We all know we need to take care of ourselves when we are sick. But, what about taking care of ourselves when we aren’t sick? With healthcare costs spiraling out of control, taking charge of your wellness is one of the easiest things you can do to save money and regain a sense of power in relation to your health.
In Dr. Sanjay Gupta's CNN blog, Miriam Falco talks about the need for preventative medicine and what we can do to help keep ourselves healthy. Her recommendations, which come from the Partnership for Prevention group, include getting screened for colon cancer and getting a yearly flu shot. She also says “less than half of Americans who should be taking aspirin daily to prevent heart disease do so. If that number went up to 90 percent, 45,000 additional lives would be saved – at a cost of pennies a day.”
Preventing Chronic Disease
According to a study by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, “40 percent of the candidates on the waitlist for organ transplantation [in 2004] . . . had a primary diagnosis of a preventable chronic condition.” These “preventable chronic conditions” included Type 2 Diabetes, hepatitis, emphysema and cirrhosis. The point is that 40 percent of people who were sick enough to need an organ transplant could have prevented it.
And preventing these diseases does not have to include numerous yearly visits to the doctor’s office or expensive medical testing. There are many things that we can do that do not require any medical attention whatsoever. If you are exercising and eating right you are more likely to have a healthy body weight, which reduces your risk for diabetes and other chronic conditions. If you quit smoking you will significantly reduce your risk for developing lung cancer. If you put on sunscreen before you head out the door each morning you will be protecting your body from the harmful rays that can cause skin cancer; the list is endless.
Other things include drinking 6-8 glasses of water each day, exercising regularly and eating healthy foods. I know you’ve heard these things a thousand times, but the truth is that small changes do make a big difference. If you start drinking more water each day your body will feel more hydrated and you will have more energy throughout the day. With your newfound energy you will be more motivated to be active and exercise, and once you start exercising you will be more likely to make healthy eating choices. It really is like a domino effect.
It is simple: the healthier you are the less money you have to spend on healthcare. So why not skip that soda you were about to open, and grab a glass of ice water instead? Remember, the little things count too!
