Dallas County Living Well Magazine Fall 2014 | Page 21

Creating a Healthy Life

By Ellen E. Wilson, MD

W

hile we all come with a
genetic package, there are
things you can do to help
ensure a healthier life. Ellen Wilson,
MD, of Dallas, observes that when
women feel great, they are more confident and joyful. According to Dr.
Wilson, there are five things women
of almost every age can do to enhance
their health and wellbeing.
Wilson advises women not to overlook the obvious. Don’t do those things
that could potentially harm your
health, like smoking, driving without a
seatbelt, overeating, or abusing drugs
or alcohol.
Second, remember the things your
mother taught you, like starting the
day with a healthy breakfast and getting enough sleep at night.
Third, regular physical activity will
help you maintain a healthy weight
and may help prevent diseases like
diabetes and osteoporosis. Just 30 minutes of constant activity a day can help

you look and feel better. Of course, you
will want to consult with your physician before beginning any exercise
program.
Fourth, build authentic relationships
with people (and animals!). Positive
interactions nourish our emotional,
physical and mental health. Many
believe those caring connections can
also decrease awareness of pain, lower
blood pressure, reduce stress levels,
and even lessen the chances of acquiring chronic diseases.

Finally, Wilson encourages you to
find a physician with whom you are
comfortable and can establish an ongoing relationship. He or she can help
ensure that preventive measures are
in place to keep you healthy or provide
needed advice and treatment when illness or injury occurs. It’s important
that your concerns are heard, that your
health goals are known and respected,
and that you have a physician you trust
on your healthcare team.
Wilson sees patients at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical
Center, where she also teaches residents and fellows. She earned two Fellow Teaching awards, a medical student teaching award, and was named
among the Best Doctors in Dallas four
times. She appeared on the Texas Super Doctors list for seven years. She
encourages women to contact their
physicians with questions or concerns.
For more information, call 214-6453858 or 214-645-3888.

North Dallas Living Well Magazine • Fall 2014

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