health resolutions your GP wants you to make

Forget making lofty promises you’ll just break in a week or two, these health rules are ideal to follow all year round.

Are you part of the 30 million people across the UK who made New Year’s resolutions this time last year? Unsurprisingly, only one in five of us lasted a month, while the average time to quit was seven weeks. Just like the diet and gym industry, in January your GP prepares for an influx of people keen to tackle the usual vices – smoking, drinking and diet. While all are very important and laudable, here are the resolutions I’d like my patients to consider too.

DON’T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF I’m not talking about serious distress – bereavement, divorce and deteriorating mental health all need specialist support. However, that shop assistant you had a row with because they looked at you ‘funny’? The neighbour who parks just too close to your car that makes you mad? In the words of my favourite ice queen: let it go. Unresolved disputes create undue stress, which in turn elevates blood pressure, strains the heart and dampens your immune system. Keep sight of the bigger picture and ask yourself ‘does it really matter?’.

CHECK YOUR BREASTS

A woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every 10 minutes in the UK. Regular breast examination and attending your mammograms (see red circle above) when called could save your life. I’ve lost count of the number of women who don’t prioritise their breast health.

LEARN TO SAY ‘NO’

So many people I see feeling fraught and overwhelmed struggle to say ‘no’ for fear of upsetting others. I promise you that you’ll be respected more for it.

MOVE MORE

Take the stairs rather than the lift, park further away in the supermarket, stand rather than sit, get vacuuming. Every little helps – you’ll be surprised just how much.

TAKE DAILY VITAMIN D

This ‘sunshine vitamin’ is lacking in most of the women I see, thanks to the British climate. Women need at least 600IU of vitamin D a day and this can be bought without prescription. Sufficient amounts of vitamin D can help protect your bones, muscles and immune system. Particularly important for women as we age is the consideration of our bone health and reducing the risk of osteoporosis.

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DO REGULAR GOOD DEEDS Evidence tells us that helping others triggers release of the feel-good chemical dopamine, otherwise known as the helper’s high. Just don’t feel pressured to help!

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KNOW THAT GOOD ENOUGH IS GOOD ENOUGH

In a world where everything is increasingly captured, recorded and shared, I’ve seen a shift in people trying to attain perfection, be it parenthood, relationships, looks or general life. Perfect is whatever works for you and I can assure you everyone is fighting battles many know nothing about.