Welcome spring with a commitment to better health! Follow these eight strategies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop healthy habits and help prevent chronic diseases like Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

• Move more, sit less. Get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity every week. Do muscle-strengthening activities two days per week.
• Eat healthy foods. Try healthy food choices like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and low-fat dairy products. At meals, try filling half your plate with vegetables and fruits first before adding grains, protein and dairy.
• Choose your drinks wisely. Substitute water for sugary or alcoholic drinks to reduce calories and stay safe.
• Get enough sleep. Adults need at least seven hours of sleep per night. Children ages 6 to 12 need nine to 12 hours of sleep per night. Teens ages 13 to 18 need eight to 10 hours of sleep per night.
• Be sun safe. Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses and use broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher. Wear sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays for the best protection.
• Brush your teeth. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
• Don’t use tobacco. Aultman offers free classes to help you stop using tobacco. Learn more at aultman.org/TobaccoCessation.
• Learn your health history. Talk to your family and your doctor about your family health history.

Learn more ways to stay healthy and prevent chronic disease at www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease. If you are looking for a new primary care provider, call Aultman's New Patient Hotline at 330-433-1264 or visit AultmanDocs.com.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Infographics