Walk with a doc for health benefits
Mar. 4—LIMA — "Walk with a Doc" is a program that happens at 9 a.m. the first Saturday of every month at the Lima Family YMCA. Hosted by family practice residents, it encourages individuals to exercise and make healthy choices by taking walks with doctors. The program was founded in 2005 by Dr. David Sabgir, a cardiologist from Columbus, Ohio.
The idea behind the program is simple: family practice residents from Mercy Health present an information session about a medical topic. Then it's time to head to the track for some exercise and more conversation. The walks are free and open to everyone, regardless of their fitness level or medical condition. Participants can ask questions and receive guidance on how to improve their health.
Resident Dr. Jia Meng explained, "We were thinking when we started our residency program how to provide some kind of service that's useful to the community... We just thought instead of waiting for someone to come to a doctor, why don't we just go out to them."
Dr. Andrew Merrill said, "This is a community that we are becoming a part of as we train here and give back to the community. This is another way to get our faces out there and show that we are approachable."
The topic this month was sleep. The doctors explained the importance of sleep, how to improve sleep patterns, and how much sleep is the proper amount. Sleep is important because it can lower depression and stress and increase immune system strength. Putting electronic devices away 1 hour before bed was suggested as a way to improve sleep. The right amount of sleep varies with age. Elementary school students need 9-12 hours of sleep. Teens need 8-12 hours and adults need 7-9 hours of sleep daily
Walk with a Doc provides an opportunity for the family practice residents to connect with the community in a relaxed, non-clinical setting. It allows community members to garner information about health topics and to exercise, promoting healthy habits.
Reach Dean Brown at 567-242-0409
