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Top 10 ways to manage your health 

Dr. Alvin Tam, family physician in the Calgary West PCN at the Calgary West Medical Centre 
1. Know thyself. Take the time to learn about your medical conditions and read about it. Know what is normal for you and be aware if something has changed. Get to know what your medications are and the common side effects to watch out for.

2. Be prepared. Carry a wallet card with an up-to-date list of your medications as well as a list of your known medical conditions. This is immensely helpful especially when you are dealing with medical professionals (for example emergency room physicians) unfamiliar with you.

3. Know your family history. Too often medical conditions run in families. When was the last time you checked with your family members about any new diagnosis of serious medical problems? This information may lead to further screening beyond what a routine health screen may involve.

4. Work with your doctor. Your doctor is there to help you. Share information with your doctor including any concerns you might have about a diagnosis or treatment. Quite often what we read in the lay press or the internet can be misinterpreted and may cause undue concern. Telling your doctor about these worries may clear up any misunderstandings or misconceptions.

5. Use a team approach. Your health care team involves more than your physician. Don’t forget about your nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and so much more. Many health care professionals can play an integral part of your overall well being; don’t forget to ask for their opinion too.

6. Lead a balanced lifestyle. Your health involves more than your physical well being; don’t forget about your mental and spiritual needs too. Take the time out to do those things that are important to you. We should be setting our life around our priorities and not squeezing in these things as an afterthought.

7. Motivate yourself and those around you. If your spouse and friends are exercising regularly, chances are, so will you. Conversely, if those around you are smoking, the chances of you quitting are significantly reduced. If that’s the case, convince them to quit smoking or it is time for new friends.

8. Set specific realistic goals. If you want to lose weight, set a specific target and a timeline to get there. This gives you something to work towards rather than a generic I plan to lose weight.

9. Use common sense. Think you got away with that extra donut for breakfast and fast food for lunch? In the end, it doesn’t matter who knows or not. The important thing is that YOU will know. What we can do as health professionals is ultimately limited by how you treat yourself. It doesn’t matter how much cholesterol medication you are put on if you eat fast food all day.

10. Practice prevention. Many diseases can be prevented or treated easily if caught early enough. It is much easier to prevent problems than to treat them. Don’t forget that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.