Faith Community Health System urges everyone to focus on health and wellness in 2022.

The New Year is an opportune time to look toward the future. With much that has been learned over the past two years, there are many great things to look forward to in the coming year.

As everyone prepares for 2022, officials at Faith Community Health System (FCHS) urge everyone to take steps to protect each other in the coming months and keep health and wellness in mind.

Achieving your goals in the New Year is rather easy if you set simple and realistic targets. Make health and wellness a priority in the New Year. When you do that, you can start to see impressive changes in how you feel, leading to a happier and healthier life.

To help you plan for a healthy New Year, here are four essential health tips!

Better health begins with a wellness exam

Annual wellness exams help ensure that you are in good health and caught up on essential health screenings. These yearly checkups, covered by Medicare and most insurance plans, allow your provider to monitor your health and talk about health issues important to you and your health goals.

Your provider may request several lab screenings to check for things such as your blood glucose and cholesterol levels. Depending on your age, gender, and risk levels, cancer screenings might also be ordered as a preventative measure depending on your age and family health history.

Protect yourself against COVID-19

Coronavirus has indeed changed the world over the past two years. The good news is that several new vaccines can help reduce your risk of transmission.

If you have not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot, FCHS urges you to talk with your healthcare provider about getting vaccinated. There are currently three different vaccines available, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages everyone five years of age and older to get vaccinated.

Get moving with the Swan Family Wellness Center

While it may seem cliché, starting and committing to an exercise plan is a realistic and vital resolution for most Americans. People of all ages and physical conditions can benefit from regular physical activity.

Children, teenagers, seniors, even people with disabilities will find they feel, think, and look better with just a little physical activity. Starting slowly and finding physical activities that you enjoy will help you maintain the habit throughout the year. Even brisk walks are a great way to add needed exercise to your daily routine.

Celebrating its 5th anniversary in Jack County this March, the Swan Family Wellness Center is an excellent resource for achieving fitness goals. Located on the FCHS campus in Jacksboro, the facility has a variety of amenities, including exercise equipment, regularly scheduled exercise and fitness classes, an indoor climate-controlled heated pool, member-exclusive perks, networking opportunities, wellness education classes, and much more.

No better time than now to join our 7th Annual Shape Up in Faith Wellness Challenge. Kicking off January 10th with sign ups 8am-5pm. For more information and a free tour of the facility, you are encouraged to stop by the Wellness Center or call 940-216-2379.

Commit to a better diet

A well-balanced nutrition plan is not always the most glamorous topic to discuss, but it is essential to your overall health. Proper nutrition provides you with essential vitamins, protein, and energy levels necessary to live and function.

Knowing what to eat and how to portion your meals is vital. If you are not sure if your diet is up-to-par with what it should be, we encourage you to talk with your primary care physician during your next wellness exam or regularly scheduled appointment.

We also have upcoming nutritional informational classes (Food & Facts with Faith) at the Swan Family Wellness Center with Clack Nutrition. Only $5 to public for an abundance of information, and a meal is provided. Mark you calendars for the upcoming sessions at noon: January 13th, February 3rd, & March 3rd.

When it comes to local healthcare, finding a medical provider for annual wellness exams, vaccinations, and other medical visits is convenient with Faith Community Rural Health Clinics. For more information and to schedule an appointment with a local provider, please call a clinic in Jacksboro (940-567-5528), Bowie (940-872-1121), Alvord (940-427-2858), and Graham (940-282-2512).