Many people promise to turn over a new leaf as another New Year dawns, especially if they’ve overdone it a little while enjoying Christmas festivities with family or friends.
New Year resolutions have long been part of human psychology – the Ancient Babylonians are said to have originated the custom some 4,000 years ago – but sometimes we need a helping hand to make good on those promises!
2024 promises to be no different, and the NHS is here to help those who want a healthier lifestyle over the next 12 months.
Dr Sarah Whiteman, chief medical director at Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board, said: “Lots of the most common New Year resolutions are health-related: giving up smoking, losing weight, eating more healthily, exercising more, getting a better night’s sleep, drinking less, or improving our mental health are among the most frequent promises we make to ourselves, our friends and families once 1 January comes around again.
“Whichever of these is your goal in 2024, the NHS has a range of advice sources and programmes for those looking to improve their wellbeing.
“There are several NHS apps which you can download to give you that daily encouragement to stop smoking or lose weight.
“If you’re aged 40 to 74 then you’re entitled to a free NHS Health Check every five years, where a trained professional will take some details, then work out your personalised risk score for a number of health conditions. It takes just 20 to 30 minutes every five years, so it’s well worth your time.”
