The beginning of a new year is always a good time to make new healthy commitments. It offers a fresh start, and provides the perfect opportunity to better yourself and work towards better health. The most popular New Year’s resolutions often focus on health. Exercise, healthy eating, weight loss, and giving up unhealthy habits perennially top the list of resolutions. But what’s the healthiest New Year’s resolution?
What’s the healthiest New Year’s resolution? Ask your doctor
Quitting smoking, choosing to exercise everyday, and cutting out junk food from your diet are, of course, all healthy New Year’s resolutions. Following through on any of those things will certainly help improve your health and your quality of life.
One of the best things you can do to improve your health, though, is to establish a good relationship and good communication with your primary care physician.
Why primary care is important
It’s easy to see how going for a run or skipping the drive-thru are good for your health, but it’s not quite as obvious why regular primary care is crucial for good health.
You can't always feel health problems or see them in the mirror. Click To TweetYour primary care doctor can help detect health problems, help give you an accurate view of your current health, and help you set healthy goals. The better the relationship with your primary care physician, the better your doctor knows you and the the better his or her understanding of your health. This results in better healthcare.
Some people think that they only need to talk to their doctor when they are sick, or when there’s something wrong. Think again. Wellness is about preventing health problems before they occur rather than waiting for a health issue to occur and then trying to fix it.
More than once a year
Regular visits with your general practitioner are essential to wellness. Annual wellness exams are a good place to start, but that’s the bare minimum. Visiting your doctor once a year for an annual check-up is better than not visiting the doctor at all, but to truly benefit from primary care, you should communicate with your doctor on a regular basis. Share health questions and concerns, and not just when you’re feeling under the weather.
You don’t have to wait for the new year to start improving your health. Meet with a MANA physician today, and start working towards wellness today!