ADVERTORIAL

BY DR. ANNE MONTGOMERY

If you are in good physical health, you may consider yourself to be well. But wellness doesn’ t just mean the absence of illness.

“ Wellness is not just physical, it has many dimensions,” explains Anne Montgomery, MD, an internal medicine physician at Washington Regional Plaza Internal Medicine, where she provides care for patients aged 18 and older.“ Wellness is a state of physical, mental, emotional and social well-being that requires active cultivation.”

Montgomery provides primary care with a focus on wellness and disease prevention, as well as the treatment of acute illnesses and management of chronic conditions. She works with her patients to manage anxiety and stress in healthy ways that in turn enhance their physical and emotional health. Montgomery offers four pieces of advice to patients who want to improve their wellness.

TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF

“ Taking time for yourself can help you cope with feelings of stress or anxiety,” Montgomery explains.“ Make time at the end of the day to read a book, go for a walk or meditate.” Montgomery says taking time to focus on yourself and decompress is more important than the activity you choose.“ It doesn’ t have to look the same for everyone. Make time to do whatever it is that gives you some time on your own.”

GET MOVING

Another key piece of advice to help improve wellness is to move your body.“ Physical activity has been shown to help reduce stress levels, lower blood pressure and can even improve your metabolism, which does a lot to relieve anxiety,” Montgomery says. Even small amounts of physical activity can have big benefits.“ You don’ t have to run a marathon or go to the gym. Just taking a 15 minute walk every day can really help.”

NURTURE SOCIAL CONNECTIONS

Many people struggling with stress or anxiety may avoid social situations, but Montgomery says it’ s important to maintain your social connections.“ Make time for friends and community to really connect with the people that you can talk to about these feelings.” Montgomery says having that emotional support system can often people better cope with difficult feelings.

GET GOOD SLEEP

Sleep is another component of wellness that can’ t be overlooked.“ Many patients say they feel tired all the time,” Montgomery says.“ While ongoing fatigue may be due to an underlying medical issue, it’ s important to make sure you’ re setting yourself up to get good, restorative sleep each night to help your body rest and recharge.”

Establish a routine during the day to set yourself up for better sleep, such as avoiding caffeine in the afternoon, getting on a regular sleep schedule, making time to get outside each day and not using electronics leading up to bedtime.

Adopting these simple steps can help improve overall wellness, and Montgomery recommends people start by making small changes and building on them overtime.“ It’ s difficult, and usually not sustainable, to change your entire routine all at once. Focus on creating one or two new healthy habits at a time and soon you’ ll start noticing changes.”

To learn more about Dr. Montgomery and Washington Regional Plaza Internal Medicine, visit wregional. com / plazainternalmed or call 479.404.1400.

� ANNE MONTGOMERY,

MD internal medicine physician at Washington

Regional Plaza Internal Medicine

OURHEALTHNWA. COM 4 DECEMBER 2025 | PREVENTION AND WELLNESS ISSUE