Greenville Business Magazine 2009 December issue : Page 12
››columns Staying Healthy During the Holidays BY TRAVIS ELLISON, M.D., INTERNAL MEDICINE OF GREER Sleep Studies show that eight hours or more of sleep nightly not only relieve stress and fatigue but is also important in staying healthy and avoiding illnesses such as upper respira- tory infections. Travel safely Whether you’re traveling across town or around the world, help ensure your trip is safe. Don’t drink and drive, and don’t let someone else drink and drive. Wear a seatbelt every time you drive or ride in a motor vehicle. Always buckle your child in the car using a child safety seat, booster seat, or seatbelt according to his/her height, weight and age. Get checkups and vaccinations Exams and screenings can help find problems before they start. They can also help find problems early, when the chances for treatment and cure are better. Vaccinations help prevent diseases and save lives. Schedule a visit with your healthcare provider for a yearly exam. Ask what vaccinations and tests you should get based on your age, lifestyle, travel plans, medical history and family health history. Prevent injuries Injuries from falls and fireworks often occur around the S taying healthy during the holidays requires awareness – and a checklist – of tips which could make a huge difference in the memories that will follow. Not taking routine care of yourself could result in some- thing that’s not fun at all – being sick on a holiday. What a catastrophe, especially if you have family visiting from out of town. Plus, you won’t be able to enjoy all the rewards of your hard work if you’re ill. Keep the following in mind for yourself and your family: Wash your hands often Keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps you can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Wash your hands with soap and clean running water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and clean water are not available, use an alcohol-based product. Manage stress The holidays don’t need to take a toll on your health.Keep a check on overcommitment and overspending. Balance work, home and play. Get support from family and friends. Practice time management.Keep a relaxed and positive outlook. 12 GREENVILLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2009 holidays. Use step stools instead of furniture when hanging decorations. Leave the fireworks to the professionals. Most residential fires occur during the winter months. Keep candles away from children, pets, walkways, trees and curtains. Never leave fireplaces, stoves or candles unattended. Handle and prepare food safely As you prepare holiday meals, keep yourself and your family safe from food-related illness. Wash hands and surfaces often. Avoid cross-contamination by keeping raw meat, poultry, seafood and eggs (including their juices) away from ready-to-eat foods and eating surfaces. Cook foods to the proper temperature, refrigerate promptly and do not leave perishable foods out for more than two hours. Eat healthy and be active With balance and moderation, you can enjoy the holidays the healthy way. Choose fresh fruit as a festive and sweet substitute for candy. Select just one or two of your favorites from the host of tempting foods. Find fun ways to stay active, such as dancing to your favorite holiday music. Be active for at least 2½ hours a week. Help kids and teens be active for at least one hour a day.
>>columns - Staying Healthy During the Holidays
Travis Ellison, M.D.
Staying healthy during the holidays requires awareness – and a checklist – of tips which could make a huge difference in the memories that will follow.
Not taking routine care of yourself could result in something that’s not fun at all – being sick on a holiday. What a catastrophe, especially if you have family visiting from out of town. Plus, you won’t be able to enjoy all the rewards of your hard work if you’re ill.
Keep the following in mind for yourself and your family:
Wash your hands often
Keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps you can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Wash your hands with soap and clean running water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and clean water are not available, use an alcohol-based product.
Manage stress
The holidays don’t need to take a toll on your health. Keep a check on overcommitment and overspending. Balance work, home and play. Get support from family and friends. Practice time management. Keep a relaxed and positive outlook.
Sleep
Studies show that eight hours or more of sleep nightly not only relieve stress and fatigue but is also important in staying healthy and avoiding illnesses such as upper respiratory infections.
Travel safely
Whether you’re traveling across town or around the world, help ensure your trip is safe. Don’t drink and drive, and don’t let someone else drink and drive. Wear a seatbelt every time you drive or ride in a motor vehicle. Always buckle your child in the car using a child safety seat, booster seat, or seatbelt according to his/her height, weight and age.
Get checkups and vaccinations
Exams and screenings can help find problems before they start. They can also help find problems early, when the chances for treatment and cure are better. Vaccinations help prevent diseases and save lives. Schedule a visit with your healthcare provider for a yearly exam. Ask what vaccinations and tests you should get based on your age, lifestyle, travel plans, medical history and family health history.
Prevent injuries
Injuries from falls and fireworks often occur around the holidays. Use step stools instead of furniture when hanging decorations. Leave the fireworks to the professionals.
Most residential fires occur during the winter months. Keep candles away from children, pets, walkways, trees and curtains. Never leave fireplaces, stoves or candles unattended.
Handle and prepare food safely
As you prepare holiday meals, keep yourself and your family safe from food-related illness. Wash hands and surfaces often. Avoid cross-contamination by keeping raw meat, poultry, seafood and eggs (including their juices) away from ready-to-eat foods and eating surfaces. Cook foods to the proper temperature, refrigerate promptly and do not leave perishable foods out for more than two hours.
Eat healthy and be active
With balance and moderation, you can enjoy the holidays the healthy way. Choose fresh fruit as a festive and sweet substitute for candy. Select just one or two of your favorites from the host of tempting foods. Find fun ways to stay active, such as dancing to your favorite holiday music. Be active for at least 2½ hours a week. Help kids and teens be active for at least one hour a day.
Remember these common sense rules even though it’s the holly jolly season:
››Nothing’s perfect. Don’t stress out trying to set the absolute perfect table or buy the best gift. Remember what the holiday is supposed to be about and focus on spending time with those you love. You might even try giving to charity this year instead of gifts?!? Charitable giving is down due to economic struggles, so now is the best time to give if you can.
››Don’t ease up on the hand washing. You’ll come into closer contact with more people during the holidays. Just don’t forget to wash your hands before digging into the bonbons.
››Continue your healthy eating habits. Even though you’re busy, don’t sacrifice good nutrition for a burger and fries on the run to the mall. Plan your shopping around your meals. Make shopping and holiday planning secondary to your health. Sounds easy, but it’s something you’ll need to remind yourself of over and over again in the coming month.
›› Turn down the Christmas music and get some rest. Remember, your body doesn’t care about the big party or how many gifts you have left to buy. It still needs the same amount of rest as any other time of the year. But don’t forget your winter exercise either! Treat your body right and perhaps it will be good to you.
I also recommend taking these points along with you throughout the upcoming year to stay healthy on the job.
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