How You Can Save on Health Costs

Rising health care costs are one of the biggest reasons many people refrain from getting medical care when they need it.  Medical care costs deter many from doing what is best for their health. The following suggestions will help you spend your health dollars more wisely.

1. Eat proper foods. This is more healthy and less expensive especially if dining out or ordering in is eliminated.  Deleting junk food reduces expenses as well.  Home cooking is better for you and less costly.
2. Keep weight stable. It is the healthy thing to do. This will save on grocery and clothing expenses as well as long term savings on medical expenses.
3. Get prescription medicines in bulk quantity of 100 versus thirty day supply especially if you are paying outright. Buy nonprescription medication in bulk when on sale. You will be amazed at your savings when you buy a six to twelve month supply on sale. This tip is also effective for emergency preparedness.
4. Talk with your doctor by phone, fax, and email to save on the cost of an office visit payment. Just think about the number of office visits you have been to where all you did was talk (after waiting for a long while). This will save your time and money.
5. Monitor blood pressure at home.  Call in, email, or fax your readings to your health care providers. Many doctors will discover that your blood pressure is actually stable when the stress of the doctor's white coat is absent. For diabetics, a home glucometer is very useful for monitoring blood sugar.
6. Maintain healthy lifestyle changes long term.
7. Do routine health maintenance check-ups and testing.  Prevention and early detection have proven cost effective and good for overall health.

Invest in your most important asset - YOU. Maintaining your good health is one of the best ways to prosper into longevity.  Best health!

Screening for Cancer

Screening tests save lives. Talk to your doctor and do your own research on tests you need and how often. What the guidelines suggest and what you need may be different.

Common screening tests for cancer include:

• mammogram and/or MRI for breast cancer
• PAP smear & HPV test for cervical cancer
• stool check for blood (fecal occult blood test, FOBT); colonoscopy, baseline at 50 for colorectal cancer
•  chest X-ray and or CT scan for lung cancer
• complete physical exam, and routine blood tests

Be sure your doctor goes over the test results with you and explains everything. Get all of your questions answered! Timely follow up with your doctor is important to prevent any delays in diagnosis and treatment.

Get a copy of your test results. This will help you understand your diagnosis and make sure all is accurate.  Research your results and diagnosis. Getting a second and sometimes tiebreaker third opinion (because you were told different things by each doctor!) is a reasonable and smart thing to do.  This offers more alternatives and insight enabling you to get the right treatment for you based on facts.

Cancer screening is a healthy thing to do.  If cancer runs in your family, get checked for it early.  Many may dissuade you based on clinical guidelines and cost. Guidelines are recommendations.  The cost for your health is priceless.  Since you are paying for it, get what you deserve and need based on your individual medical history.  The cost of prevention is usually far less than the cost of treating and living with cancer.

Best health!

Family Health: Continuity of Your Care

Your family's health is of utmost importance.  Continuity of care is disrupted all to often due to lack of communication and follow-up.  Make sure your family members have accurate information for each person,  These suggestions will help you continue your health care communication continuous with less stress:

• call your doctor's office, testing center prior to appointment to be sure all is on time as scheduled
• reschedule appointments that are over an hour late especially if it jeopardizes your health conditions (e.g. persons with diabetes, hypertension, arthritis)
• read often on your health condition
• use email, fax, postal mail if unable to reach your doctor by phone
• get copies of your medical records and reports from all doctors you see
• contact your doctors for your test results, specialists reports if you fail to get contacted within 1 week
• tell your doctor what other doctors have told you as these reports often arrive after your visit, if at all

Best health!

Family Health: Abuse Awareness

Family and domestic violence affects many millions of women, children and men worldwide.  More females and children are affected than men.  In 2011 statistics revealed that over 1.5 million women and 800,000 men were involved in intimate partner violence (IPV) in the United States alone.  Studies estimate the lifetime risk for women is an astounding 1 in 4. 

As more accounts of domestic violence are made public, one would think contact for help would be more prevalent as well.  It is in the real world.  Repeated public disclosure (video, discussion of incidents, etc.) with negative implications is less than desirable for anyone especially victims and their families. This lends to more harm than help possibly generating ideas for potential new and recurring events.

