Health & Wellbeing

 

  

 

Your Health and Well-being

Taking care of your physical health can also be an important part of maintaining good mental health. This includes eating healthily, reducing or stopping smoking, drinking within sensible limits, keeping your weight under control, making sure that you get the sleep that you need and keeping fit and active.

Advice on all of these issues are available within this section of the Website, to the left hand side you can view an A-Z on both Health and Wellbeing issues. Let us know what you think of this section by posting a comment in the box below.

 

Ten Top Tips to Stay Healthy

 1. Keep Active
Aim to be physically active for a total of half an hour a day, five days a week. Ask your GP about local keeping physically active schemes usually linked to leisure centres. It’s never too late to start.

2. Eat a Balanced Diet
Aim to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day. One portion is equivalent to 80 grams (about three ounces), or a heaped handful. Diet can be very important especially if you are currently less active. Ask your GP for local healthy eating schemes.

3. Drink Sensibly and Stay Safe
Safe drinking for women is 14 units and for men 21 units per week. One unit is equivalent to half a pint of lager. Remember, alcohol can sometimes affect medication, ask your GP for further details.

4. Don’t Smoke!
If you need help to give up, call the Quit Line - Stop Smoking Service on 0800 00 22 00 or ask your GP about local NHS Quit Smoking services.

5. Slap and Wrap
Cover up in the sun and protect yourself and your children from sunburn. It is recommend that you use a sun cream of at least factor 15. The higher the factor the better!

6. Cancer Screening
Be aware of any changes to your body and keep up with free cancer screening services in the area; this includes men and women.

7. Practice Safe Sex
Ask your GP for information about contraception or for free sexual health advice. The side effects of some medications can affect libido or sexual function. Ask your GP if you have any concerns.

8. Keep Warm in Winter
Banish the cold by contacting 0800 512 012 for advice about keeping warm in the winter. Home energy grants may be available to improve insulation and heating.

9. Get a Flu Jab
Ask your GP for a free flu jab.

10. All Other Health Related Enquiries
24-hour advice on a wide range of health related issues, staffed by nurses and health advisors. Includes advice on local support groups and services. Call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

Other factors in your life may have an affect your well-being including:

• Relationships
• Family and friends 
• Debt or money issues
• Work – life balance
• Unemployment
• Job satisfaction 
• Long term illness or disability
• Sexual orientation (lesbian, gay or bi-sexual)
• Religion and beliefs
• Bereavement

If these or any other issues are concerning you it is important that you talk to somebody about your feelings. Talk to your GP, a member of our staff, support worker, or self-help group such as the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90.