Tag Archives: holiday

6 Ways to Stay Healthy During the Holidays

6 Ways to Stay Healthy

The holidays are fast approaching, and we’re sure your stress levels are starting to rise. The planning, the shopping, and making sure you’re on top of everything can take a toll on any one’s health. We here at Westland Clinic want to make sure you’re healthy for the holidays, which is why we gathered some tips to help you avoiding getting sick.

1. Get your Flu Shot

This is especially true for young children over the age of 6 months and elderly adults. You need to get vaccinated yearly so that your immune system can keep up with influenza virus. The flu virus is constantly changing and your flu shot from the year previous won’t necessarily help against this year’s strain. Our clinics can help you with you and your family’s flu shot call

2. Wipe away germs

Disinfectant wipes can help you and your family stay as healthy as possible by eliminating germs and bacteria on the surfaces you touch. We recommend the following iIn public places such as on planes, trains, cars and buses:  Wipe down armrests, table trays and air vents with disinfectant wipes, grab handles with wipes to avoid common germ areas. At home: Wipe doorknobs, light switches, tv remotes and fridge handles.

3. Snack wisely and say “No” to treats

Sugars and candy are a terrible thing to snack on while trying to stay healthy. Eating right can help your body have enough energy and nutrients to fight off any sickness that might be lurking. We recommend sticking to fruits and veggies with high nutritional values such as apples, blueberries, leafy greens, and other super foods. The best offense against disease is a good defense, so make sure your immune system has the energy it needs.

4. Get plenty of Rest

It’s amazing what a good night’s sleep can do for your overall health. Studies have shown that people who get less than 7 hours of sleep are three times more likely to become sick.  Giving your body enough time at night to get the rest it needs can make the difference between you getting sick or staying healthy. We recommend at least 8 hours a night for a healthy immune

5. Exercise

They say that exercise is one of the best preventative drugs you can take, and we agree. Getting at least 150 minutes a week of light work out activities (such as walking, or casual biking) or 75 minutes a week of vigorous exercise for a healthy lifestyle.

6. Travel safely – Don’t Drink and Drive

Drinking directly affects your motor skills and reaction time. Adding a car into the mix and you’re setting yourself up for failure. Get to your holiday events and parties safely, designate a driver, watch how much you drink, and call a cab if you need to.

We hope these tips have been useful to you! Remember for all your family’s medical needs Millenium Medical group is your local medical group! 

3 Tips on Helping Elders Enjoy Holidays

The holidays are a time when the entire family comes together. This is also the perfect time to check on the physical or mental well being of older relatives when they come over to visit from nursing homes for the holidays. If you are having older friends or family come over for the holidays, spend some time planning ahead to make their visit comfortable.

Here is a list of 3 tips to help your older relatives have an enjoyable holiday!

1) Prepare your home

Be weary of rearranging furniture. Simple changes can cause confusion or anxiety in seniors. Eliminate obstacles that may make it difficult to move around. Remove slippery rugs that could cause falls. It is also advised that you keep a quiet area available  where older family members can go to have a break.

2) Plan inclusive activities

Older family or friends whose memories are impaired might have problems recalling more recent events. To include them in the conversation, you can suggest that they talk about the past. You can use old photos, family videos, or music to help them recall the past.

3) Alcohol and Medicine

Even though the holiday season can be chaotic, it is important to encourage elderly relatives to stick to their regular medication schedule. It is also important to remind your older family and friends about the type of negative effects that alcohol consumption can have when mixed with certain medications.

Westland Clinic is a medical clinic or center that specializes in care for geriatric patients in Michigan.  On behalf of our office, we want to wish you a happy and safe holiday!

geriatric holiday