Doctors in Florida are required to complete domestic violence course to maintain licensure.  This ensures that anyone who is faced with this situation will get proper guidance and assistance.  Many doctors include questions about this on routine wellness exams.  Help and prevention of further occurrences from qualified medical professionals is of utmost importance.

Domestic violence is a very sensitive issue that affects health and well being.  It is a private matter regardless of those involved. Seeking help is of utmost importance.  Prevention, intervention and early detection are essential.  This can start in the primary care doctor’s office before it escalates to family violence and ER visits. 

Patient safety is a primary concern as is developing a safety plan. Referral to appropriate health care professionals and community-based programs helps patients with the psychological, emotional, and physical aspects of family violence.  Other resources can be found by phone or Internet as follows:

·       National Domestic Violence Hotline

        1-800-799- SAFE (7233)
          www.thehotline.org

·       National Sex Assault Online Helpline

         1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
www.rainn.org/get-help/national-sexual-assault-online-hotline

·       Institute of Safe Families

          www.instituteforsafefamilies.org

·       National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
    www.ncadv.org

·       Academy on Violence & Abuse

          www.avahealth.org

·       American Bar Association

    http://apps.americanbar.org/tips/publicservice/safetipseng.html


Keep you and your family healthy and aware that IPV and family violence is avoidable.  Educate and inform seeking help when it is needed. Abuse be it verbal or physical is harmful and unhealthy.

Asymptomatic Symptomanic Static on Routine Pelvic Exams

Guidelines for pelvic exams in women has been "updated" again.  Avoiding pelvic exams in asymptomatic, non pregnant adult women is the newest "recommended" guideline.  Could this mean that a woman who meets these criteria should refrain from routine exams until she becomes symptomatic and/ or pregnant?  If this were the case, how many women would be left out of possibly being diagnosed with a disease that was indeed asymptomatic until diagnosed on a routine pelvic exam?

In asymptomatic non pregnant females, my diagnoses have included cervical cancer in an 80 year old, ovarian cancer in a 20 year old, massive uterine fibroid tumor in a 40 year old.  The routine pelvic exam was able to detect these malignant and pre-malignant conditions before they became life threatening.  Early detection allowed these ladies to escape the perilous pitfalls of cancer.  In these cases simple surgery was the cure.  They remained asymptomatic and cancer free by continuing with their routine pelvic exam and checkup.

Without symptoms may appear to indicate a disease free state, but often times it reveals disease.  It is up to patients and their health care providers to include routine exams in their health care plan.  Routine can be yearly, every other year or two, or less frequently depending on the patients medical history.  Routine evaluation and assessment is based on each individual.

Routine pelvic exam guidelines are just that, suggested recommendations that should be considered.  For this doctor and many others, especially women, routine pelvic exams will still be part of a well woman visit as deemed necessary.  The schedule is as follows:

• 18 - 20 first pelvic exam, sooner if sexually active and/or symptomatic
• 20 - 60 pelvic exam every year to every other year unless symptomatic
• 60 - life pelvic exam every 2-3 years unless symptomatic

Routine pelvic exams and pelvic/ transvaginal sonograms together offer earlier detection and diagnosis of more gynecological diseases that can be treated effectively before they affect a woman's quality of life.  In addition, they help avoid "all in your head" misdiagnosis, and can be lifesaving.  As for the concern of "false positives" and unnecessary tests...forget about the asymptomatic symptomatic static.  Most abnormal exams and tests can be repeated and followed on a closer routine schedule that may prevent riskier intervention.  Talk with your doctor about what is best for you.  Best health!

Emergency Plan Helps Save Your Health

"Prepare. Plan. Stay informed."

When emergency occurs it is good for you and your family to be prepared and have a plan.  Your contact list should include agencies listed below and the local numbers for your area.  If you have a condition that requires special assistance, many of these agencies have contact information for preparation before an emergency occurs.  For example, most state power and utility companies have special assistance programs for those in need of power to run medical supportive devices.

