Health Conditions

Staying healthy

Build healthy habits for the years ahead

You don’t have to wait for a diagnosis to take an active role in your health. Lifestyle medicine can help you build healthy habits, address risk factors, and support your health and well-being now and over time.

Proactive care

Taking care of your health is about more than responding when something goes wrong. Everyday habits and preventive care can work together to support your health, including:

Everyone’s health needs and risks are different. Your clinician can help you understand what matters most for your health, stay up to date on recommended preventive care, and identify where lifestyle changes could make a difference.

Meaningful progress

When healthy lifestyle changes become part of your routine, progress can show up in how you feel and function today, as well as in health measures that matter over time. Small, consistent changes can add up, helping you build a strong foundation for your health for the years ahead.

Early changes

  • More stable energy
  • Better sleep
  • Improved stress management
  • Greater consistency with healthy routines

Measurable improvements

  • Healthier blood pressure
  • Improved blood sugar or cholesterol
  • Improvements in other health measures that matter for you

Functional improvements

  • Increased strength and stamina
  • Better mobility and physical function
  • More energy for everyday activities
  • Greater consistency with physical activity

Long-term health protection

  • Healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol
  • Maintaining strength, mobility, and physical function as you age
  • Staying up to date with recommended preventive care
  • Healthy habits that support long-term well-being

Questions to ask your care team

What should I know about my personal and family health risks?

Which lifestyle changes could make the biggest difference for my long-term health?

What health measures should we keep an eye on over time?

What screenings or preventive care do you recommend for me?

What should I focus on first so healthy changes feel manageable?

6 Ways to Take Control of Your Health

A quick overview of six lifestyle areas that can support better health and help reduce chronic disease risk.

Best for: People who want a simple starting point for improving their health.

Use with your clinician: Bring questions like, “Which of these six areas should I focus on first?” to your next visit.

Important: You do not need to change everything at once. Choose one meaningful and manageable next step.

Download: 6 Ways to Take Control of Your Health (PDF)

Habit Tracker

A simple tool for recording healthy behaviors, recognizing patterns, and monitoring progress over time.

Best for: People who want a visual and practical way to stay consistent with a new habit.

Use with your clinician: Bring questions like, “What habit would be most useful for me to track, and how will we know if it is helping?” to your next visit.

Important: Use tracking to learn, not to judge yourself. Missing a day does not erase your progress.

Download: Habit Tracker (PDF)

SMART Goals for Adults

A worksheet for turning a broad health goal into a specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound action.

Best for: People who have a health goal but need help deciding exactly where and how to begin.

Use with your clinician: Bring questions like, “Can you help me make this goal realistic, measurable, and appropriate for my health?” to your next visit.

Important: Start with a goal small enough to complete consistently, then adjust it as you learn what works.

Download: SMART Goals for Adults (PDF)