Citizens Memorial Hospital | Vitality | Winter 2017

citizensmemorial.com 13 How are you feeling? That’s an important question in more ways than one It’s a well-known fact: Good health goes beyond physical wellness. It’s also about how well you’re doing emotionally. Stress, anger and other emotions can affect your overall health, often in ways you can physically feel. So it’s vital to tend to your emotional health as well as your physical health. Here are some steps you can take to improve how you handle your emotions and cope with daily challenges. Don’t bottle up what’s bothering you. It’s important to express your feelings in appropriate ways. Let loved ones and friends know what’s on your mind. They may be able to help. Take time to think. Carefully consider your actions so that your emotions don’t get the best of you, causing you to say or do something you might regret. Strive for balance in your life. Daily life has its demands. But it’s important to save time for you and to do what you enjoy, whether that’s working at a hobby or reading a book. Revitalize your routines. Energize your body with enough rest, nutritious foods and regular exercise. If you find yourself dealing with difficult emotions that don’t seem to get better, speak with your doctor. Source: American Academy of Family Physicians Scrub up, please! Sure, it’s cringeworthy. But many of us have done it at least a few times— skipped washing our hands when we knew better. That’s never smart. Keeping your hands clean—as low-tech as it is—turns out to be one of the most effective ways to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Studies show that handwashing can prevent about 30 percent of diarrhea-related illnesses and 20 percent of colds and other respiratory infections. WHENTO SCRUB All of us know that handwashing is a must at certain times—for instance, after using the bathroom, changing a diaper or cleaning up animal waste. But you should also scrub your hands: » » Before, during and after preparing food. » » Before eating food. » » Before and after treating a cut or wound. » » After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. » » After touching an animal or handling pet food. » » After touching garbage. THE RIGHT TECHNIQUE You might be tempted at times to just give your hands a quick rinse. But to truly rid your hands of germs, you need to scrub them in soapy water for at least 20 seconds. And be thorough: Don’t miss the back of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails. Not near soap and water? Then use a hand sanitizer that is at least 60 percent alcohol. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Make an appointment with a doctor you can share your problems with. Call the CMH Information Center at 417-328-6010 or 888-328-6010 . COMMUNITY TAGLINE HERE WELLNESS