April 6-12 is National Public Health Week.
Take VA’s Five Days to Health challenge. Each day brings a new focus to help build a healthier you, one step at a time. Here is the challenge:
Monday: Get Vaccinated
With so many illnesses out there, it is important to stay up to date on your immunizations. Today, talk to your provider or make an appointment at your nearest VA medical center to learn which vaccinations you may need, including hepatitis A and B, pneumococcal, MMR, and shingles.
Tuesday: Quit Smoking
Today, make a plan to quit smoking for good. Quitting smoking will help you live a longer, healthier life, with more time to spend with family and friends. VA has resources to help you quit. Call 1-855-QUIT-VET (1-855-784-8838) to speak with a smoking cessation counselor and sign up for VA’s SmokefreeVET text messaging service: Text the word “VET” to 47848 for 24/7 text messaging support.
Wednesday: Get Tested
Almost 1 in 6 people living with HIV do not know they are infected, and similarly, 3 out of 4 people with Hepatitis C do not know it. Getting the facts, knowing your risk, and getting tested for HIV and Hepatitis C can save your life. If you do not know your status, talk to your provider or make an appointment at your nearest VA medical center today, and say yes to an HIV and Hepatitis C test.
Thursday: Develop Healthy Habits
Washing your hands, eating balanced meals, and exercising regularly help to prevent infections and protect your health long term. Today, start small:
- Take the stairs instead of the elevator or walk around the block,
- Order a side salad instead of french fries or eat a piece of fruit instead of dessert, and
- Sing the happy birthday song every time you wash your hands to ensure you are washing long enough to get rid of all the germs.
Over time, you can turn these actions into habits for your health!
Friday: Enroll in Health Care
In order to access health care benefits, you first need to enroll. Find out if you are eligible for VA health care coverage and enroll today.
Learn more about National Public Health Week and get started. Throughout the week, tell us what you are doing to stay healthy by sharing your experiences on Facebook and Twitter. Be sure to use the hashtag #NationalPublicHealthWeek and tag VA Facebook and Twitter profiles, @VeteransHealth, in your posts.
This story was originally published on Inside Veterans Health.
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The new occupational. Therapist helping. For chronic pain, may work for some, NOT all veterans, I have scar tissue from burn ,nervse respark with a antidepressant drug fighting it past 4 yrs last yr my narcotic drug taken away cold!!!!!!!! Fight daily pin needles, and burn feels on burn area, tens unit goes into scar tissue , did needle treatment, did help, nerve block took other pain away, but not the burn area, know the DPT used flash card explaining use tens unit on back, I still have pain at 12-4 am can’t sleep, nerve block did not help burn needle pin burning, this so call PT doctor goes by internet videos, did not look at leg, antidepressant drug give me nasty side effects, due to head injury 1977 , doc refused listen to me… My primary doctor does not help, send me to other clinics , pain clinic sends me see other clinics, talk to a tree, one said I can’t cc no u can’t control my pain, nerve doctor refused to CCC me, I refused to take any antidepressants drugs !!!!!!!!! They cover wide range of problem and give me nasty side effects, so I feel va still hit rock bottom to care veterans with chronic pain issues take them of narcotic drug , without no warning, the body call for it and suffer for it. Why are these veterans killing them selves, in pain, doctors fail to help, send to clinic to Clinic deal with pain. Doctors can give it out,but veteran needed to doctor monthly refill. Dr feel good in tomach wi , a senator sat on file for a yrs Tammy, know coving her butt , I even made a complaint, got no were , file 13, under huge pile of complaints???? If congress and senator’s don’t care . no one care even Bob and his men /women of heath specialist . va has a lot of issue to care of, but can’t help the veteran pay doctor bonus, take $6.00 from our travel pay each time . why to pay for bonus????