Watch this space for Nature/Nurture, a regular feature that will focus on self-care and wellness. As a retired Family Practice doc, I have learned a lot about the challenges we face in trying to stay healthy. We all have family health problems that can be inherited like colon cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. The good news is that if we take care of ourselves properly, we are less likely to suffer from the diseases that run in the family. The kind of self-care I’m talking about includes keeping physically and mentally active, pursuing hobbies to increase our happiness factor, getting checkups, and paying attention to what we eat. It’s not hard to do, but it takes practice!
Each Nature/Nurture article will cover a common medical issue like how to eat better on a budget, manage irritability, pesticide use/safety, etc. I hope to have other medical professionals in the Pine Plains community contribute to this column. Your suggestions for future topics to be covered will also be welcomed.
Watch for our next edition—our first subject will be why it’s important for all age groups to get a good night’s sleep, and how to achieve that!