In good health or need a change of lifestyle? JLife will see you now…
If you’re concerned about how to live a truly Instagramable life or how to be more ‘mindful’, there are plenty of options for transforming your habits or revamping your lifestyle. But for most people, their general health is more than just looking ‘fleek’ or creating an appearance of good health for our social media feeds, and sometimes our real health considerations get lost in the mire of what other fleeting concerns seem more pressing at the time. Whether it is neglecting our mental health, simply not ensuring we get enough hours of sleep or not heading to our GP to enquire about a persistent symptom, ignoring our physical health has become an all too common aspect of modern life.
Despite this, there’s not a day goes by where there isn’t some celebrity endorsed-product or dieting fad to get us itching to finally fall in love with hot yoga or kale smoothies. LoveFit – the UK’s first music, food and fitness festival has launched down south and includes a mix of music from international DJs and live acts, fitness personalities and instructors, boutique camping and an expansive food and drink selection for health-conscious meat eaters, vegans and vegetarians. Closer to home, Liverpool personal trainer Faye Pritchard has launched full and half day female-only fitness retreats, ideal for friends, mothers and daughters or women who just want to escape to a retreat that is entirely devoted to their health and wellbeing. For those outside of the North West, Faye offers fitness retreats with a sightseeing element too – perfect for city breaks in Liverpool. While food-wise, ‘alternative’ culinary choices such as veganism are no longer seen as a niche lifestyle, but a viable way to change up our diet and decrease the impact we are having on the environment. Running and cycling are no longer viewed as simply short-lived endurance tests for charitable gain or sporting glory, but genuine low-cost ways to keep fit or commute.
As the population ages, healthcare has had to keep up with an aging population’s ever-changing needs. 2018 marks the 70th birthday of the NHS, a wondrous institution from which we have all benefited. But as our public and much-loved free healthcare system is continually stretched and undermined, private and independent services have leapt into action. Diagnostic Healthcare in Altrincham, for instance, provides support to the NHS as well as serving private patients, helping to keep waiting times down and increase the effectiveness of early diagnosis and screenings. Established in 2004 it provides medical diagnostic imaging services of MRI, Ultrasound, DEXA, CT and X-rays, and whether the patient chooses an NHS appointment or private medical scan, the same high standard of service can be expected.
In this issue of JLife, we speak to local Better Hearing, an audiology practice in Prestwich, hoping to help the people of Manchester to hear better and protect one of our most vital senses from further damage, whether you are a musician or a construction worker. Likewise, Heathlands Village and The Nicky Alliance Day centres, arguably the historic heart of Jewish living for many older people in Manchester, ensure that senior members of society are able to keep active and social in later years, as well as providing vital and considerate Jewish-centric care in a multicultural city.
Ultimately, our health and our general care needs are becoming ever more complex and multi-layered. However you choose to maintain a healthy lifestyle or live out your halcyon days, there are plenty of services and professionals out there that might be right fit for you. Whether you require a dental check from Absolute Dental or seek advice on your potential care needs – health care professionals across Manchester are waiting to support you. So, how can they help you today?