Take charge of your health at every age and stage of life
What is preventative health?
Preventative health is the proactive pursuit of well-being, focusing on healthy choices and screenings to avoid future health issues. By prioritizing nutrition, exercise, and stress management, you take control of your health, identifying and addressing risks early for a longer, higher-quality life. It’s an investment in your future, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures for sustained well-being.
How can I find out more?
General health

Getting regular checkups is a proactive measure to safeguard your health. By prioritizing routine checkups, you actively contribute to maintaining and monitoring your well-being which can help to detect health problems early, when they are easier to treat.
More resources for general health
Stress and mindset

Managing stress can help to improve your overall health and well-being. By adopting stress-reducing strategies you can impact both your physical and mental health.
More resources for stress and mindset
- Website mindfulness: includes beginner audio/video practices, and links to additional articles (article, website)
- Top Ways to reduce Stress from Harvard Health Letter (article)
- Oak Valley Health Hospital Library books about stress and mindset:
- The relaxation & stress reduction workbook by Martha Davis and friends
- Mindfulness: an eight-week plan for finding peace in a frantic work by Mark Williams and Danny Penman
- A mindfulness-based stress reduction workbook by Bob Stahl and Elisha Goldstein
- Who Moved My Cheese?: An amazing way to deal with change in your work and in your life by Spencer Johnson
- Meditation and walk-in counselling at the Markham Public Library (event)
Movement and mobility

Regular exercise not only fortifies your muscles but also promotes the well-being of your heart and
lungs. It enhances circulation, and reduces your risk of health issues such as heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
More resources for movement and mobility
- YouTube Videos about gentle mobility exercises:
- Walking Trails in Markham (article)
- Free yoga, including chair yoga and yoga for older adults at the Markham Public Library (event)
Sleep

Getting enough sleep revitalizes the body and mind and can help to improve your mood, energy levels, and cognitive function.
More resources for sleep
Food and nutrition

Eating a healthy diet can help to maintain a healthy weight, which can reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
More resources for food and nutrition
- https://food-guide.canada.ca/en/
- Oak Valley Health’s Adult Diabetes Education Centre
- Healthy eating Basics – Heart and Stroke Canada (article)
- Markham Public Library Nutrition Book List
- Youtube: Healthy Recipes & Nutrition Videos