Staying Healthy Through COVID-19 and the Winter Months

With temptations to stay inside and cozy up on the couch, winter can be a challenging time to focus on your health. But with COVID-19 cases on the rise, inside is often the safest place to be.

That doesn’t give you a pass on adopting some healthy habits. With several months of winter remaining, we’ve come up with a handful of strategies to help you stay healthy.

1. Don’t put off doctors’ visits.

Even if you’re young and healthy, it’s a good idea to see your primary care physician regularly. By avoiding routine health screenings and checkups, you might be putting yourself at increased risk for health issues down the line. Early detection of a problem reduces complications and ensures you have more time to address it.

Many doctors’ offices and clinics are taking extra measures to protect patients and staff. Cameron Memorial Community Hospital is sanitizing frequently, screening all visitors and enforcing social distancing and mask wearing at all of its facilities to keep everyone as safe as possible. And for those who’d prefer it, many doctors at Cameron offer virtual appointments through the Cameron MyChart portal.

2. Maintain a healthy diet.

For many people, healthy eating comes down to planning ahead. We recommend meal planning, so you can simplify grocery shopping and ensure you have healthy meals planned out. Beyond improving energy and mood, a healthy diet can help your body fight and recover from infection.

Need help with creating a nutrition plan that fits your needs? Contact our registered dietitian at Cameron Hospital!

3. Build good habits.

Despite the temptation, we recommend limiting your screen time during the winter months. Most smartphones allow you to restrict the amount of time you spend on your phone each day, which serves as a good reminder to stay active. If you don’t already have an exercise plan, find an activity that suits your interests, like running or yoga, and aim to walk or work out every other day.

4. Keep an eye out for signs of sickness.

COVID-19 and other viruses, like the flu, share a lot of symptoms. By staying on top of your symptoms, you can make sure you’re addressing any health issues early. It can take between two and 14 days after exposure for COVID-19 symptoms to appear. The most common COVID-19 symptoms include fever, cough, exhaustion, muscle aches, chills and shortness of breath. Review other symptoms on the Cameron Memorial Community Hospital website. Remember to wash your hands, avoid close contact and stay home when you feel sick.

5. Give back to your local community.

Supporting your local community is immensely gratifying and can help improve the quality of life of your friends and neighbors. Even small contributions of time or money can make a meaningful impact on your community. The Cameron Memorial Community Foundation has a range of causes you can support.

Without the busyness of the other three seasons, winter gives us time to assess our lives and make goals. Commit to some healthy habits this winter, and you will have more energy when spring finally comes!

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