You’ve scrubbed the floors, put away winter clothing and now it’s time to tidy up your health! Follow our tips below to give your health a fresh spring start.

Clean your home for your health:

Go through your medicine cabinet and safely dispose* of any prescription medications that are no longer in use or past their expiration date.

Wash your linens and blankets, and wipe down all smooth surfaces like ceiling fans to eliminate dust and pollen in your home. If you use forced air heating or air conditioning now is a great time to replace your furnace filters.

Go outside:

At the gym, people typically only spend about an hour or two exercising. Find an activity you enjoy outside, such as gardening, and you’ll find you might spend a whole afternoon getting in a natural workout.

Kill kitchen bacteria:

Your kitchen sink probably contains more E. coli than your toilet, and your sponge and dishtowels are breeding grounds for salmonella. Wipe down your kitchen regularly with a trusted cleaning solution. And don’t forget to regularly wash your reusable grocery bags, too!

Make an appointment with your primary care provider:

Many adults only visit the doctor when they’re sick. Make it a point to have regular check-ups with your primary care providers. Taking preventative measures now can prevent emergencies from happening later.

*Expired and unwanted medication is a significant public safety and health hazard. Androscoggin county hosts a drug take-back program every spring and fall. Visit healthyandroscoggin.org or call to talk to a DFD Community Health and Outreach Worker for more information.

Did you know that 1 in 20 people will develop colorectal cancer?

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths, but if caught early it’s treatable and can even be curable. Some symptoms of colorectal cancer can include:

• A change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool that lasts for more than a few days
• A feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that is not relieved by having one
• Rectal bleeding and blood in the stool, which may make the stool look dark
• Cramping or abdominal pain
• Weakness and fatigue
• Unintended weight loss

These symptoms could be caused by something other than colorectal cancer, but if you’re experiencing any or all of these, talk to your doctor.

Regular screening saves lives. DFD offers InSure FIT testing. A non-invasive test completed in the privacy of your own home to catch colorectal cancer quickly.

Nearly 75% of all colon cancer cases could be prevented with healthy lifestyles. Lower your risk by following the tips below:

• Quit smoking
• Exercise daily
• Reduce consumption of red and processed meat
• Get enough calcium and Vitamin D

DFD is working to keep our community safe.

DFD has been diligently managing the opioid crisis, leading the medical community in responsible prescribing. By taking proactive steps we are able to achieve goals of ensuring responsible, safe, and effective prescribing of powerful pain medications (when truly necessary and if other measures fail). We want to keep our community safe, while at the same time treating patients in need of pain management with comprehensive measures to help improve their function and quality of life.

Steps we have taken include:

• Additional training in pain management strategies
• Expansion of behavioral health-oriented pain management techniques
• Stronger relationships with physical therapy partners
• Enhanced risk-oriented monitoring programs

There is always room for growth and improvement, but with these changes, we continue to lead the medical community in responsible prescribing.

DFD Russell Medical Centers (DFD) will be holding a series of three outreach events to assist the public with questions regarding Healthcare Marketplace coverage and enrollment options. An outreach event will be held at each one of DFD’s medical centers, which include Monmouth, Turner and Leeds. All events are free and open to the public and will be held in mid- to late- January before the January 31 open enrollment deadline.

These small, informal events will review Marketplace basics and offer answers to questions regarding specific plans or assist with enrollment. Pre-registration is required. Those interested in attending should call DFD at (207)524-4010.

“January 31, 2017, is the last day of the annual open enrollment for Healthcare Marketplace coverage,” said Tia Knapp, Community Health & Outreach Worker at DFD Russell Medical Centers. “It’s important that DFD is available to assist any community members who may have questions or need help enrolling.”

DFD Russell Medical Center Health Care Q&As

January 17, 2017 – Monmouth

WHEN: 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: 11 Academy Road, Monmouth

January 23, 2017- Turner

WHEN: 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: 7 So. Main Street, Turner

January 24, 2017 – Leeds

*Canceled due to weather*

WHEN: 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: 180 Church Hill Road, Suite 1, Leeds

In attendance at each of the events will be outreach representatives from major insurance companies operating within the state, including Community Health Options, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Harvard Pilgrim. DFD’s own Community Healthcare Outreach Workers (CHOW) will also be on hand to offer appointments for enrollment services, such as helping patients and community members to enroll and analyze plan options.