Charlene Rees (left), Naval Hospital Jacksonville, Fla., smoking cessation coordinator, explains the effects of smoking tobacco by showing examples of tar build-up in the lungs to a sailor at the Wellness Center aboard Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla. NBHC Albany's Health Promotions offer Tobacco Cessation and other health and wellness programs for active duty, retirees and family members.

Photo by Jacob Sippel

Naval Branch Health Clinic Albany’s Health Promotions helps with healthier lifestyles

28 Jan 2015 | Yan Kennon Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany

January 28, 2015 --

If a healthier lifestyle and getting back in shape are personal goals for 2015, Naval Branch Health Clinic Albany’s Health Promotions can help.

Staff there offers a variety of resources, programs and tools aimed at improving the health of active duty, retirees and family members.

“Our expert Health Promotions staff is committed to providing opportunities for people to make healthy lifestyle choices for themselves and their families,” Lt. Cmdr. Raymond Bristol, NBHC Albany officer-in-charge, said.

NBHC Albany’s Health Promotions is available to help individuals achieve healthier lifestyle goals through a variety of options and support, and a good place to start is an assessment of an individual’s current health and lifestyle. From this assessment, Health Promotions can provide guidance to basic fitness and recommend the appropriate fitness approach.

For weight management, an eight-week ShipShape (active duty, retirees and family members) program is offered by appointment. The program promotes healthy lifestyle practices, weight loss and nutrition education. Participants learn and practice healthy dieting techniques, setting individual goals, dealing with high emotional and social situations, behavior change assessments and problem solving.

For people dealing with medical conditions — such as hypertension, cholesterol and pre-diabetes, an hour-long Healthy Heart class is available to improve diet and exercise habits to better control diagnosed conditions.

A Healthy Weight course — one-hour in length — is also available to help reach and maintain a healthy weight to help prevent or control many high-risk conditions and diseases such as diabetes, gallbladder disease, some gynecologic disorders and arthritis.

For those patients who wish to quit smoking, Health Promotions offers Tobacco Cessation classes. The focus of the program is to help patients become tobacco free and stay the course.

For more information on health programs and classes or to schedule an appointment, call NBHC Albany’s Health Promotions at 229-639-9535. Other Department of Defense tools and resources can be found at Operation Live Well: www.health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Operation-Live-Well.