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Health & Fitness

Get Healthy, Greenfield! A Community Health Improvement Plan for You!

A brief summary of the new community health improvement plan in Greenfield along with some advice on how to live healthy.

Do you want to get healthy? Well, Get Healthy, Greenfield!

The new Community Health Improvement Plan has been approved by the Greenfield Board of Health. This plan, Get Healthy, Greenfield!, identifies five health focus areas that adversely impact the health of City residents. We will be working collaboratively with our community partners to implement key action steps that will improve our health status. We would like you to be part of the solution.

The first focus area of the plan is nutrition, which is vital to support normal growth and development of children, as well as promote physical, emotional, and social well-being of all people. Take advantage of this summer weather by visiting a local farmer’s market for some fresh produce.

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Physical Activity on a regular basis has been shown to reduce the risk of certain diseases such as high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cancer, and osteoporosis. Benefits of physical activity are not just for growing children. In fact, older adults who participate in physical exercise increase strength, prevent falls, improve cardiovascular performance, and restore resilience. Try going for a summer walk after dinner every night-just 150 minutes of moderate activity a week can make a difference!

Chronic diseases, such as cancers, asthma, diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, heart disease, and high cholesterol, are at the top of the list for causes of death in the City of Greenfield. If you are concerned that you or a loved one may be at particular risk for one of these diseases, contact the health department or your doctor for more information.

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The fourth focus area, Injury and Violence, encompasses intentional and unintentional injuries related to motor vehicle crashes, falls, suffocation, abuse, bullying, and poisoning. To promote safety and decrease the existence of injury and violence, the health department will continue to provide resources, programs, and activities to Greenfield residents. Keep an eye out for upcoming events (like National Night Out on August 7, 2012) by visiting our website, Facebook, or Twitter pages.

Mental Health, the final focus area of Get Healthy, Greenfield!, may range from clinically diagnosed issues to general feelings of anxiety, stress, and/or depression. Often, mental health issues are associated with higher rates of chronic disease and risk factors such as physical inactivity, smoking, obesity, and substance abuse. If you or someone you know feels sad, lonely, or depressed, contact the health department or a physician for resources on personal wellness.

Please check out the Get Healthy, Greenfield! plan on our website, www.greenfieldwi.us. Wishing you good health!

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