Tracy Cook, NP-C
It’s 2019, Robson residents. Another year has passed. Time to renew those same old resolutions. “Yes, this is the year I am going to really do something to stay healthy, to look healthy and to feel good about myself.”
As we grow older, it becomes harder to look in the mirror and see the signs of aging and not want to do something about it. Our reflection can have a direct impact on how we think of ourselves and how others react to us. Medical professionals know that looking good can help you feel good. That is why they not only check us over for possible skin cancers, strange growths and other disorders; but also use the latest medical technology to help us stay looking more youthful than ever before. It’s called Medical Aesthetics. Skin care products work to help regenerate skin faster giving us a rosy glow with less wrinkles and fine lines. Medical lasers work to resurface our skin below the epidermis and help us generate collagen to make our skin more elastic and firmer. Finally, how we nourish our bodies can have a direct impact on how our skin looks and feels. Even men are using sunscreen and moisturizers more than ever before.
The most important thing you can do to stay feeling and looking good is to have a consistent routine that works for you. Here is a short list to get you started in this new year so it can be your best year-inside and out.
* Sleep: 7-8 hours nightly. So important to overall health and can help prevent Alzheimer’s.
* Exercise: 30 minutes daily of brisk walking. This helps your waistline, sleep time, mental health, skin and gastrointestinal health. And yes, golf, tennis and pickleball are healthy as well as fun.
* Food: eat all colors of the rainbow as much as possible. Stick to whole, plant-based foods and avoid processed foods. This will help with prevention and reversal of disease, boost your immune system and stabilize your moods.
* Preventive medical appointments: see your health care provider and get your preventative screenings and exams as directed. Catch disease early and treat more effectively. Medicare and most health insurance plans do cover annual wellness exams, as well as many other sound preventative measures.
* Meditation/Spiritual: maintain or develop meaningful close relationships with people that help support you emotionally and spiritually. No one wants to go through life alone.
* Intellectual stimulation: don’t forget your brain health. Learn something new or study a subject you are interested in. Write with your non-dominant hand. All these things help support your brain and keep you engaged in the world around you.
Take one step at a time and prioritize for yourself what is most important, but make a routine that will help you stick with it. Long term: beauty isn’t skin deep. It is what flows from deep within us and makes us look and feel beautiful and healthy.
Tracy Cook is an Adult Nurse Practitioner who owns and operates a private medical practice: Adult Health Services and Argyle Medspa and Wellness Center, is a resident of Robson Ranch and a Living Well committee member. For any questions or more information please visit her website www.Argylemedspa.com.