Develop, review wellness checklist

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Harvey Kelley
  • 14th Medical Operations Squadron
Air Force pilots are trained that checklists are one of the most important tools in the aeronautical decision-making process.

Pilots at all stages of flying from the student to the command pilot use checklists. Pilots use a very extensive checklist during preflight to determine airworthiness of the aircraft.

As there are checklists for the aircraft, there are also checklists to evaluate a pilot's fitness to fly.

These checklists are essential to the safety of the pilot and aircraft.

But is there a checklist that people who aren't aircrew members can use to evaluate their health status? As a preventive medicine flight commander and a dentist by profession, I know optimal health can only be achieved by prevention.

Prevention can be thought of in two ways. One is to prevent accidents, illness or disease in the first place. The other is prevent an illness from progressing.

The following checklist can be used in both areas of prevention.

-- Medications: Am I taking medications as prescribed? Many diseases and chronic problems can be controlled and or prevented with medication.

-- Surgery: In many instances surgery is life saving.

-- Nutrition: Do I eat too much? It has been shown that decreasing the daily intake of food by one third will increase your life by 10 years. Do I eat the right types of food? The body needs the correct amount of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Do I get enough water? Recommendations are usually about 64 ounces per day.

-- Exercise: Do I move my muscles enough? Muscles need to be involved in an activity that keeps them in condition to perform activities of daily life. Stretching increases flexibility and is important for muscle and bone health.

-- Sleep: Do I get enough sleep and is it good sleep? Research indicates most people are sleep deprived. Studies have consistently shown the average person needs 10 hours of sleep per day.

-- Stress: Am I too stressed? There are many stressors in life and there are two main categories of stressors that play a major role, mental and emotional. Mental are those that are short lived. An example is a flat tire. The flat gets fixed, and the mental stressor is gone. Emotional stressors are usually chronic and are produced from feelings of not being in control. These types of stressors are associated with chronic health problems.

This checklist will provide a place to start as you look at prevention in your everyday life. Prevention is the foundation upon which to build optimal health and take responsibility for ones own wellness. (Courtesy of Air Education and Training Command News Service)