Summer is a time to wind down, go on holiday, and relax with family and friends. During the summer months you don’t count calories or worry about your exercise regime as much. But with September around the corner you might be thinking about getting back on track. Perhaps start a diet, go back to the gym and make sure your health is in check. Dr Kirsty Schmidt, General Practitioner at New Victoria Hospital, has 5 tips to help you get your health back on track this Autumn and explains why now is a good time for a health check.

Reverse the summer weight gain

In hot weather we often gain weight as the body retains water and we exercise less which adds to the struggle to keep the extra pounds off.

It is recommended you have 4-5 hours of physical activity each week in order to maintain a healthy weight and a heathy heart.

Sleep deprivation is often linked to weight gain too which is caused by the disruption of the hormones that usually modulate your appetite. Just to add to the list of health and weight loss obstacles you might face, sugary foods and drinks are often more abundant during the holidays!

One way to beat the extra calories is to replace added sugars with natural sugars found in fruits and vegetables. It is also best to switch to non-alcoholic drinks or water. This way you will be staying hydrated but not consuming lots of extra sugar.

Getting the important tests sorted

It’s easy for healthy habits, doctors’ appointments, and check-ups to slip your mind during the holiday season.

If Breast Cancer is caught early, you have a survival rate of 90% or more. The same is true of testicular cancer, where a check- up with your doctor and an early diagnosis will give you a 91% survival rate.

A routine health check can literally be lifesaving. Over 40,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year and many treatment options are now available. The same is true of cervical screening tests; if every woman attends for their smear these can prevent 83% of cancer cases.

Don’t forget that many health issues are asymptomatic and your GP will support you throughout your diagnostic tests so that you are able to ask questions, manage, and prevent similar problems from arising.

A personalised health plan

If you are worried about any aspect of your health or have noticed some issues over the summer, our Private GP service offers  Health Check Packages where your GP will look at your medical history, BMI, blood pressure, cardiovascular systems and blood pressure to help you decide the next steps.

 5 tips to help get your health back on track

Whatever goals you have post-summer, your GP can help.

Here are 5 simple tips to get your health and fitness back on track:

• Reduce your intake of added sugars in food
• Get active! Maybe join a local gym or take part in exercise classes
• Try to get to bed at a reasonable hour and aim for a minimum of eight hours each night
• Replace alcoholic beverages with non-alcoholic drinks or freshly squeezed fruit and water
• Arrange a health check to address any risk factors early

Our Private GP service is open six days per week, with quick referral and home visits where necessary. For more information call 020 8949 9640 or visit www.newvictoria.co.uk