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AMA offers 10 tips for a healthy 2023
The American Medical Association (AMA) has released 10 recommendations that physicians can share with patients to help keep them healthy in the new year. “Many people kick off the start of each new year with big-picture health resolutions —ambitious, immediate lifestyle changes that are very difficult to maintain,” AMA President Jack Resneck Jr., MD, said in a press release. “The good news is that small, positive health choices made right now can have long-lasting effects.” The top recommendation is to be more physically active. AMA recommends that adults complete at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity or at least 75 minutes of vigorous- intensity activity per week. This aligns with WHO’s guidelines, which only about 20% of adults currently meet, according to previous research. The second recommendation is to ensure that patients’ families are up- to-date on their vaccines, including the influenza vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine for patients aged 6 months or older. The AMA also suggested that physicians talk to patients about bivalent boosters, which have been shown to reduce the risk for severe COVID-19. The organization next recommended routine screening, citing estimates showing that, since April 2020, “millions of screenings for breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer
diagnoses may have been missed due to pandemic-related care disruptions.” For patients who drink alcohol, the AMA recommended doing so in moderation — two drinks per day for men and one for women. Another recommendation is to take antibiotics “exactly as prescribed” because “antibiotic resistance is a serious public health problem,” and to store antibiotics and opioids or other pain medication “safely to prevent diversion or misuse, and properly dispose of any leftover medication.” The AMA’s other recommendations are to: • be aware of blood pressure levels; • manage stress through diet, exercise, adequate sleep and wellness activities, such as yoga and meditation; • initiate conversations about e-cigarette use and quitting; • assess for type 2 diabetes risk; and • reduce the intake of processed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages, “especially those with added sodium and sugar.”
In the spirt of giving in the new year, we are offering FreeWill: a free, intuitive online tool that guides you through the process of creating your will online in about 20 minutes. As this season reminds us of all we’re grateful for, PCOA wants to support our community in completing an estate plan—an essential life task. FreeWill also empowers you to build a legacy. Making a planned gift is completely optional, and regardless of your choice to give this season, FreeWill is always 100% cost-free to use! Your gift can be one that secures the long-term success of PCOA’s care for older adults. Create your free will today! ( https://www.freewill.com/pcoa )
February 2023, Never Too Late | Page 33
Pima Council on Aging
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