A commitment for the New Year
Most of Western medical practice divides the patient into distinct systems for treatment-dermatologist for the skin, cardiologist for the heart, podiatrist for the feet, ophthalmologist for the eyes. But there are many important advantages to taking a whole person perspective on health.

Make a commitment to take control of your own health in the New Year. You can start by reviewing the many different factors that contribute to your overall well-being.

The high cost of obesity
According to statistics, more than 60 million Americans age 20 and older are obese. And adults are not alone in their plight. More than 9 million children and teens between the ages of 6 and 19 are also seriously overweight. More than 300,000 deaths each year are associated with obesity.

Obesity is responsible for a number of serious health ailments including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, gall bladder disease, arthritis, breathing problems, depression, and even some types of cancer.

Combating obesity takes work, but it is well worth the effort. The foundation of a plan to fight obesity is revamping your eating habits to create a healthy diet and taking part in regular, moderate physical exercise.

Make wise eating decisions
Probably every adult in America resolves to lose weight on New Year's Day. But for most, the commitment is short-lived or we fool ourselves, thinking we're making healthy eating choices when we aren't consciously aware of what we are putting into our bodies.

Start by writing down everything you eat and drink in a day for about a week. This food diary provides a valuable starting point for creating a healthier eating plan and also serves as a reality check. Few of us are aware of the many calories and fats we pop into our mouths without thinking.

The American Heart Association recommends this strategy to improve the quality of your diet every day:

Eat a wide variety of foods
Enjoy 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables
Include 6 or more servings of grains, especially whole grains
Choose fats low in saturated fat
Limit high calorie, low nutrition foods, saturated and trans fats, and sugar
Keep salt intake to less than 6 grams or 2,400 mgs. of sodium
Limit alcohol to one drink for women and two for men

PinnacleCare Members can turn to their health advocates for nutrition information and access to the medical community's top nutrition specialists for personalized guidance and support with the development of a healthy eating plan for life.

How much exercise do you need to get healthy and stay healthy?
You don't need to spend hours each days running miles or pumping iron to get the many health benefits exercise provides. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest moderate intensity activity for 30 minutes a day for 5 or more days a week or vigorous activity for 20 minutes or more a day 3 days a week. That activity can take many forms, from walking to joining an exercise class to using a stair climber at home. Try several different activities to find a few you like, then mix up your exercise schedule to avoid becoming bored and to gain the benefits different activities offer.

Before beginning any exercise plan, consult your doctor to make sure there are no health conditions that will be made worse by exercising and that the exercise plan you would like to follow will help you achieve your fitness goals. PinnacleCare Members can sit down with their health advocate team and develop a long-term health promotion strategy that includes exercise recommendations.

Are your medicines working for you or against you?
When you see more than one physician, you increase the chance you'll experience a drug interaction. One way to prevent that dangerous situation from occurring is to bring a complete list of every medication, prescription and non-prescription, and supplement (vitamins, herbal remedies, etc.) you take to each doctor's visit. For PinnacleCare Members, this information is included in the comprehensive medical record your professional health advocate, your PinnacleCare Advocate™, prepares.

Some medications, supplements, and even foods can cancel out or amplify the effects of others. For example, when taking certain diuretics to treat cardiovascular disease, you should avoid eating potassium-rich foods like bananas, oranges, and leafy greens because these medicines block your kidneys' ability to excrete potassium. The resulting overabundance of potassium can cause palpitations and an irregular heartbeat. Antibiotics can render birth control pills ineffective. Combining MAO inhibitors used to treat mood disorders with certain foods can cause a rapid, potentially fatal blood pressure increase.

Keeping accurate, up-to-date records of all medications is the first step to ensuring drug safety and effectiveness.

Focus on the big picture for better health
Being healthy means taking into account your physical and emotional well-being and making sure your efforts in that area of your life aren't having a negative effect in another. If you take a whole person outlook, you'll be on the path to better health.