Welcome to Dimensions Healthy Living! a place to learn more about developing and living a healthier lifestyle. Here you’ll find a variety of tips, tools, and links to sources on health and wellness as well as an opportunity to connect with other dental hygienists who are trying to make healthy changes in their lives. Come back often as the content is constantly changing. If there is a particular topic you’d like to see us cover, click here to let us know.

A Note from Anna Pattison, RDH, MS

In the March issue of Dimensions, I challenged you all to join me in losing weight and gaining health. Since that time, I have made progress—losing a total of 15 pounds in 3 months. I haven’t been following any special diet, simply working on portion control while avoiding red meat, white carbohydrates, and desserts.

The problem with this approach to weight loss is that I know it won’t work for me long term because I’ve tried it before. What’s missing is having the tools to make permanent changes in my eating behavior. That’s why I decided to join Weight Watchers Online. It’s a proven, common sense approach to not only losing weight but keeping it off. In addition, the online plan provides the flexibility I need with my hectic work and travel schedule.

Are you ready to start losing weight? Weight Watchers Online offers a quick quiz to help you decide. Click here to take it now. If you’re ready to start, check our links below to calculate your BMI, find your healthy body weight, or let us know what achieving a healthy body weight can mean to you.

Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to both adult men and women. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, BMI provides a reliable indicator of body fat and is an inexpensive and easy-to-perform method of screening for weight categories that may lead to health problems.

The standard BMI categories are:

Less than 18.5 (underweight)
18.5 - 24.9 (normal weight)
25 - 29.9 (overweight)
30 and above (obese)

Click here to calculate your BMI.
Click here to learn more about BMI for Adults.

A healthy lifestyle involves more than eating the right foods, it also entails increasing your activity level. Click here for some suggestions on how to incorporate exercise into your busy life.

How much is too much? How little is too little? When it comes to your ideal healthy body weight, you may be surprised. Click here to find out now.

You’ve got a full patient load, little if any time for lunch, and appreciative patients who like to reward your office with fresh baked goodies. So how can you eat healthy? Click here to learn how in our exclusive interview with Leslie Fink, MS, RD.

According to the American Heart Association, the main reason to lose weight is health, not appearance. On its website, www.americanheart.org, you'll find the compelling statistics behind this recommendation.

What does losing weight mean to you? Click here and let us know.

Our focus on health would not be complete without looking at what you can do to ensure a healthy practice routine.  This month we look at carpal tunnel syndrome and what you can do to prevent it.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful, progressive condition caused by a compression of a key nerve in the wrist. The result may be pain, weakness, or numbness in the hand and wrist, radiating up the arm.  In their article, Gearing Up for Ergonomic Practice, authors Joyce A. Dais, RDH, MPH, MSEd, and Jo-Ann Rover, RDH, MPA, discuss how selecting the right equipment—from instruments to magnification—will help you reduce the risk of such musculoskeletal disorders as carpal tunnel syndrome.

Click here to view the entire article.