Show Yourself Some Love This Valentine's Day

February is the month of love, and this year, the best gift of love you can give is a gift to yourself—good health.

A little self-care goes a long way. It can lead to better physical, mental, and emotional health and improve your overall well-being. Just a few changes in your habits can boost your health inside and out. Here are a few ways you can put your self-care front and center this month.

Schedule a check-up with your doctor.

Regular check-ups may not seem necessary if you have no health issues. But your primary care provider can help you maintain a healthy lifestyle and catch health concerns at early stages before they become serious. Regular check-ups and well visits are proven to help you live a longer, healthier life. Don’t have a doctor? Make an appointment with a Frederick Health Medical Group Primary Care provider.

If you’re busy and need an appointment, we’ll call you. Visit FrederickHealth.org/GetCare, fill out the form with your preferred location, provider, and time, and we’ll call you within 24-48 hours to confirm your appointment. It’s that easy! Our Primary Care providers will connect you with specialists and services you may need, like well-woman visits, annual screenings, prevention programs, and more.

Learn your family’s health history.

The health of your closest relatives influences your health a lot. Certain medical conditions can be passed down from parents to their children. It’s important to ask questions about your family’s health. This will help you to identify your own risk factors and schedule appropriate screenings. A genetic counselor can help you collect this information and determine the tests you need based on your history.

Schedule your screenings.
Everyone should have individual screenings by certain ages. These include screenings for both men—diabetes, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer—and women—cholesterol, breast cancer, cervical cancer, osteoporosis. Recently, we shared a health maintenance checklist for 2021. Give it a read and talk to your doctor to figure out the screenings best for you in the coming months.

Don’t neglect your mental health.
Did you know your mental health can affect your physical health, too? Mental health issues are linked to many other health conditions, like respiratory disease, heart disease, and risk for cancer. In the winter months, many people are also at risk for seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or a type of depression that comes and goes with the seasons. In addition to our Behavioral Health services, Frederick Health offers many integrative services like mindfulness, meditation, and yoga that reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, increase mental and physical well-being, and support healing and recovery processes for other conditions.

Quit smoking.

On average, smokers die 10 years earlier than nonsmokers. Smoking is the #1 risk for many health conditions, including lung cancer. One foolproof way to better your health? Quit smoking immediately. If you’re ready to quit but need a little help, our Freedom from Smoking program is a 6-week, 6-session step-by-step process to help you quit for good. If you have a long history of smoking, you may be eligible for the Frederick Health Lung Cancer Screening Program. Remember, early detection is your best defense against cancer.

Watch your weight—maintain a healthy diet and stay active.

Eating a balanced diet and getting at least 20-30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity each day offer countless health benefits, like helping you maintain a healthy weight. Good nutrition is good self-care. It benefits your stress, mood, digestion, and overall health. Similarly, physical activity has many of the same effects. Our Medical Weight Loss Program and nutrition counseling service are available if you need help making health and lifestyle improvements. Our partners at LiveWell Frederick offer nutrition and physical activity resources to help you take good care of yourself—with options that fit lots of different lifestyles and schedules.

Sleep well.

Getting a good night’s sleep has a profound impact on your health. If you’re not getting the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep each night, you might experience depression, anxiety, poor cognitive function and memory, and more. For a restful night’s sleep, start a bedtime routine and stick to it. Create a peaceful sleeping environment. Reduce daytime napping and try to clear your mind before going to bed. You can find more tips like these here. If you’re struggling with something more severe at night, like obstructive sleep apnea, there is help. Make an appointment with one of our Sleep Medicine providers or talk to your primary care provider.

Treat Yourself!

Self-care has so many powerful benefits! In addition to the services and tips mentioned above, many of our Frederick Health Rewards vendors offer discounts on local services to help you take an active role in your health and well-being—from discounts on fitness and virtual cooking classes to massage therapy, healthy food, and more. There’s something for all lifestyles and schedules. Plus, becoming a Frederick Health Rewards member is free! Become a member today by visiting FrederickHealth.org/Rewards!

Now is the time to take your health into your own hands and show yourself some love this Valentine’s Day. We want you healthy, Frederick.