Staying Well

Your Council can offer advice and help on health matters – from dealing with a drink or drug problem to coping with mental illness or a disability. Here you can learn about the many services on offer and find links to other organisations offering advice on healthy living at any stage of your life.

If there’s an emergency, our out-of-hours team is on hand 24 hours a day to help with anything from child protection issues to older people at risk: 0345 0533116

Choosing the right NHS Wales service if you become ill or are injured

Choose Well will help you decide if you need medical attention if you get sick. It explains what each NHS service does, and when it should be used. Choosing Well means that you and your family will get the best treatment. It also allows busy NHS services to help the people who need them most.

If you don’t know which option to choose, please contact NHS Direct Wales on 0845 46 47

Stay Active

Children need to do at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day that gets their hearts beating faster than usual. This activity doesn’t have to be all in one go, and it will burn off energy and prevent excess fat being stored in the body. It also helps young muscles and bones grow properly. For adults, being active means getting your heart rate up, feeling warmer and making your lungs work harder for 150 minutes each week.

For information about Leisure activities in Flintshire visit our Leisure and Tourism section

Eat Healthily

For a healthy and balanced diet, try to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Research shows that eating at least 400g of fruit and vegetables a day can lower your risk of serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. For more help try the 5 a day meal planner visit the NHS site.

NHS Live Well

Drink Less Alcohol

Regularly drinking more than the recommended daily amounts (RDA) can lead to long-term health problems, including cancers, strokes, and heart attacks.

For women the RDA is no more than 2-3 units per day.
For men the RDA is no more than 3-4 units per day

If you drink every day, try to have at least two alcohol-free days each week.

Quit Smoking

Thinking about giving up smoking? Here are three very good reasons to quit:

For your health - Stopping smoking can have a big impact on both your health and your lifestyle. Your sense of taste will return and you will enjoy the taste of food more. Your breathing and general fitness will improve. The appearance of your skin and teeth will improve.
For your family’s health - Children are particularly vulnerable to secondhand smoke, as they have less well-developed airways, lungs and immune systems. The best way to protect you and your family is to make your home and car smoke free.
To save money - Stopping smoking will definitely save you money. If you smoke and want to give up, where can you get help?

Stop Smoking Wales is a free, NHS service to help people quit smoking. Visit www.nhswales.uk or call 0800 085 2219 to book a session in your local area.

Pharmacy Smoking Cessation Service – A number of pharmacies across Flintshire offer a FREE 12-week smoking cessation service. The services includes assessment, supply and monitoring of appropriate smoking cessation therapy. To find your nearest pharmacy smoking cessation service, use the NHS Direct local services search facility

Look after your Mental Wellbeing

Looking after your mental wellbeing is equally as important as looking after your physical health.

Here are some simple tips that have been researched and developed by the New Economics Foundation on how to look after your own mental wellbeing:

Take Notice
Reminding yourself to ‘take notice’ can strengthen and broaden awareness and enhance your mental wellbeing. Slow down…appreciate…recognise your own and others’ talents
Connect
Social relationships are critical for promoting wellbeing. Meet up…join in… phone a friend…listen
Be Active
Regular physical activity is associated with lower rates of depression and anxiety across all age groups. Get up and have a go… walk,run, cycle, dance, garden, sing
Keep Learning
Continued learning through life promotes good self-esteem and encourages social interaction and a more active life. Try something new…have a go…. Ask how, when, where, why
Give
Research has shown individuals who report a greater interest in helping others are more likely to rate themselves as happy. Share what you have…smile at others…volunteer.

For advice on where to find mental health support services visit:
www.flintshire.gov.uk/en/Resident/Social-Services/Mental-Health.aspx

Useful Documents
Strategy for Older People in Wales (PDF - 0.91 MB)

Alert Section