Reading For Your Health

Read. Read some more. The good healthy feeling that comes from reading is a natural healer and wellness booster.  Like eating nutritious foods, reading good books enhances your health.  Your body, mind, and spirit reap benefits.  Your body is at one of its most relaxed states of rest when you are reading even for last minute midterms!  Reading is actually one of the best natural stress relievers available.  It nourishes the mind in so many healthy ways.  This in turn nourishes the body and spirit.

Research shows that readers are more likely to have better health and better health outcomes just from reading.  Of course, it only makes sense that reading about basic health and your health concerns contributes to that. Educating yourself through the written word allows you the opportunity to make the best health choices for you.  You can become your own precision medicine specialist!

Make reading a daily exercise throughout the day.  Read different sources of content that interest you.  Find more topics you have little knowledge in and read about them.  The learning and fulfillment gained is enough to increase your pleasure, teach you something, and promote wellness when you read.  Read.  Read some more.  Best health!

HEALTH INSURANCE PRICES RISING

Your health insurance price is going higher.  Since July 2015 there have been reports of health insurance premiums rising in 2016.   Prices have risen by 25 per cent or more with many health insurance plans.  It may actually be cheaper to be uninsured especially if you are healthy and stay that way.  Since the Affordable Care Act took effect in 2014, insurance premiums are on the rise again.  If deductibles are included, it resembles prices of yesteryear.  The premium may be less, but adding the deductible balances out to about the same yearly amount as before the health law was passed. 

With premiums likely to rise as much as 25% again next year this could set the stage for more uninsured as patients find they may be able to do better without insurance. The 2016 yearly penalty imposed if one declines to be insured by a health plan is $695 per adult and $347.50 per child but can be no more than $2085 per family or 2.5% of family yearly taxable income.  This increased over 50% from $325 and $162.50 respectively in 2015 with total to be no more than $925 or 2% of yearly taxable income. In 2014 when the Affordable Care Act went into effect the penalty started at $95 per adult and $47.50 per child with total to be no more than $285 or 1% of yearly taxable income. 

Many are paying between $200 to over $1000/ month for “affordable” health insurance.  If health care could be attained at less than $2085 a year, could it be to your advantage to opt of health insurance coverage and pay the health premium penalty? The choice is yours to make for health coverage.  With or without it, price increases continue. Though it may appear cheaper and healthier to be uninsured it may be more risky.  One unexpected consultant visit or diagnostic test can easily exceed $2085 for the year! 

If you are without any major illnesses or chronic disease, and have a healthy genetic predisposition, do you really need health insurance?  Should you save your money in a medical fund until you need it instead of having health insurance?  There are folks doing this, and they are spending less on their medical care than the price of what health insurance would cost.  Many are able to afford their medicines (if they are taking any) and other treatments as well as routine screening tests that may be needed.  Their own health savings account is their “insurance”.  Saving enough money for your health care is difficult because health changes as unexpected health challenges arise especially with aging. 


Should you have health insurance?  Do you have enough money in your budget for health insurance and/or a health savings account? It is prudent to have some type of coverage solely because your health is so important.  Health insurance is prevention intervention as well as diagnosis and treatment coverage.   As more insurance companies focus on wellness and prevention, more services are covered at much less than what you will pay for them yourself. Health insurance benefits do seem to give you more bang for your buck and your body.
The choices for your personal health maintenance are there.  Health insurance is important like home and car insurance.  You are your most important asset.  To keep the car and house  while maintaining financial stability, you must stay in good health.  Find a plan to fit your needs medically and financially.  Even if you have health insurance, unless it's the "gold" plan you will most likely have to pay some out of pocket as well (deductibles, copays, full pays for services not covered).  Saving your health can help save your money. Best health!

10th ANNIVERSARY PATIENT HANDBOOK TO MEDICAL CARE THANK YOU

This year marks the tenth anniversary since publication of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.  Thank you all for reading my book and nine year old blog.  This book was written to help each and every one of you for we all are patients at some time in our lives.  The primary intent and purpose for writing Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide was to help patients learn the basics involved in seeing your doctor and healthcare providers.  It was far too much to tell in a short office visit so I decided to write it down and self-publish!
Since 2006 publication, Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide has become available in many libraries and bookstores (on and off line). There is a Kindle e-book with plans for the audible version.  The blog has been viewed by so many!  Book giveaways, sales, and blog reads are an indication of the patient interest in health facts and information. Health literacy improves your health care in all ways. It helps you make the right choices for you and your family.

Again much thanks to you all! Best health!

