2023 HEALTH CARE EDITION
Maintaining health
Living a sedentary lifestyle can have negative e ects on di erent parts of the body, which can lead to an increased chance of illness or disease.
during each yearly budget cycle. The senior centers o er programs, meals and activ- ities for members to be involved in. It also provides a community to those who are looking to do group activities with people at the same tness level. In the scal year 2021-22 budget, the city of Schertz allocated $269,500 into its senior programs. Trails are another component to encouraging health in residents, o cials said. Since 2017, the cit- ies of Live Oak, Selma, Schertz and Universal City invested a combined $10 million in trails. In surveys put out by Universal City and Schertz, trail projects come back as one of the highest priorities for the city to focus on, meaning residents are looking for additional ways to be physically active through walking, biking and other means, Paddock said. “In our Citizen Satisfaction Surveys from 2016, 2019 and 2021, you will see that parks and recreation services are ranked right after police every year,” she said. “If you dive into that deeper, the No. 1 answer for what parks and recreation should emphasize over the next few years is walking and biking trails.” On May 22, the city of Live Oak celebrated the grand opening of a 2,800-linear-square-foot trail from Main City Park to the city swimming pool. This trail is one of the $1.1 million planned trail projects approved by the city in 2023. Alongside Parks and Recreation projects, cities are investing in programs to encourage city employees to take part in healthier lifestyles. Programs such as
BENEFITS OF BEING ACTIVE
EFFECTS OF BEING SEDENTARY
Brain
Improved brain function, mental sharpness
Declining mental health; risk of diseases
Heart
Improved blood ow; reduced risk of disease
20%-30% more likely to have heart disease
Lungs
Increased lung capacity; improved oxygen ow
Increased risk of respiratory diseases
Muscles
Increased endurance and strength
Muscle degradation; chance of in ammation
SOURCES: UNIVERSITY HEALTH, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION COMMUNITY IMPACT
health assessments and information sessions have helped provide positive reinforcement for employees trying to meet a health goal, Universal City Fire Chief Todd Perna said. “I was at almost 300 pounds, and I had sleep apnea issues, so obviously those health assessments helped me realize there is a better way to live,” Perna said. No matter what level of tness a person has, sitting for long periods of time can have negative e ects, and people should aim to move throughout the day,
Nyren said. It also helps to nd support. “When we are thinking about making lifestyle changes, it is important to really think about ... who is going to keep you accountable,” Nyren said. “It is really hard to make changes alone.”
For more information, visit communityimpact.com .
Now with 2 locations starting in July Schertz and New Braunfels
Amy Garcia MD Suzie Basey MD Jandee Stidom CPNP
kinderhauspediatrics.com
210-566-1533 5700 Schertz Pkwy Ste 140, Schertz, TX 78154 Accepting New Patients Well Visits, Sports Physicals, Same Day Sick Visits Insurances Accepted: Aetna, BCBS, Christus, Cigna, Humana, Oscar, Tricare Select, United Healthcare
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NORTHEAST SAN ANTONIO METROCOM EDITION • JUNE 2023
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