Tips and Tricks to Keep Your Family Healthy
Back-to-school season is here. Many families are trying to figure out how to keep their kids safe while getting an education during the pandemic. With so much conflicting information about the COVID-19 virus, you may be wondering what you can do to protect your family. Here are tips and tricks to maintain your family’s health.
Review Your Health Insurance
Approximately 62% of all personal bankruptcies are from medical expenses. It’s a good idea to review your health insurance plan to ensure you have the right coverage. You may want to consider comparing other plans to see if you can save money. Speak with your insurance provider about any discounts they may offer.
You may want to consider finding supplemental insurance to cover any gaps. Around 14 million people in 2018 owned a Medicare Supplement Insurance policy. You can find numerous supplemental programs online that will help pay for things like prescriptions, dental care, and vision care. Take advantage of free medical programs and services in your community such as blood pressure testing at the drugstore.
Work Out Together
Staying active is crucial for maintaining your family’s physical, mental, and emotional health. According to a published study in the Journal of Public Health, cycling can lower the risk of heart diseases by 40% and premature death by up to 30% on average. Keep your family healthy by finding physical activities you all enjoy. You could take a walk in the woods and check out all the leaves changing color or play some family football in the backyard. There are plenty of activities you can be involved in that will keep you healthy while still maintaining social distancing.
Limit Screen Time
Many students going back to school are taking online classes, which glues them to electronics for a lengthy period of time. This can negatively impact their physical and mental health. Limit their screen time outside of their online classes by engaging them in activities that keep them moving. Plan family activities like game nights to keep them entertained and help you bond together. Find hobbies you can all do together instead of plunking down on the sofa and watching television.
Practice Preventative Medicine
During the pandemic, it’s important to keep up on hygienic safety practices for your family’s health. Besides masks and handwashing while social distancing, keeping up with immunizations can protect your family’s health. Update your flu shots, get physical exams, and perform regular temperature checks. A normal fever ranges between 100 to 104 degrees. If your child is experiencing a fever, keep them home from school and contact your family doctor. While not exactly preventative medicine, COVID-19 testing is one measure you can take to help prevent spreading the virus to others. You can get same-day results COVID testing in Sacramento with a service such as Drip Hydration for fast answers and peace of mind.
Make sure to keep up with regular cleaning and sanitizing of regularly touched surfaces in your home. Teach your children to cough or sneeze into their sleeves. Stress the importance of not sharing items to prevent your family from getting sick. Talk with your child’s school about their policies for handling the pandemic. Stay updated on any changes that may occur now that school is back in session.
Choose Healthy Foods
The school year can be hectic for families, which can make it hard to cook healthy meals for your family. Stock your pantry and fridge with healthy items that you can easily grab while on the go. This includes things like pre-cut or frozen fruits and vegetables, yogurt, tuna, and protein bars. If you’re home schooling, avoid snacking and stick to three balanced meals per day.
Cook meals together as a family and have family dinners so everyone can stay connected with one another. You may want to consider making batch meals on the weekend that you can reheat throughout the week. Stock up on foods when they are on sale so you don’t have to make as many trips to the grocery store.
Establish a Bedtime Routine
Sleep is crucial in maintaining your family’s health. Without the proper rest, you can lack energy throughout the day and put yourself at risk for developing a chronic illness. Establish a bedtime routine by sticking to a certain time to go to bed each night and wake up each morning. Engage in relaxing activities such as warm baths and bedtime stories to help kids fall asleep faster. Aim to get at least eight hours of sleep to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Brush Up On Good Dental Habits
Taking care of your family’s teeth is important to keeping them healthy. Gum diseases and infections can cause life threatening illnesses. Schedule a routine dental exam and cleaning to detect any potential problems before they become serious. Brush up on good dental habits at home. Everyone should brush and floss their teeth at least twice daily.
Toothbrushes should be replaced at least once every three months. Replace sugary and acidic foods with crunchy vegetables and calcium rich foods to keep teeth clean and healthy. Drink plenty of water to rinse bacteria and food particles that can get stuck between teeth.
Choose the Proper School Supplies
Shopping for supplies is one of the most enjoyable activities in getting ready to go back to school. If your child is returning to school, one thing you may want to keep in mind is selecting the right backpack. Backpacks can become heavy when filled with textbooks and other essential items. This can cause painful back strains and potential injury.
According to the American Chiropractic Association, a backpack’ weight should not be more than 10% of your child’s body weight. Look for backpacks that have multiple compartments to distribute weight evenly and compression strap to stabilize contents. Make sure it’s not wider than your child’s chest and doesn’t hang below the waist. You may even want to consider wheeled backpacks if they won’t be lugging it through snow or up stairs.
Maintaining your family’s health can be a challenge during the pandemic, especially with many children going back to school. By taking proactive measures, you can have peace of mind in these uncertain times. Use these tips and tricks to maintain your family’s health this year.