Promote your health

Understanding Basics about General Health

It is important to know some basics about how our bodies work. Here are some online resources for information about learning vital health signs like blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

The Mississippi State Department of Health started a "Know your Numbers" campaign encouraging people to know their cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass index. Other states have started similar programs.
http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/43,1161,91,214.html

Diet and Exercise

Diet and exercise are also two important areas of health behavior. Here are resources to provide some basic information about nutrition and physical activity:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has nutritional tips.
http://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/everyone/basics/index.html

US Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion published physical activity guidelines in 2008.
http://www.health.gov/paguidelines/

The Missouri Department of Health and Human Services also developed resources related to healthy living. Their campaign is titled, "Live Like Your Life Depends on It."
http://lifedependsonit.com/

Setting Health Goals

Either as a part of preventing disease or managing a chronic disease or simply as an annual New Year's resolution, many of us find that setting specific health goals and targets becomes necessary. This is especially true as we age or if we find that our daily activities are being compromised by poor health that might be improved by changing health behaviors.

Created by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Healthfinder.gov has activity and menu planners to keep organized with your progress and goal setting.
http://www.healthfinder.gov/HealthTools/activity.aspx

Cigna, an insurance company, has developed a personal goal-setting worksheet that includes physical, emotional, and social health goals.
http://www.cignabehavioral.com/web/basicsite/consumer/educationAndResourceCenter/articleLibrary/working_person11.pdf

Healthy Aging

It is important to develop healthy habits when you are young and to maintain healthy living through-out your life.

WebMD created a 50+ healthy aging guide.
http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/guide/getting-fit-life

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides health information for different ages and stages in life.
http://www.cdc.gov/LifeStages/

Getting Support for Healthy Choices

MedicineNet has some advice for healthy living.
http://www.medicinenet.com/prevention_and_wellness/article.htm

Rotary International offers a site full of resources through their "HelpGuide."
http://helpguide.org/life/healthy_eating_diet.htm

Community Support

Local chapters of the YMCA, Weight Watchers, community health organizations such as the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association and American Diabetes Association, and even some faith-based organizations can all be sources of support for healthy choices. Ask your doctor and trusted friends for their recommendations.

Attending community-sponsored health fairs can also be a good source to learn about the range of health support opportunities locally. Information is available from major community health organizations.

American Cancer Society offers a range of information such as a guide to quit smoking, support groups for cancer, and health resources.
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp

American Diabetes Association provides general health information and also specific information for those managing diabetes.
http://www.diabetes.org/

American Heart Association HeartHub provides information related to specific conditions like stroke or a heart attack. Information is also available for healthy living such as healthy recipes, tools to monitor your health, and other resources.
http://www.hearthub.org/

The YMCA has a newsletter and a variety of programs to promote healthy kids, families, and communities.
http://www.ymca.net/healthy-living/

Living with Illness

Gaining skills in self-management is encouraged for people with a chronic disease or a disability.

Stanford University School of Medicine has developed the "Chronic Disease Self-Management Program," which may be available in your community or provide you with resources. Washington State's public health department and Oregon have implemented the program.
http://patienteducation.stanford.edu/programs/cdsmp.html

Washington State: http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/health/personalhealth/wellness/LiveWell.html
Oregon: http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/livingwell/index.shtml

Many online communities of individuals with the same chronic illness or form of cancer have also grown at websites or around individual blogs. If you want to connect with others who have a given illness, you can try running a Google search for the disease name with "blog" or "Twitter chat."