to end up after this re-invention?
3. Your athletic shoes. These shoes protect you from injury. Aside from checking if your shoe still fits you, check also if the heel has already become soft, and the sole threads have worn out. 4. Your immunizations. Many vaccinations should be given in several doses months apart. These include those for hepatitis B, HPV (human papilloma virus), seasonal flu, and chickenpox. Make sure you’re updated.
Do your inventory on separate occasions. Focus only on one aspect of your life at a time. This will help you be more objective about your inventory. Who knows, you might end up discovering that you’re actually happier and healthier than you think!
Your re-invention will take time. So be patient and self-forgiving.
2. Your working shoes. Go ahead, splurge on shoes. Ill-fitting shoes are the most common cause of foot pain, which can lead to back problems. While time does soften the leather of shoes, making them more comfortable, the support the leather provides also lessens.
5. Your insurance coverage. It won’t take you a minute to check.
Here’s a sample of what you may want to do:
GOAL: BE HEALTHIER BY EATING HEALTHIER. Week 1: Start taking multivitamins. Week 2: Add oatmeal to my breakfast. Week 3: Add vegetables to lunch. Week 5: Add vegetables to dinner. Week 7: Lessening my rice intake during dinner by half a cup.
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Learn new things Learning something new, whether it be academic, or a new skill, or a new perspective, is a sure-fire way to re-invent yourself. You can never come out of learning and still be the same person.
Do not limit your learning to just taking courses (although courses are a good option). You can also try challenging yourself to go out of your comfort zone. You can try out a new sport, or simply just make an effort to meet up with old friends. Who knows what you could learn from them over a simple chat over coffee. One last thing about learning: Make sure that the thing you want to learn is aligned and consistent with steps 1 and 2. For example, if your goal is to be healthier, do
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Top 5 health news of 2009 that really matter to you 1. Pepeng and Ondoy. These two typhoons have taught us one important thing—disaster preparedness. Always have food, drinking water, dry clothes, and a heat/light source, ready for when you may need to evacuate during a disaster. 2. Cancer in the limelight. Actor Johnny Delgado, former president Cory Aquino, and master rapper Francis Magalona all succumbed to cancer in 2009. But when detected early, most cancers can be curable. Visit your doctor to ask about cancer screening. 3. The Hayden Kho scandal. Many in the medical profession consider this an “unfortunate event.” But for you our dear readers, this is a call to take on a more active role in your healthcare, be it medical or cosmetic. Be more inquisitive, yet at
not go studying a new language just to get out of a rut. Take up a new sport instead, or enroll in a healthy-cooking class. Do the above three steps on a regular basis. Once you have gotten into the habit of evaluation, planning, trying, learning, and succeeding, it will become more natural and more effortless.
the same time, completely trust your doctor once your curiosity has been satisfied—no earlier than that. 4. Maximum drug retail price. On August 15, 2009, 72 drug preparations were forced to reduce prices by 50%. This is definitely good news for the patients, so make sure to check if your prescriptions contain the generic name of the medicine prescribed to you. 5. Influenza A(H1N1) pandemic. The Filipino had never been more health conscious than during the Influenza A(H1N1) outbreak. People started becoming more meticulous about their hygiene, nutrition and physical fitness. But these are things we should be doing every day, with or without outbreak.
Of course, there’s the risk that you may bore yourself as it becomes more second-nature, so if it has become too easy, push yourself again to your limits, beyond your new-found comfort zone. This will accelerate your re-invention process and boost your self-esteem, which will eventually lead to a happier, healthier you!
Looking to enhance your corporate healthcare benefits? E-mail us at benefits@activelink-consult.com. The information in this newsletter is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Consult a doctor for all matters relating to your health, particularly for symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. © 2010 ActiveLink
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The Orange wants to he ar from you! Dying to ask us your health related questio ns? Itching to share your pe rsonal health tips? Want to sugg est topics for future issues? Feel free to contac t us. You can e-m ail our team at orange@activ elink-consult.c om.