There’s no doubt that our society today is gradually becoming more health-conscious than before. Numerous local, national, and global resources, online and in-person, bombard us with the inspiration we need to live healthier lives. Living healthier is straightforward, as it requires no major life changes, only small shifts in your daily living. Here are a few simple yet effective steps to become a health and wellness enthusiast.
Know Where Your Closest Urgent Care is Located
Get to know a few urgent care clinics near your home or places you visit in case of an unforeseen injury or illness. An urgent care clinic provides immediate treatments you cannot postpone until you return to your health plan’s service area. They do not handle emergencies but cases that need prompt medical attention, such as sprains, strains, broken bones, coughs, wound dressing, stomach pains, etc.
The clinic’s services are easily accessible as they do not require appointment scheduling. Most are reasonably priced and have convenient working hours, often 24hrs. As a wellness enthusiast, you will enjoy timely services as the waiting period is usually below 20 minutes, with a full diagnosis and treatment completed within an hour. It is a quick way to access X-rays, lab testing, medical refills, sports exams, STD and chronic diseases screening, and more.
Set Up Routine Dental Appointments
Oral health is paramount for children and adults, and it is advisable to have a designated dentist to handle all your dental issues. General dentists have the expertise to help you maintain oral health that prevents the onset of dental diseases. Routine dental appointments ensure your teeth and gums are healthy through regular cleaning, screening, and more. It is advisable to have them every six months.
As a wellness enthusiast, the appointments will help you detect cavities early and screen for diseases like oral cancer. Your dentist will provide tips on maintaining optimal health through your daily routine. If you have fillings or dentures, they will check and clean them up to avoid bad breath and dry mouth. If you have a family, choose a family dental clinic, so all family members can receive care under one roof for convenience.
Your dentist will refer you for specialized treatments if necessary. These address major dental issues that cannot be resolved in your routine dental appointment. They may include mouth sores, dental decay, dry mouth underbite, overbite, misaligned teeth, etc. you may choose to go a step further and seek cosmetic services like teeth whitening and veneer installation to improve your smile.
Address Your Digestive Issues
Studies have shown that digestive issues increase with age due to age, stress, accrued negative eating habits, lack of exercise, etc. There are several ways you can deter these problems as a wellness enthusiast. It begins with simple steps like eating balanced diets and exercising regularly. Eliminate harmful practices like smoking, drinking alcohol excessively, and eating foods high in cholesterol, as these increase the probability of chronic disease.
Some symptoms of digestive issues include bleeding, bloating, constipation, heartburn, and nausea. If you experience these regularly and consistently, you should visit an endoscopy center to analyze the problem more closely. Endoscopies allow your healthcare professional to investigate the inside of your gut through a small tube fitted with a camera. These provide a more accurate diagnosis and better-tailored treatment plans to meet your unique health needs.
Check What Medical Coverage You Have
The cost of healthcare keeps rising, necessitating government-sponsored or private health insurance coverage. Having a comprehensive insurance plan is critical to you as a wellness enthusiast. If you already have an insurance plan, you can request that your insurance provider send you a summary of benefits and coverage (SBC) highlighting your benefits and coverage. You can get this document at any point, but it is mostly issued when enrolling in or renewing the plan.
If you’re on a tight budget, government-sponsored health insurance will do for access to basic healthcare services like outpatient and inpatient. There are benefits for vulnerable groups like older adults, people with disabilities, veterans, and children. Social security is accessible to low-income earners as the government often requires your employer to have it as part of your work benefits. Addressing health issues fast will help you maximize your insurance coverage and deter the need for specialized services which your current insurance plan may not cover.
Call Your Doctor if You’re Feeling Ill at Home
If you suddenly feel ill while at home, you should contact your doctor promptly on the phone. Most clinics have a telemedicine option allowing you to talk to your doctor virtually and receive the diagnosis and treatment you need at home. If there is a need for a closer assessment, they will require you to go to their facility but will often prescribe you some meds to ease the symptoms before the visit. As a wellness enthusiast, telemedicine allows you to get ahead of the disease before it escalates.
Suppose you’re persistently feeling sick at home; consider that the problem could be your environment. Assess the cleanliness and sanitation of your home; when was the last time you deep cleaned your house, including the vents and HVAC system? If it’s been a while, resolve the issue by checking online for available asbestos inspections near me.
Fix Water Damage and Mold in Your Home
Another reason you may feel sick at home is water damage and mold accumulation in your home. Often, water damage is discreet, as the small leaks are barely noticeable until they have done major damage to the house. Some signs of water damage to look out for include musty odors, increased water bills, peeling paint or wallpaper, and warped or buckled walls, ceilings, or floors. Resolve these by hiring the services of a mold remediation company.
