Vim & Vigor - Winter 2019 - CH - 31

As Muñoz says, "You could say something like, 'Here's what I am thinking we
could do this afternoon-do you think
this would be helpful for you?' "

BE THE CHANGE-FOR
YOUR KIDS, TOO

By turning the focus on her own health,
a woman can help encourage her spouse
and children to follow her lead.
"What I see in my practice across
the board is that as women begin making these healthy choices, almost by
osmosis their partners begin to see
changes themselves. Whether they're
consciously or unconsciously adopting
those behaviors, it happens," Eaker says.
He believes that because of the
intimate nature of their relationship,
spouses are in especially good positions
to inspire each other to make better
decisions. "The closer the relationship,
the greater the influence you can have.
There's almost a transference of energy
as one person begins to notice the other
is sleeping better or less winded going
up and down stairs," he says.
And if you and your spouse manage
to improve your health, your children
likely will benefit, too. Researchers have
found that when parents adopt a healthy
lifestyle, the effect ripples out. In a
2012 study from the Journal of Physical
Activity and Health, researchers asked
parents and children to increase their
daily activity levels by walking more
than normal. They found that "parental
change in physical activity is associated
with child change in physical activity."
And although both parents had positive influences on their children, mothers
had a greater effect than fathers: Kids got
about 500 more steps on days their mothers met their goals versus the days their
fathers did. "It really is a group approach
when it comes to the family," Eaker says,
but even one person dedicated to inspiring change can make a difference.

ENLIST BACKUP

And what if you're truly, desperately
worried? A spouse may be drinking
heavily or using other substances, for
example, and might need more than a
pep talk or easy-to-grab carrot sticks
in the fridge. In this case, Eaker suggests scheduling an appointment
with the partner's primary care
doctor, who can suggest treatment
and possibly refer to specialists.
(Depending on the situation, it may
or may not be appropriate for you to
attend as well.)
"There is no question that serious
medical issues like addiction have to
be addressed before any meaningful
work can be done on areas of healthy
habits for the family," he says. ■

EVENT

Take Care!
For upcoming screenings,
health fairs and educational
programs available through
Community Healthcare
System, refer to the
Take Care calendar mailed
with this issue or visit
COMHS.org. Call to
register ( 219-836-3477
or toll-free 866-836-3477)
and ask whether fasting is
necessary.

HEALTHIER TOGETHER
You are doing your best to eat right, exercise and stay healthy. Your significant
other, however, could use some gentle nudging to move toward a healthier
lifestyle. How do you encourage change without stepping on toes or hurting feelings?
Instead of focusing on bad habits and their consequences, try encouraging
good habits by sharing the positive benefits. Talk about how good changes can
improve your lives together. Discuss the "buddy system" so that you have an
accountability partner for healthy food choices and to stay on track of your
workout plan. Set some health goals and when you both reach them, treat
yourselves to a reward such as a weekend getaway.
The best way to stay on top of your health is to take advantage of the
many health fairs and free or low-cost screenings offered by the hospitals
of Community Healthcare System. Available free screenings include blood pressure checks, glucose screenings, diabetes screenings and skin cancer screenings. Other tests offered for a nominal fee include:
* Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) screenings, $10 per person
* Blood profile (cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides and glucose) for $5 per
test or $20 per panel
* Coronary Health Appraisal, which includes cholesterol (total, HDL, LDL,
triglycerides), hemoglobin A1c and average estimated glucose, metabolic syndrome, blood pressure, body mass index and a Heart Health Profile, $30

WIN TE R 2019

http://www.COMHS.org

Vim & Vigor - Winter 2019 - CH

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