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PHOENIX. (Dec. 26, 2017) A New Year means a fresh start – why not develop some different ways of thinking about your health and create some different resolutions instead of rehashing last year’s leftovers?

Banner Health experts offer these suggestions to help you improve your physical, mental and emotional well-being in 2018.

• Giving back:  Volunteering has been shown to ward off stress, anger and anxiety. It can help foster meaningful connections to others; fight depression and even improve physical health. Banner Health offers volunteering opportunities at all of its hospitals.  
  Want to give back in a different way? Sign up to be an organ donor or marrow donor. Or help with research by connecting with Alzheimer’s Registry. By participating in the registry you can help find cures faster.  Right now, 80 percent of studies are delayed because too few people sign up to participate.

• Put down your smartphone at meals: Connect with others in a different way by having real-life conversations at the dining-room table. Your mental health will improve and you may become more aware of what you are eating, which can also help your waistline. A Banner behavioral health expert is available to talk about setting limits on social media.

• See your doctor when you are well: Most insurance plans offer a wellness visit with your doctor at no cost or low cost to you. Your doctor would love to talk proactively about maintaining your good health. 

• Use ride share: Banner trauma personnel see too many accidents caused by impaired drivers. Be a lifesaver and have someone else drive. Banner trauma team members are available to speak about the importance of driving unimpaired.

• Make your own health decisions: Document them for others in an advance directive in case you can’t communicate your wishes. There are many resources available online. We have downloadable video of a Banner physician discussing different forms of advance directives and what happens if you don’t have these on file.

• Apply sunscreen year-around: It’s not just for summer, especially in Arizona. Use a broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day. For extended outdoor activity, use a water-resistant, broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center experts are available to discuss skin-cancer prevention.

• Commit to sleep: Coffee is not the new sleep, even though we would love it if caffeine could replace zzz’s. Sleep is critical to health, including improving memory, avoiding weight gain and increasing longevity. A Banner sleep expert can speak to its importance as well as to new sleep apps and mattresses that measure your quality of sleep.

• Add to your health care arsenal: Whether you are on the road or at home, there are some inexpensive over-the-counter items, like saline spray that you should have with you. A couple of quick squirts a day of the spray can help thin mucus, reduce postnasal drip and keep your nasal passages free of bacteria. We have downloadable video of a Banner physician speaking about this simple and effective health care remedy that is especially good when you travel.

Banner experts are available to speak to all these resolutions. We have also ready-to-edit video on several subject as well in our online newsroom.