H E A L T H & W E L L N E S S
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J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 5
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Find Your Steps to Good Health
By Brooke Nicholls, RN, CDE
years. OCH promotes healthy
lifestyle habits with our patients
What are your health goals for
through the Salud Program. Here,
2015? Are you starting a new diet
registered nurses and CHWs
or joining a gym? What about trying
provide education and care
meditation or learning a new
management related to diabetes,
hobby? Perhaps you’re planning to
high blood pressure, weight
get more sleep?
management, stress reduction and
At One Community Health
basic nutrition. The Salud Program
(formerly La Clínica del Cariño),
also offers intensive diabetes
our mission is to promote health
self-management education
and social justice for all members
and recently received national
of our community. One way we
accreditation from the American
seek to accomplish this is by
Academy of Diabetes Educators.
engaging patients and community
We serve a diverse population
members in active learning and
at OCH and recognize that one
outreach that encourages the
person’s steps to good health may
adoption of healthy habits. Our
differ greatly from someone else’s.
hope is that through education and
We believe that health can be
connections with local resources,
achieved at any size or age and
patients and
that there are many different paths
community members will be able
to achieving health and wellbeing.
to prevent or better control chronic
We teach lifestyle habits that are
diseases and live healthier, happier
proven to lead to better health
and longer lives.
outcomes and work with individuals
At One Community Health
to develop personalized care plans
(OCH), we engage our community
that fit these healthy habits into
by partnering with The Next Door
their lives.
and Providence program to offer a
What are these core healthy
12-week education and outreach
habits? The following lifestyle
course called Promoviendo Pasos
habits have been shown to reduce
a la Salud (Promoting Steps
the risk of heart disease, diabetes
to Wellness). In this course,
and high blood pressure and can
community health workers (CHWs)
be steps on your path to a
facilitate support groups and
healthier life:
promote healthy lifestyle habits to
Eat at least 5 portions of
the communities of Wasco, Hood
fruits and vegetables every day.
River, Klickitat and Skamania
You might try making half your
counties. Through funding from the
plate vegetables or snacking on
Office of Rural Health Policy of the
fruit. Perhaps you can make a
Health Resources and Services
warm, vegetable soup. Keep your
Administration, this program has
plate colorful this winter with
served our community for eight
(541) 387-HEAL
(541) 298-BEST
(509) 637-3163
HOOD RIVER
THE D
DALLES
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STEVENSON
apples, pears, winter squash,
beans or kale.
Get at least 30 minutes of
physical activity every day. For
some, this may mean joining a
gym. Others may enjoy a brisk
15-minute walk after each meal.
Make it fun and find a partner!
Avoid smoking. If you are a
smoker, talk to your provider about
ways to cut back and quit.
Resources are available in Oregon
to help you stop smoking.
Keep alcohol to a moderate
level. Research has shown that a
glass of red wine or beer daily
can have positive health benefits,
including improving your heart
health. However, drinking more
than 1-2 glasses per day has the
opposite effect and can increase
your risk for heart disease and
cancer. So enjoy a glass of
Columbia Gorge Pinot Noir or an
Oregon IPA, but keep it to 1 glass
per day for women or 1-2 glasses
per day for men.
Get plenty of sleep! Sleep is
crucial for health and wellbeing.
Aim for 6-8 hours every night. Try
turning off the TV at night, creating
a relaxing bedtime routine and
getting plenty of exercise. Talk to
your healthcare provider about
other ways to improve your
sleep habits.
Keep your stress in check.
Here is your excuse to stop, close
your eyes and take a deep breath!
Research has shown that stress
increases your risk for obesity,
heart disease and diabetes. Look
for relaxing activities that you
enjoy and make them a priority for
your health. Be creative – we’ve
had patients find stress relief
through anything from hula hooping
to knitting!
With these core health habits in
mind, we hope that you will take
steps toward a healthier lifestyle
and find ways to create your own
path to better health and wellbeing.
Happy New Year from all of us at
OCH, and may 2015 bring you
health and joy!
For more information about
OCH’s Salud Program or Pasos
a la Salud, please contact
Brooke Nicholls, RN/CDE at
541-308-8340.
Lo o k i n g for
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Did you know?
A healthy diet keeps your
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To learn more about diet & eyesight,
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