The economy and souring medical costs are affecting millions of Americans. More than ever, employer-sponsored health insurance is becoming too expensive or unavailable. Even when Americans do have health insurance, some have a hard time finding a family doctor. According to a report given at the American Medical Association annual meeting, by 2025, the U.S. will have a shortage of 35,000 to 40,000 primary care doctors. Doctors want to leave their practice because of too much insurance and government red tape and they are losing money.
Even with employer-sponsored health insurance, our family medical deductible was $3000 per year. Our flexible spending account helped to cover some of those costs, but we found ourselves not going to the doctor and not filling prescriptions as ways to cut medical costs. One thing we did this year to reduce our medical expenses and focus more on health prevention and wellness than on illness was to switch our employer sponsored insurance from a PPO to an HMO. My monthly prescriptions for generic forms of Lipitor (Simvastatin) and Synthroid (Levothyroxin) went from $50 per month to $4.00 per month for both medications. Ask your doctor about generic forms of your medications.
Here is a monthly health and wellness calendar with links to health and wellness resources for you to plan your New Year’s resolution action items to take care of your health:
In some locations, you can get paid to give blood. The extra cash comes in handy if you need to buy some medications or pay for that doctor’s visit. In the United States, one person every two seconds needs blood. You can give blood every 56 days and it normally takes about 15 minutes.
February
American Heart Month
www.americanheart.org
High blood pressure is something most people don’t know they have and yet it is the number one preventable risk factor for stroke. High blood pressure is hereditary and can be predisposed in certain races. If you have high blood pressure, taking and/or mixing certain medications and over-the-counter diet pills, weight loss products, and diet supplements without your doctor’s approval can be fatal. To help control your blood pressure, eat less fat and salt, exercise, stop drinking, and stop smoking.
Type 2 diabetes runs in my family, so I am particularly careful about eating sugar in my diet. I have my sugar checked regularly along with my Thyroid function, and I try to keep my weight down, although this is harder to do after reaching age 50 when your metabolism slows down. If you want to plan your personalized healthy eating schedule for FREE, just enter some height and weight information at www.mypyramid.gov sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture. Not only will you help prevent the onset of diabetes, which is hereditary, you could also reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke by changing your eating habits.
April
Cancer Awareness Month
www.cancer.gov
The National Cancer Institute provides A-Z information about all kinds of cancers. You can find the latest cancer research studies, facts and statistics about different kinds of cancer by select groupings, and additional resources for the treatment and risk reduction for certain types of cancer.
May
Healthy Vision Month
www.aoa.org
You should have your eyes examined at least every two years or more often if your doctor recommends it. There are many ways to protect your vision like wearing sunglasses, using a non-glare screen on your computer monitor, wearing safety goggles during sports or around hazardous work environments, and using adequate lighting while reading.
June is the time for you to do some home safety evaluations and some home safety precautionary action steps. Repair guardrails and patio railings that are lose or rotting. Make sure slippery surfaces are covered with non-skid tape. Keep you home, garage, closets, sheds, and play areas like yards, free of hazardous debris and chemicals that are within reach of children. Place a screen over pool drains so children’s hair does not get sucked in and tangled in the drain. Replace the batteries and light bulbs in nightlights, fire alarms, and flashlights. For more home safety tips, visit the web site above.
Did you know that one American dies every hour from skin cancer? http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/basic_info/
The SunWise Program offered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency includes classroom, school, and community education materials to help the public learn about sun safety. The SunWise Program also includes downloadable versions of movies and scripts produced by The Weather Channel that explain the health hazards and risks to people that expose themselves to high levels of the sun’s UV radiation.
August
Immunization Awareness Month
www.cdc.gov/vaccines
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regularly publishes a vaccine schedule for infants, children, teens, young adults, older adults, travelers, and vaccines needed for adverse safety events. Optional vaccines, like the vaccine for the prevention of cervical cancer, are also explained at the CDC web site above.
September
Take A Loved One to the Doctor Month
Grandparents Day September 13
www.hhs.gov
As people age, it becomes more difficult to remember and explain health and wellness concerns with their doctor. It also becomes difficult to elderly people to understand any instructions their doctor is giving them. Take time to help an elderly loved one by writing down questions they have for their doctor. Accompany them to the doctor and keep a journal of the doctor’s instructions written in simple language. Keep your elderly loved one’s doctor contact information on the refrigerator or by the phone in case your loved one needs to call with additional questions.
Did you know that you should start taking your child to the dentist at around age one? Your teeth are the only part of the human body that if taken care of, will not deteriorate. Ask your dentist about sealant applications to protect the chewing surfaces of your child’s teeth. Also learn about baby bottle tooth decay, which occurs when teeth are exposed to sugar-containing liquids for long periods of time.
Diabetes in children is a national crisis. If your child has any of the following type 2 diabetes symptoms, you should see your family doctor right away:
The holidays are always a stressful time of year. Whether you suffer from stress, anxiety, depression, or a variety of other health and wellness disorders that interfere with your holiday season, you can get help. Remember to take some extra time for yourself each day during the holiday season. Do something that is only for you. Do not plan more than you can accomplish. Plan healthy meals and snacks over the holidays. If you need additional information about ways to handle stress, visit the American Psychological Association link above and talk to your family doctor.
