How can I take control of my health?

Find a primary care physician that’s right for you

  • Your primary care physician is the best person for you to discuss your health with. Together, the two of you discuss your physical and mental health and can create a plan to treat and prevent disease. Your primary care provider can also connect you with outside specialists (like heart, lung, or kidney doctors) if needed.

Develop healthy habits

  • Exercise, sleep, and diet can have immense effects on both your physical and mental well-being. Experts recommend 7-9 hours of sleep per night for adults and at least 20 minutes of exercise 3-4 times per week. Additionally, try to make the time to prepare healthy meals and incorporate more fresh ingredients, like fruits and vegetables, into your daily routine.

Be proactive

  • Schedule regular check-ups with your primary care provider, dentist, and eye doctor. If you need a new dentist or eye doctor, your primary care provider can help direct you to someone in your network.
  • Do research about your conditions and stay up to date on related studies and clinical trials. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask questions! There may be new or different treatments that work best for you and your unique conditions.
  • To find a clinical trial that may be right for you, check out the following websites. You can search keywords like “diabetes”, “alzheimer’s”, “heart disease”, or even “healthy” (if you aren’t looking for a specific chronic condition and want to be a healthy participant)

For more information on clinical trials, check out our online clinical trials tool at https://healthforallproject.org/