Let’s Live Life Better, together

Is there a secret to living a better life? I don’t think so. But it does take some work and perseverance.

Rebecca Marker-Smith
Director of Marketing

First, let’s clear the air. I am by no means a medical professional. However, like you, I read a lot of articles and ask a lot of questions.

According to an article in Medical News Today, nearly 75 percent of all deaths in the United States are attributed to just 10 causes, with the top three of these accounting for over 50 percent of all deaths.

Here are the top 10 leading causes of death in the US:

1. Heart disease

2. Cancer (malignant neoplasms)

3. Chronic lower respiratory disease

4. Accidents (unintentional injuries)
5. Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases)

6. Alzheimer's disease

7. Diabetes

8. Influenza and pneumonia

9. Kidney disease (nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis)

10. Suicide

So, this begs the question, “What lifestyle changes do we need to make to either avoid these situations or prolong them from happening?”

After doing some more reading, I learned that the majority of them had a common theme that boiled down to these 8 steps:

1. Stop smoking

2. Get more active

3. Lose weight

4. Lower blood pressure

5. Get more sleep

6. Control diabetes

7. Lower cholesterol

8. Eat better

So, at Green Hills Community, we are going to do just that.  We’re not going to do every one of them all at once. That would be an impossible task. What we need to do is break this down to bite-size pieces by offering educational luncheons on a monthly basis.

By reaching out to experts at Mary Rutan Hospital, we are going to learn how to live a better life, hence the slogan, “Live Life Better.”

Our first session, Tobacco Cessation Education, is set for noon on Friday, Feb. 9, in Foundation Hall, where doors open at 11:30 a.m. for lunch. The speaker is Brooxie Crouch, Respiratory Care Clinical Coordinator at MRH. To RSVP for this event, please call 465.0700 or e-mail info@greenhillscommunity.org.

Yes, some of the work in living a better life includes diet and exercise. But it is so much more than that.

It’s about having a purpose in life, being part of a community, forming a bond with other people, and sharing your time and talent. Think of this as a journey for the mind, body, and spirit.

And, this journey doesn’t stop with the monthly education luncheons.

Here are other resources and services that are available at Green Hills to help us live life better:
Blood drives: every other month from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Book Club: 1:30 p.m. third Friday of the month

Caregiver Support Group: 2 to 3 p.m. third Monday of the month

Church services: 2:30 p.m. Sundays, 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays

Tai Chi: 4 p.m. Mondays

Volunteer opportunities: more opportunities that we can list here

Water fitness classes: 9 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays; 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays

Yoga: 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays, 2:30 and 3:15 p.m. Wednesdays, 6 a.m. Thursdays

Additional educational sessions are also being planned such as financial wellness and how to live with someone who has dementia. If you would like to be included in the mailing list for these upcoming events or to learn more, please feel free to call me. I can be reached at 937.650.7117 or via e-mail: rsmith@greenhillscommunity.org.

Living a better life doesn’t need to be an uphill battle. We can do this because we’re going to do it together.