resource highlight

For a healthier 2008, take the Great American Health Check Challenge
With New Year’s resolutions just around the corner, many Americans will set goals to get healthier, whether by eating better, getting more exercise, or quitting smoking. The American Cancer Society’s Great American Health Check Challenge provides the resources to help turn those resolutions into reality.

The Great American Health Check Challenge is part of the Great American Health Challenge, a prevention and early detection campaign that encourages people to take control of their health and adopt healthy lifestyle behaviors. Good health has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of cancer — at least 66 percent of cancer deaths could be avoided if people made healthier choices and took steps to protect themselves.

The Great American Health Check Challenge web site offers several resources to help you and your loved ones improve your health. The site provides an online health check assessment that takes only five minutes to complete. After completing the health assessment, you will receive a personalized action plan, which you can discuss with your doctor. This action plan includes a list of changes to diet, exercise, and personal habits that could help improve your overall health, as well a list of cancer screenings that are recommended for you based on age, gender, and family history. Screening can prevent cancer or detect it at its earliest, most treatable stage.

The site also offers the Health Reminder Assistant, which will call or send you personalized e-mails or instant messages to remind you to make the necessary appointments for screening, vaccinations, or check-ups to keep your health up-to-date even during busy times. Another valuable tool is the Health Messaging Assistant, a series of e-mail messages that include useful information to help you make the best possible health decisions. Visit www.cancer.org/healthcheck to take advantage of these great resources and learn more about the programs offered by the American Cancer Society to help educate you about cancer risks, early detection methods, and prevention.

To help you take action and improve your diet, ACS offers The Great American Eat-Right Cookbook. The book, which received top honors in the general cookbook category in the fourth annual National "Best Books" Awards, is filled with healthy, fast, and easy recipes, along with tips to help make your current favorites more healthy and flavorful. Visit www.cancer.org/bookstore to order The Great American Eat-Right Cookbook.  

Do something great for yourself and your loved ones this holiday season — take the Great American Health Check and encourage others to take it as well. Take steps towards reducing your risk of cancer with the help of your personal action plan and accept the challenge to become healthier in 2008!

For more information, please call your American Cancer Society toll-free at 1-800-ACS-2345.

Return to the VOICES homepage