Whether eating a balanced diet, taking regular exercise, or managing existing conditions, we all have a role to play in promoting and maintaining our own health.
International Self Care Day takes place on 24 July (24/7) to help highlight how care can be practised round the clock and how looking after yourself can reduce pressure on health services.
Make use of technology
Choosing apps to support your mental health and wellbeing isn’t always easy.
With so many to choose from it can be difficult to know which ones to trust and where to go to find them.
Together with Public Health Dorset and the Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Apps (ORCHA), NHS Dorset has recommended self-care and wellbeing apps to support you.
Check your blood pressure and seek help if you need to
If untreated, high blood pressure increases your risk of serious problems such as heart attacks and strokes.
Launched three years ago in Dorset, the BP@Home app has helped nearly 3,000 local people to manage their blood pressure from home, reducing the risk of heart failure and stroke by 23% after six months on the platform.
For a video to see how BP@Home is helping people, visit NHS Dorset on YouTube and search for BP@Home.
Register online at ourdorset.org.uk search #BPAtHome.
Stay Active
Taking time to be physically active can help manage stress, increase your energy, and improve both your physical and mental health. Even small amounts of regular movement can have a big impact.
People who build movement into their daily routine have a lower risk of developing many long-term (chronic) conditions, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and some cancers.
Research also shows that moving more can also boost self-esteem, mood, sleep quality and energy, as well as reducing your risk of stress, clinical depression, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
For ideas on how to move more, visit https://www.activedorset.org/support-being-active
Get support to stop smoking
Smoking is bad for your health with the tar and toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke causing almost all the harm.
Swapping from smoking to vaping is better for everyone. Swap 2 Stop is a national scheme to help adult smokers quit by offering a free vape starter kit.
Swapping to a vape reduces your risk of cancer, lung disease, heart disease and stroke.
A vape starter kit is available from LiveWell Dorset. Find out more at https://bit.ly/Swap2Stop.
Get vaccinated
Vaccination is the most important thing we can do to protect ourselves and our children against ill health. They prevent millions of deaths worldwide every year.
Since vaccines were introduced in the UK, diseases like smallpox, polio and tetanus that used to kill or disable millions of people are either gone or are now very rarely seen.
