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Health Matters: Providence Holy Cross Medical Center | 3 To find a primary care physician near you, call our Patient Engagement Center at 888-HEALING (432-5464). If There Is One Change You Make … Staying on top of your health in the new year S tudies show that fewer than 8% of people who make a New Year 's resolution stick to it. So don't call it a resolution; instead greet the new year with an intention to do something better for you. Zahra Sherazi, MD, a primary care physician at Facey Medical Group, in Northridge, explains the predicament: "A lot of people, including myself, try to make some changes in our lives to welcome the new year. Many people make resolutions like working out or eating healthy, and it's important to keep in mind that any new habit takes at least two months to build as a routine." Dr. Sherazi says to make sure your goals are realistic and obtainable: "It's better to find a way to have balanced micro- and macronutrients instead of drastically changing your diet and cutting out carbohydrates. Keep it balanced and know your limits." James Michail, MD, a primary care physician and gerontologist in Granada Hills, suggests, "For a simple change in their diet, people should focus on eating non-processed and fresh organic produce. And they should avoid food with trans fats." Dr. Michail feels that COVID has given us a good chance to change our habits. "During COVID, our day-to-day lifestyle has changed. Many of us are deconditioned as compared with the time before COVID. It's a new year, so have a new outlook—develop your life outside of the home. Exercise is the No. 1 thing to start doing or to keep up. Start walking for 15 or 20 minutes and see how your body reacts. Note any pain, chest pain or shortness of breath and talk to your doctor if any of these are present." EVERYONE AGREES: SEE YOUR DOCTOR Since there have been fewer visits to the doctor in the past two years, chances are you haven't kept up with your appointments and screenings. "The annual health exam is the most important visit," says Dr. Sherazi. "Not only can patients use this opportunity to discuss preexisting conditions; you can also discuss measures that could prevent illnesses in the future. The most important is atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Based on 2019 mortality data from the Centers for Disease Control, heart disease, stroke and hypertension are among the top 15 causes of mortality in the U.S. Some of the tests that can diagnose and prevent these conditions early on include cholesterol and blood pressure check." Dr. Michail concurs: "Many people have forgone the routine doctor 's visit this past year. It's important to have blood work, and to get important tests such as colonoscopy, prostate tests and mammograms. Things have gotten better with COVID, there are protocols in place, so there is no excuse not to go to the doctor." And finally, there is COVID itself. The best way to stay safe in the coming year is to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Says Dr. Sherazi, "Based on CDC data, vaccines are very effective at preventing severe COVID-19 disease and death. Even if you are vaccinated, I recommend wearing a mask in public, keeping a six-foot distance and washing your hands frequently, which can further prevent spread."

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