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Known as ‘Coach’ to everyone in the Farmington, Missouri, community, Gary Koch, 79, has made a lasting impact both on and off the basketball court. A Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee, he spent more than 40 years coaching college women’s and high school boys’ varsity basketball. Now retired, he is thankful for the wonderful care he received after a serious heart scare last summer.

Staying active helps maintain joint flexibility and balance, promotes better posture and strengthens bones.

Healthy bones are a critical component of the human body. Proper nutrition, calcium and vitamin D supplements are all excellent ways to improve bone health. Charles Grimshaw, MD, a BJC Medical Group orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine physician at Christian Hospital, says that monitoring for osteoporosis, osteopenia (a condition that occurs when there’s a decrease in bone mineral density) and metabolic deficiencies, like deficiencies in calcium and vitamin D, are proactive approaches for supporting bone health.

Some people think that aches and pains and limited mobility are normal parts of aging or something they simply have to deal with. Often, that’s not the case.

Many people reserve visits to the doctor for times when they’re sick — but if you aren’t proactive about your health, you could be missing out on important preventive care from your physician.

The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) is an annual prevention-focused visit between a patient and a primary care physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant. The visit is offered at no charge to the patient. These visits allow you to discuss with your provider information about your health status, set shared goals, and identify any gaps in care.