Four Healthy Habits for 2024
Many Americans prioritize health goals as they enter the new year. From exercising regularly to chasing specific health or fitness markers, urgent care can serve as a tool to help monitor and support your goals.
No matter your personal resolutions for 2024, incorporating these four habits can create an instrumental impact in jumpstarting your health.
Commit to Regular Exercise
It’s no surprise that regular exercise is the foundation of a healthy lifestyle. Physical activity can improve cardiovascular health, weight management, and overall mood, whether walking, weight lifting, or going to a yoga class. Immediate benefits include reduced anxiety, improved sleep quality, and lowered blood pressure.
- Prioritize at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity, such as brisk walking or running.
- Strength-train twice each week for healthy bones and muscles.
Urgent care can help support this fitness goal by offering preventative care, sports physicals, and treating minor injuries. Prompt attention to sprains, strains, or any exercise-related ailments ensures a swift recovery, allowing you to stay on track with your fitness.
Adopt a Nutrient-Rich Diet
A balanced diet is another vital part of good health. In 2024, make a conscious effort to include a variety of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains in your meals. Urgent care facilities can help you monitor this health progress with on-site testing for health markers like cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels.
- Consume at least five portions of fruit and vegetables daily (excluding starchy vegetables like potatoes).
- Aim for less than 50 grams of sugar each day, which is equivalent to roughly 10% of daily calories or 12 teaspoons. Less than 5% of total calories is ideal.
- Less than 30% of total calories should come from fat. Choose unsaturated fats like fish and avocado instead of saturated (fatty meat, butter, and cream) fat. Trans fats (fat that comes from pre-packaged snacks like pies, cookies, and deep-fried foods) should make up 1% of total calories or be avoided altogether.
Ensure Adequate Sleep:
Sufficient sleep is crucial for overall health and will undoubtedly support other wellness objectives. Adults should establish a nightly routine of at least seven hours of quality, uninterrupted sleep.
If you’re suffering from an illness or injury impacting your sleep, such as a cold, flu, or head injury, urgent care can aid in identifying and addressing these sleep-related issues. Sleep is integral to physical and mental recovery, and addressing concerns promptly can significantly support your overall well-being.
Prioritize Preventive Care:
Regular health check-ups and preventive screenings are key to catching potential health issues like cancer, stroke, diabetes, and heart disease. Schedule routine check-ups, vaccinations, and screenings based on your age and health history.
Urgent care is a convenient option for these services and provides timely preventive care services. From flu shots, to on-site lab testing, and blood pressure checks, urgent care centers offer a range of preventive measures that fit into your busy schedule and help you stay ahead of potential health issues.
How We Can Help
Visit Lincoln Urgent Care or Granite Bay Urgent Care in the Sacramento area for testing, diagnosing, and treatment options.
You can also book a telemedicine appointment or call either urgent care clinic for more details. We look forward to hearing from you!
Lincoln Urgent Care (916) 258-2751
Granite Bay Urgent Care (916) 570-7265
