Keeping yourself well - tips from Shipston Medical Centre

The purpose of this column is to encourage you to take action to keep yourself well.

Wash your hands regularly - Washing your hands is one of the easiest ways to protect yourself and others from illnesses such as food poisoning and flu.

Stay hydrated - Drinking enough water each day is crucial for many reasons: to regulate body temperature, keep joints lubricated, prevent infections, deliver nutrients to cells, and keep organs functioning properly. Being well-hydrated also improves sleep quality, cognition, and mood. You should drink enough during the day so your pee is a pale clear colour.

Eat a balanced diet – we are what we eat and the better our diet the better we feel. Not only can eating well improve our sleep and our mood, it can also reduce our chances of getting diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease and some cancers. The Eatwell guide offers advice and guidance about how to have a balanced diet, see www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/the-eatwell-guide/.

Keep active – try to do some physical activity. The amount we need depends on our age, but even doing light activity is beneficial. Please observe the latest government guidance on social distancing and self isolation.

Take medications as prescribed 

If you have a long term condition it is important to take medications as prescribed. Tips for doing this are to:

•  Incorporate your medications into your routine until it becomes a habit – e.g. take your morning and night tablets after brushing your teeth.

•  Use a pill box marked with days of the week.

•  Keep an up to date medication list with you at all times or a recent repeat prescription.

•  Use an alarm – especially if you have time specific medications such as Parkinson’s disease medications.

•  Give yourself reminders – e.g. a sticky note on the mirror or kitchen cupboard to remind yourself to take your medications.

•  If you have a respiratory condition it is important that you regularly use your preventer inhaler as prescribed, only using the reliever if you suffer an exacerbation of your condition

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