new year's resolution Archives - Health BeatHealth Beat

Making Your Mental Health a Priority This Year

Posted on January 4, 2024 by Jacob Lobosco

Many people experience chronic mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. These issues can be caused by a wide variety of factors, some of which can be directly changed or coped with in a healthy way.

As the new year begins, you can use this time to start identifying mental health issues you experience, some of the potential causes of those issues, and how you can work to improve them. Some specific steps you can take to start making positive changes for your mental health include:

Improving your physical health: Your physical and mental well-being are deeply intertwined and have a strong impact on one another. Improving your diet, developing a regular exercise routine, and getting enough sleep each night can lead to major improvements in your mood, outlook, and ability to think clearly, allowing you to cope more effectively with mental health challenges.

Recognizing positive things in your life: If your mind often drifts toward negative thoughts and emotions, it’s important to recognize and be thankful for aspects of your life that are positive. This can be anything from having a strong social support system of friends and family, simply having a roof to sleep under each night, or being in good physical health.

Developing effective coping mechanisms: Coping mechanisms are an important tool for anyone who experiences mental health problems. These strategies allow you to adjust the way you mentally process things that distress you, making them easier to deal with. Some healthy examples of coping mechanisms include:

Looking for ways to resolve the cause of distress, if possible
Viewing the problem from a different perspective
Talking to someone who supports you

You can make positive, effective changes to improve your mental health this year with the help of a psychiatrist at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Mental Health Clinic. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 206-5575.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

What Will Your New Year’s Resolution Be For 2019 ?

Posted on December 26, 2018 by Andrew Rubin

Some popular resolutions that people be make for 2019 are to:

• Lose weight
• Get organized
• Spend less
• Quit smoking
• Fall in love

The percentage of people who make New Year’s resolutions is about 45% of the population. People in their twenties tend to be more successful at maintaining their resolutions as compared to people over the age of 50. By the end of the first month 65% of the people are still doing a good job of keeping to their resolution, however by the end of six months that number drops to around 44%.

Make Your Smile a Priority in 2018

Posted on January 5, 2018 by Michael Hinck

We have all made New Year’s resolutions at some point in our lives. Many of these

annual vows revolve around improving our health. Typical resolutions may include losing weight, quitting smoking, or beginning an exercise routine, but what about our oral health? The New Year is also a good time to commit ourselves to better dental care.

Make 2018 the year you look to improve your smile. Some ways to help you meet this goal include:

Practice Good Oral Hygiene – Daily brushing and flossing is a simple way to improve your oral health. For successful bacterial plaque removal, it is important to brush at least twice a day and floss at least once per day to remove bacterial plaque and food that has accumulated throughout the day. Daily brushing and flossing help to prevent gingivitis (gum disease), tooth decay and halitosis (bad breath). The daily use of antimicrobial and fluoride mouth rinses also helps to improve your oral health.
Watch What You Eat and Drink – An important part of achieving your dental health resolutions is making healthier food and beverage choices, especially for snacks. Frequent consumption of food and beverages containing carbohydrates and acids contributes to tooth decay.
Quit Smoking – Quitting cigarette smoking and smokeless tobacco use is important for improving your oral and overall health. There is no better time than the present to make a resolution to stop tobacco use. Consider free online tools, smoking cessation groups, progress-tracking apps and support from friends and family to assist you with tobacco cessation.
Use Whitening Products – There are several over-the-counter smile-improving products that you
can use to whiten your teeth when you brush and floss. In recent years, tooth whitening has acquired enormous popularity because they can enhance the appearance of teeth by removing deep (intrinsic) or surface (extrinsic) stains.
Receive Regular Check-Ups – A resolution to make routine visits to the dentist may help prevent oral disease or reveal an existing disease in its early stage. Dental visits should take place every six months to allow your dentist and dental hygienists to monitor the condition of your oral cavity and develop an appropriate treatment plan to meet your wants and needs.

Some however might need to make more than a few lifestyle changes to address their dental needs. For those, a dentist or orthodontist can help. Make this the year you stop putting off having dental work done. An orthodontist can correct an overbite or straighten crooked teeth and a dentist can address your need for crowns, implants or fillings to preserve your tooth structure.

To make an appointment at Jamaica Hospital’s Dental Center, please call 718-206-6980.