Citizens Memorial Hospital | Vitality | Winter 2017

citizensmemorial.com 5 Who needs a flu shot?You do! Are you an emotional eater? Give these tips a try Have you ever plowed through half a bag of potato chips after a bad day at work, mindlessly munching long after you were full? That’s a classic example of emotional eating. Eating to soothe negative feelings— such as stress, anger or sadness—often leads to overeating, which can lead to unhealthy weight gain. If emotional eating is a problem for you, these tips may help: 1 Think about why you’re eating. Ask yourself, “Am I really hungry? Or am I upset?” Identifying your eating triggers is the first step. 2 Find new ways to cope with stress that don’t involve food. For instance, if you find yourself poking around the fridge and you’re not really hungry: » » Take a short walk. » » Work on a hobby. » » Phone a close friend. 3 Give yourself a well-deserved boost. Writing in a journal may help you understand your strengths—and what makes you great! The better you feel about yourself, the easier it is to manage feelings without food. 4 Stock your kitchen right. Keep healthy snacks on hand so that you’re less likely to reach for comfort foods when you’re stressed. 5 If your eating feels out of control, tell your doctor. It could be a sign of an eating disorder. Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine You can get a flu shot from your primary care provider or at the CMHWalk-In Clinic. Questions? Call 417-777-4800 . Remember the last time you got the flu? You probably felt miserable. Of course, you’d rather not go through that again. And you might not have to if you get a flu shot. In fact, with very few exceptions, everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccination each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Why? Because in addition to making us miserable, the flu sometimes leads to serious complications. While even healthy people can get very sick from the flu, those most at risk for complications that can result in a hospital stay include: » » Young children. » » Older adults. » » Pregnant women. » » People with certain health problems, such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease. ANANNUAL MUST-DO Because flu viruses are always changing, new vaccines must be designed annually. That’s why you need a new flu shot every year. For best protection, aim to get yours in the fall as soon as the vaccine becomes available. If you’re still on the fence about whether to get a flu shot, think about this: When you get vaccinated, you help protect those around you who are most vulnerable to the flu, including babies too young to get a flu shot. COMMUNITY TAGLINE HERE WELLNESS