Our team at AFC Urgent Care Sevierville hopes you all had a wonderful holiday season with your family! With the holiday season behind us, has your focus turned to resolutions for the new year? Here’s to a happier, healthier 2018! Getting Healthy and Staying Healthy in the New Year Have you resolved to live a healthier lifestyle in 2018? Let’s take a look at a few ways you can do just that. First things first—get moving! Most adults should be getting at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on most days of the week. Are you getting the exercise you need? If not, work to incorporate activity into your daily life. Walking is an easy activity that nearly anyone can do, and it can be easily folded into a busy lifestyle. Simply aim to walk a certain number of steps each day and gradually increase that number after you hit each goal. Need somewhere to go to get all those steps in? While just doing chores around the house, walking on your lunch break at work and exercising 30 minutes a day can all help, have some fun this month walking around and enjoying the Winterfest celebration in both Sevierville and Pigeon Forge, which is still going on until Feb. 28. If you weren’t able to catch the excitement in December or you didn’t get enough, get in some steps while enjoying the fun, local event! You also want to make sure that strength training is part of your workout routine. Strength training helps prevent muscle and bone loss with age, especially for women. These types of activities, along with balance exercises, are also particularly beneficial to help prevent falls as you age. In addition, you want to make sure you are keeping yourself hydrated this year. Did you know the dehydration affects your health in more ways than just thirst? Hydration is important for a variety of reasons, so be sure to drink plenty of fluids and eat water-filled fruits and vegetables, like berries, cucumbers and peppers. Finally, make sleep a priority. While you might feel you get more done staying up late at night, that’s probably not the case. Your body needs sleep in order for your mind and body to work efficiently. How much sleep do you need, you may be wondering? The National Sleep Foundation recommends you get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night for optimal health. Do you know where your health stands? If it’s been over a year since your last wellness check, visit AFC Urgent Care Sevierville for a routine physical exam to learn about your health and how it can be improved.