Dementia Risk and Prevention

Findings from a 40 year research study found that dementia is decreasing.  The average age of occurrence, if ever, has risen from 80 t0 85.   As you get older, your chances of developing dementia increase.  Age and inheritance are two of the strongest known risk factors.  Cardiovascular risk is also associated with increased risk as are diabetes, tobacco use, and many other factors.

Of the 40 million plus people in the United States over 65 years of age (about 560 million worldwide), about 5.2 million have some type of dementia.  In the United States this is expected to double or more by 2050.  Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia.  Other types include: vascular, Lewy body, Huntington’s disease, dementia secondary to disease (e.g. Parkinson’s disease, HIV, multiple sclerosis) or trauma (usually repeatedly like sports head injury in football, boxing), nutritional deficiencies, medication induced, inherited forms, and many more. 

Signs and symptoms of dementia include memory problems, decreased cognitive ability, and decreased physical activity whereby activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, eating, household chores, etc.) may require assistance. Personality changes like agitation, inattentiveness and irritability are common.  Dementia diagnosis begins with a thorough history (of patient and family) and physical examination including blood tests.  Brain scans (MRI, CT, PET) are important in helping make the diagnosis.  Neurologic evaluation by a certified neurologist is also indicated for suspected dementia.    
Treatment includes behavioral, occupational, and physical therapy as well as medication. In some cases such as medication induced dementia from vitamin deficiency or low thyroid levels after proper medication is given.  If a drug is the cause, it will resolve by stopping the medicine. Dementia drugs can lessen the symptoms of cognitive decline, in spite of the fact that disease will usually continue to progress. Regular exercise has been shown to do improve function, also.

Preventive measures include:

• Nutritious food especially those aimed at brain health
• Physical movement and exercise
• Restful sleep
• Daily routine to include self care, meals, etc. at same time
• Intellectual stimulation like reading, conversation, brain exercises, music
• Social activities especially with family, friends
• Avoidance of smoking, too much alcohol
• Good maintenance of high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and any other diseases you may have
• Prayer and meditation

As dementia progresses, it can debilitate to the point of total disability and lack of all function to the point where care must be provided by others full time.  This is usually done in the comfort of their home, or in a fully supervised care facility.   Caregivers in the home setting may include family, friends, and hired health care providers that may be necessary.  Caregivers are very important in dementia care. They provide most of the care necessary to keep the patient functional. 

Keep your brain and body as healthy as possible in an effort to prevent dementia.  It may be decreasing, but as we live longer the likelihood increases.  Best health!

Mobile Healthcare:Telemedicine Telehealth

If you could visit your doctor 24/7 how much money and time could you save?  Telemedicine healthcare makes this possible.  Telemedicine makes virtual reality a reality as real as visiting your doctor in the office.  Through your smart phone, tablet or computer you can make a doctor visit.  No travel time. No wait time. Just quality doctor time.

Telemedicine is a billion dollar business that is becoming a trend in our connected world of convenience and crucial time management.  It entails the use of electronic communications to monitor and improve a patient’s health status.  In addition to saving money for patients and all providers (including insurance companies, hospitals, clinics), there is better access for everyone. Studies have shown that overall quality of care improves as patients are given more of the attention they deserve to make their healthcare experience more beneficial. .  It is helpful for patients in remote areas with limited or no transportation and those with chronic conditions that limit their ability to make an in person office visit.   

As telehealth develops, doctors and patients will find even greater access with connectivity via personal electronic health devices and applications (apps, for short).  Telemonitoring allows patient and doctor to check and follow together such parameters as blood pressure, blood sugar, and much more in real time together.  If that noon time blood sugar is too high, your doctor can be aware and advise accordingly at the time of occurrence instead of on the next appointment in 2 weeks.  This alone saves the patient’s health as well as travel time, office visit wait time, and the money to do all of this.  It potentially avoids an emergency room visit and hospital admission. 

In addition to patient care, doctors are able to communicate in a more timely, efficient manner with other doctors and health facilities.  The CT scan you had this morning is can be viewed by your doctor within minutes after completion instead of days after. Mobile collaboration allows your doctor to discuss your health case with other healthcare professionals like specialists (in the same or different locations) to determine the plan for your care.  This can actually happen the same day a test is done!  This eliminates delays in care that could be life threatening to a patient. 

As costs for telemedicine access decrease and more insurance companies/plans reimburse, it will become the portal of choice for many patients, doctors, and other healthcare providers.  Your doctor visit time can be more about you at your convenience in your home.  Best health!