10 Habits of Highly Healthy People

Your primary care provider provides education on medications and daily routines, is available when you get sick, and helps you find specialty care when you need it. Think of this as your “medical home,” where you can talk with medical providers you trust, and who know you and your background.

• Discover which kind of primary care provider is right for you and find a doctor.
• Sign up for Cone Health’s MyChart and use it to view your medical record and communicate with your providers.
• Every time you talk with a doctor, nurse or pharmacist, use the “Ask Me 3” questions below to better understand your health.
  • What is my main problem?
  • What do I need to do?
  • Why is it important that I do this?

• Several Cone Health practices in Greensboro serve patients with limited incomes, no insurance, or difficulties paying for care.
  • Community Health and Wellness Center 336-832-4444
  • Tim and Carolynn Rice Center for Child and Adolescent Health 336-832-3150
  • Center for Women's HealthCare 336-832-4777
  • Cone Health Family Medicine Center 336-832-8035
  • Cone Health Internal Medicine Center 336-832-7272

Learn about programs that make health care more affordable.

Healthy relationships are a key ingredient for health. Your support network gives you a sense of belonging and self-worth, and helps you manage stress.

Mental health is also an important aspect of your health. Make time to take care of yourself, and if you need a little extra support, don't be afraid to reach out for help.

• Learn why a healthy social life is important to your wellness.
• Cone Health’s 24-hour, toll-free helpline offers immediate assistance and guidance for mental illness and substance abuse issues. Call 336-832-9700 or 1-800-711-2635.
• Cone Health Behavioral Health offers both outpatient and inpatient treatment.
• Find more information from the Behavioral Health agency that serves your county:
  • Cardinal Innovations (Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Orange, Person, Rockingham, Stanly, Stokes)
  • Sandhills Center (Anson, Guilford, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Randolph or Richmond county)

Make sure that you understand the directions for each of your medications. Know how many times you should take a medication each day and for how many days you should take it. Never take anyone else's medications.

• If you or someone you know takes the wrong medications, or too much medication, immediately call 911 (if a medical emergency) or the Poison Control Hotline at 1-800-222-1222.
• Learn about local resources if you have difficulties paying for medications:
  • NC Med Assist
  • Medication Management Clinic in Burlington
  • Community Prescription Assistance Program in Rockingham County
  • Medication Assistance Program in Guilford County
• Find sites for safe disposal of old or expired medications.

It is important to know what a healthy weight and diet is for you. Discuss this with your primary care provider, as things like your age, gender, physical activity level and medical history need to be considered.

• Get information on how to take control of your weight and your well-being.
• Watch this video on how to manage your weight for a healthier you.
• Use an interactive tool that calculates your BMI and assesses your health risks.
• Learn how to measure your waist circumference.

Make healthy eating fun. Start with small changes and gradually build on your healthy eating habits. Celebrate your changes along the way!

Resources to help you eat healthy:

• Cone Health Nutrition Counseling Services in Burlington, Greensboro, Mebane and Reidsville
• Healthy eating guidelines for adults, children and weight management
• A short video guide to mindful eating

Get ideas for delicious recipes and shopping tips for healthy cooking by visiting:

• Cone Health's Wellness Hub - sort by "Recipe" under "Type" for a variety of healthy recipes that are easy to make.
• Eat Smart, Move More, North Carolina.
• Good and Cheap: Eat Well on $4 per Day (a free cookbook download).

Many people living on limited incomes may find it difficult to afford healthy and nutritious food. The information below may help:

• Search for a Farmer’s Market in your community to purchase fresh, local, tasty and affordable food.
• The WIC program serves women, infants and children and, based on your income, may provide vouchers to purchase healthy food at participating stores.
• The SNAP program helps people with limited income purchase food:
• The Little Green Book and The Little Blue Book lists all the free meals and food pantries in Greensboro. You can find a list of where to pick up up a copy here.
• Cone Health partners with St. James Presbyterian Church (820 Ross Ave. Greensboro) to offer a "Message and a Meal"; with free hot meal and health education every Sunday at 3 pm.
• Many more resources are available through the United Way’s community directory. You can dial “211” on your phone, or search the online directory.

Bring a friend along. If you haven’t been active for a while, that’s OK. Set small goals and gradually increase your activity over time. Ask your primary care provider what physical activity is OK for you.

• View this exercise resource guide to learn how to stay fit at any stage in life.
• View a short video on exercise for people who don’t have enough time to exercise.
• Find a local YMCA:
  • Alamance County
  • Greensboro
  • High Point
  • Reidsville
• Use these parks and recreation websites and resources to find a park, trail or recreation center near you:
  • Alamance County
  • Burlington
  • Greensboro
  • Guilford County
  • Reidsville
  • Rockingham County Paths
  • Physical Activity Resource guide for Rockingham County.

Smoking causes cancer, low birth weight babies and damage to organs, lung and skin. Smoking is deadly. Make your “Stop Smoking” plan today and get your life back!

• Register for a free smoking cessation class at Alamance Regional Medical Center (Burlington), Annie Penn Hospital (Reidsville) or Wesley Long Hospital (Greensboro) at this site, and get a list of dates, times, and locations that is most convenient for you.
• Call the toll-free 24-Hour Hotline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW or get more information online.
• Learn more about how smoking impacts your lifespan and get tips for quitting with this learning tool.
• Avoid smoking while pregnant or while caring for a newborn.

If you don’t drink alcohol, don’t start. If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. For women, that’s no more than one drink per day, and two drinks per day for men. Pregnant women should avoid alcohol.

• Do you have the symptoms of alcohol dependence? This is a medical problem that can be treated. Use this interactive tool to learn more about your symptoms.
• Do you have a problem with alcohol? Find a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous. Cone Health also offers specialized group therapy for substance abuse through outpatient behavioral health care.
• Watch this video to learn about dealing with addiction.
• Get information on how alcohol affects people with diabetes.
• Learn the effects of alcohol use during pregnancy.
• Cone Health’s 24-hour, toll-free helpline offers immediate assistance and guidance for mental illness and substance abuse issues. Call 336-832-9700 or 1-800-711-2635.

Practicing a relaxation activity just once a day can help to combat the negative effects of stress. Exercise helps with stress, too!

• Learn the signs of stress and strategies for coping.
• Feeling stressed right now? Try these 4 tips for instant stress relief.
• Learn about the 7 ways that gratitude benefits your health.
• Cone Health’s 24-hour, toll-free helpline offers immediate assistance and guidance for mental illness and substance abuse issues. Call 336-832-9700 or 1-800-711-2635.
• Check out the “10 Keys to Happiness” – the first five keys are about how we interact with the world, and the second five are about the attitude we bring to life.

Sleeping fewer than seven to nine hours each night, irregular sleep schedules or poor quality sleep has been associated with many health risks. Have a bedtime ritual of going to bed and waking up the same time each day. Limit bedtime activities to sleep or sex, turn off the TV and avoid using electronic devices/computers before bed.

• Learn about how sleep affects your health and discover how to recognize sleep problems.
• Get help treating a sleep disorder.
• Check out this guide to sleeping better.
• Watch a short video on how to help your child get a good night's rest.
• Discover 11 ways to stop snoring for more peaceful and refreshing sleep.