Christine Engwall assumes new role as JCHC Wellness Manager

FAIRFIELD - Christine Engwall is the new wellness manager at the Jefferson County Health Center.

Engwall takes over for Marty Chandler, who retired in March after 20 years in the position. Engwall will be a familiar face to locals who remember her from her previous role as a nurse at JCHC, where she's worked for five years. Others may know her from the Jefferson County Extension Council, where she's vice president of the board.

'Ever since I was little, I have always enjoyed helping others and being active in the community,” Engwall said.

As wellness manager, Engwall facilitates employee and community health and wellness programs, such as diabetes education classes, corporate wellness programs, CPR and first aid classes, and babysitting courses. Other aspects of the job including overseeing free blood pressure and blood sugar checks on the second Tuesday of the month from 7:30-9 a.m., and flu vaccines administered in the fall.

Engwall said March was a tough time to transition to a new job with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the start, she assisted with the screening process for health center employees which included giving them temperature checks. As restrictions grew, she had to cancel or postpone her diabetes and CPR classes due to social distancing concerns.

'I remained flexible throughout my new role and continued to work in the Emergency Room to help cover staffing needs,” she said. 'As restrictions are being lifted, I am able to continue with CPR, First Aid and Diabetic classes while still maintaining CDC guidelines of less than 10 people.”

The Union asked Engwall how the pandemic and resulting quarantine are affecting the community's health, such as how often and where people exercise. Engwall said that, first of all, those who are most vulnerable to contracting a severe case of the virus, such as the elderly and seniors, have to take special precautions to avoid catching it.

For the rest of the population, the increasingly warm and beautiful days have given them a chance to exercise outdoors while still socially distancing.

'Maintaining proper diet and exercise are essential for overall well-being,” she said. 'Even if it means walking around the block, gardening or parking further away from the door of the grocery store, every little bit counts. Sedentary lifestyles, if left unchanged, may lead to obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease.”

Which is more important to maintaining a healthy body, proper diet or adequate exercise? Both, Engwall said.

'In order to build a healthy lifestyle and be successful at losing weight one must do a combination of eating a balanced diet and continuing to be active,” she said. 'Like many things, all things are good in moderation. Ice cream is great on a hot day, however; there are other healthier options too like frozen yogurt or fruit smoothies. Diet contributes to over 90 percent of your overall health while associated with exercise may lead to a more healthy routine and help you prevent any long-term complications.”

How effective is walking as a form of exercise? Engwall said it's the best way to improve your overall health.

'Walking 30 minutes a day with the appropriate posture and natural arm swing increases cardiovascular fitness, strengthens bones, reduces body fat, and boosts muscle power and endurance,” she said. 'Physical activity does not have to be vigorous in order to improve your health.

Engwall said adults should engage in 150 minutes of moderate activity a week such as brisk walking. To meet the CDC's recommendation, a person would need to walk about 7,000-8,000 steps a day.

'Walking is one of the easiest ways to strengthen your heart, increase your heart rate and blood circulation through your body,” Engwall said. 'Walking brings more oxygen and nutrients to the body's organs. Walking as little as two hours per week helps you live longer and reduces the risk of heart disease.”

What about things we do that are especially bad for us, like eating processed food? Engwall said Healthline lists 20 foods that are no good for our health, and they include sugary drinks, most pizzas, white bread, fruit juices, sweetened breakfast cereals, fried food, pastries, cookies and more. The healthiest foods, meanwhile, include things such as spinach, black beans, walnuts, beets, avocado, dark chocolate, raspberries and garlic.

Speaking about sugary drinks in particular, Engwall said drinking two 12-ounce sodas every day means consuming five pounds of sugar in one month.

'You would have to walk about 100 miles to burn that many calories!” she said. 'A tip to create a new healthy habit such a limiting your soda intake would be to continue the action of no soda for 21 days to reset your mind to the healthier habit. Try fruit or cucumber infused water as an alternative.”