tennisPhysical components of wellness

  • "It is better to be physically fit than out of shape."
  • "It is better to consume foods and beverages that enhance good health rather than those which impair it."
  • National Wellness Institute

Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center Employee Healthy Recipe Contest

Physical wellness is centered around the specific things you do on a daily basis to maintain your physical health. This includes regular physical activity, appropriate eating habits, maintaining a healthy weight, getting enough sleep, avoiding tobacco use, appropriate use of medications and moderate alcohol consumption. It also includes taking appropriate actions to protect and manage your health through preventive testing and proper self-care.

Managing one's physical wellness through proper nutrition, exercise, preventive testing and appropriate self-care contributes to an increased level of energy and enhanced self-esteem.

wellnessHelpful information and tools for getting started

Health risk appraisal

Health Risk Appraisals (HRA) are a series of questions about your health, history and lifestyle that provide relevant data about your current health status, educational information and recommendations on how to reduce your risk factors

golfIncreasing your physical activity

Why exercise? Because increased physical activity not only improves the fitness of your heart and lungs, it also helps you manage your weight, control your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels, helps you build healthy bones, muscles and joints, helps reduce stress and increases your energy level. As you can see, the benefits of exercise are many and the good news is that it is never too late to become more active and to begin to reap the benefits!

How do I know it is safe for me to start exercising? For many people, beginning a low-to-moderate physical activity program is quite safe. But depending on your age and whether you have certain cardiovascular risk factors, you may need to see your physician before starting a program of vigorous (as opposed to moderate) aerobic activity.

The American Council on Exercise offers excellent advice to help you determine if you need a doctor's permission before starting an exercise program. Click here to review these guidelines.

If at anytime during activity you experience excessive shortness of breath, light-headedness, dizziness, chest pain or pressure, stop your activity and report your symptoms to your physician.

How can I become more active?

Opportunities to become more active

Managing your weight

The psychology of weight loss (articles on WeightWatchers.com)

How to quit smoking

Managing high blood pressure

Managing diabetes

Managing high cholesterol

Self help

Completing advance directives

Complementary & alternative medicine

Other resources