The company will problem-shoot to identify the source of the leak, remove any damaged possessions, and dry the home using powerful fans. If the damage is extensive, you must pay for some repair work, but it is a small price for your health and commitment to remaining a wellness enthusiast. If the water damage is not addressed, you or your loved ones could experience allergies, respiratory problems, and constant headaches.
When hiring water damage services, check whether your preferred company offers comprehensive services covering the repair work. Such a provider will make the restoration process easy for you. If they do not provide comprehensive services, you will need to contract the services of a contractor specializing in restoring the damaged areas. Alternatively, your water damage service provider could have a list of reputable contractors they can refer to you.
Ensure Your Carpet is Free of Harmful Allergens
Another key step to take as a wellness enthusiast is maintaining the cleanliness of your carpets and rugs. Dirty carpets may have mold, dirt, dust, pet hair, and old skin trapped within the fiber. All these pose a risk of a weakened immune system, skin irritation, stomach problems, and general mental anguish; you should have your carpet professionally cleaned at least once a year.
Between the carpet cleaning sessions, you can use home remedies to maintain sanitation, try vacuuming the common areas like the living room and bedrooms daily, remove your shoes at the door, and treat stains as quickly as possible. Buy well-reviewed products like baking soda from your local store, sprinkle on the carpet, leave for 20 minutes, and vacuum it up. The baking soda absorbs moisture and traps dirt and dust.
Try the services of a waterless cleaning company that keeps your carpets cleaner for longer. Traditional carpet cleaning methods leave a soapy residue that attracts dirt fast. But, the ionized water used by waterless cleaning companies removes all these layers without using detergent or harsh chemicals. They don’t drench the carpet with water, leading to shorter drying times.
Find a Trustworthy Heating and HVAC Company
The vents and HVAC systems are some areas that can gather much dirt in the home because they are far from reach, and it’s challenging to clean them independently. The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) recommends that you clean these areas every three to five years. Failure to which you risk contracting respiratory diseases, a common symptom is feeling sick or tired while at home. Your skin may suffer too and not to mention the dreaded high utility bills since your HVAC system won’t operate at its optimum with all that dirt buildup.
You can go online to identify heating and air conditioning companies around you that provide the services you seek. Also, try looking for referrals from friends and families. You can know a reliable company from their online reviews and their general understanding of the service when you query them on call. Look for a company that can provide an immediate, non-obligatory online quote without hidden fees for prior financial planning.
Prevent Overheating at Home
We love the summers because they allow us to explore the outdoors more than other seasons. They also come with a few challenges, like overheating the inside of your home, resulting in high cooling expenses. As a wellness enthusiast, you can prevent overheating by using shades, blinds, and shutters that help keep the warm air out. If you own your property, have deciduous trees outside that keep your house cool in summer and allow sun rays to penetrate through in the winter.
Also, consider hiring heating and cooling services to install a modern HVAC system and replace or repair the current one. Their services will ensure the equipment performs optimally to avoid overworking it, which spikes your electricity bills. Your HVAC provider will provide you with tips that will maintain the performance of your HVAC system all year round.
If you’re looking for a more long-term plan, try a window replacement service. Currently, the market has double-layered energy-efficient windows, allowing the cold air from your HVAC system to remain in and lock out warm air from the outside. You can customize them to your preferred style and size to fit your home’s style and decor.
Assess Injuries from an Accident with Professional Help
You will be surprised at the numerous times people get into an accident but never visit a doctor. While the accident may seem minor, it is best to check with a health professional one to two days after the incident. If your head was hit, they may recommend a scan, MRI, or X-ray to determine if there were any internal injuries. As a wellness enthusiast, ensure you get all the necessary checks, as an undiagnosed internal injury can set you back significantly in your health journey.
If the injury is apparent and you need medical attention, ensure you get the other driver’s credentials so they can pay for the services. Constant injury attorneys to help follow up on your claims so that you can focus on recovery. The lawyer will negotiate with the other driver’s insurance provider to ensure you are compensated for any damage, including lost wages, medical expenses, physiotherapy, emotional turmoil, and much more.
Hiring legal services is costly, but you can seek out a lawyer that accepts payments on a contingency basis. They will represent you in mediation or court and will receive their payment after they win your case. Their services will relieve financial pressure if you’re on a tight budget with little disposable income. Please avoid the trap of self-representation, as the insurance company will likely shortchange you; their goal is to settle cases fast and in the most cost-effective way possible.
Becoming a wellness enthusiast is about taking consistent small steps to a healthier life that provides access to nutrition and healthcare-related resources. It is possible to live a healthy life despite your socioeconomic status. You can do what is within your means, which will add up in the long run. Invest in a network of reliable stakeholders like doctors, as your health journey will require their input. Encourage a healthy lifestyle among your family members, as this will often affect you in one way or another.