Central California Alliance for Health | Living Healthy | December 2019

3 HEALTHY Don’t wait until you are sick Make a wellness visit with your doctor today! You know it’s important to see your doctor when you are sick. But did you know that as an Alliance member, you are covered for preventative services to help you stay well? These wellness services include: ●  ● Regular health exam (check-up) to meet with your doctor and to find problems before they start ●  ● Immunizations (vaccines) for children and adults ●  ● Important screenings like mammograms and prostate exams ●  ● Blood pressure and cholesterol checks ●  ● Help managing an ongoing health condition like asthma, diabetes or high blood pressure ●  ● Information about healthy eating and exercise and how to stop smoking If you have never seen your Alliance There’s no question that age brings changes to our lives. Some of them, like the death of a spouse, we would prefer to avoid. But age can bring positive changes too. One survey found that many older people say they have less stress and more time for family, interests and hobbies than they used to have. To a great extent, what older age will be like for you depends on how you live now. It also depends on how you cope with the changes that come your way. Here are a few tips to help make aging easier and more pleasant: ●  ● Decide to have an active mind and body. Remember the saying “use it or lose it.” ●  ● Choose to be involved. Isolation can contribute to depression and other health problems. So keep connected to family and friends. They can give you physical and emotional support. ●  ● Choose a healthy lifestyle. Try to: ❱  ❱ Eat well ❱  ❱ Stay at a healthy weight ❱  ❱ Get enough rest ❱  ❱ Quit smoking if you do ❱  ❱ Do what you can to stay safe ❱  ❱ See your doctor regularly ●  ● Make the most of your spare time. Do things you enjoy and allow yourself time to rest. Too much stress can bring on health problems. ●  ● Practice healthy ways to cope. Believe in yourself and remember: You can handle whatever comes your way. Sources: AGS Foundation for Health in Aging; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Mental Health America; Pew Research Center Tips for healthy aging primary care provider, call to make an appointment. Even if you are not sick, this visit will let you and your doctor get to know each other. Your primary care provider will ask about your medical history, what medicines you take and how you are feeling. He or she will make sure you are up-to- date on your vaccines and may order lab work. This visit is also a time for you to ask any questions or talk about any concerns you have about your health and how you feel. If it has been a while since you have seen your primary care provider, it might be time for a wellness check-up or to make sure you are up-to-date on screenings and vaccines. Don’t wait. Call your doctor and get started on the road to good health now! YOU AND YOUR HEALTH are important to us. Please call us at 800-700-3874 (TTY: Dial 7-1-1 ) if you have questions, need help or have concerns about your care as an Alliance member. We’re here to help!