During an emergency many resources are utilized quickly.  Make your emergency plan a family priority to prevent and avoid unhealthy adverse events.  Best health!

Emergency Contact List

RED CROSS
http://www.redcross.org/
Phone: 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767 / 1-800-257-7575 (Español)

Ready
http://www.ready.gov/
Phone: 1-800- BEREADY (1-800-237-3239)

CDC Emergency Preparedness for Flood, Hurricane, Wildfires and more
http://emergency.cdc.gov/

CDC
http://www.cdc.gov/
Phone: (800) CDC-INFO/(800) 232-4636) TTY (888) 232-6348

National Weather Service
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/
http://www.weather.gov/

NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration)
http://www.noaa.gov/
NOAA in Your State
http://www.legislative.noaa.gov/NIYS0107/noaainyourstate.html

FEMA
http://www.fema.gov/
Disaster Assistance: (800) 621-FEMA, TTY (800) 462-7585

Flood Smart (NFIP - National Flood Insurance Program}
http://www.floodsmart.gov/
Phone: 1- 888-379-9531

National Association of County and City Health Officials
http://www.naccho.org/
local public health resource

National Guard
http://www.nationalguard.com/

Family Health: Guide Yourself to Quality Healthcare

Consumer demand, new drugs and medical technologies, litigation, higher insurance premiums, and other factors have all been fueling rising healthcare costs. At the same time, many patients justifiably feel that medical services have become increasingly impersonal. Too often, quality attention from the proverbial family doctor has been replaced by the “assembly line” approach of faceless bureaucracies. How is a patient to successfully navigate this modern maze of providers, specialists, insurers, and so forth and at the same time get the attention they need to maintain personal (not to mention financial) health? 

Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide
offers an overview of the healthcare system from a different point of view and advises patients on how they can take their health into their own hands by becoming both informed and proactive.

As Dr. Richardson eloquently puts it:

In our society we are accustomed to taking a doctor’s word on the state of our medical condition and treatment whether or not we understand it and either without asking any questions or without getting adequate answers to the questions we might pose. Today that might not be a healthy situation. It is necessary to be informed to get the most from your health plan and to get the best medical care from the medical resources available in the healthcare system. By reading this book, you will find out how to take charge of your most important asset—you.

This philosophical perspective is that the patient, insofar as it is possible, needs to take charge of his or her health care self care. 

The book is structured in a logical, reader-friendly manner, providing overviews of all the major topics related to healthcare, from effective record keeping to obtaining quality health coverage.

The first step toward taking charge of your health is keeping accurate medical records and a medical diary. Patients are offered a detailed overview of how their doctor visit should go educating readers about all the various aspects of a routine physical or checkup.  Patients will recognize whether they are receiving quality, comprehensive care, and will know what they should be getting.  The core philosophy is that knowledge offers patients more health options and better health.  Subsequent chapters educate patients about the importance of preventive checkups, common medical tests, the various kinds of doctors and specialists, and healthcare quality.

Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide is essential knowledge in an easy-to-assimilate large print format bound paperback book (adjustable print on e-books). Readers will walk away from the book with a much clearer idea of what to expect from the healthcare system, and what to do to ensure the preservation of their own health.  Best health!

Family Health: How to Keep Your Health History

Your medical history is the cornerstone of your medical record.

Use it to keep up with your health. Update your medical history often especially as new treatment plans and healthcare issues arise.  Copy and complete the following assessment to keep up with your family's health and medical history. 

MEDICAL HISTORY

 

NAME____________________________

DATE OF BIRTH_____________________________

 

INSURANCE COMPANY___________________

INSURANCE ID #________________________

PHONE______________   FAX__________________

ADDRESS__________________________

CITY_____________STATE___________

ZIP________________COUNTRY__________

EMAIL___________________________

 

PAST MEDICAL HISTORY

ALLERGIES______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

DRUGREACTIONS________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

DIAGNOSES & MEDICAL CONDITIONS (include year diagnosed)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SURGERY/ OPERATIONS (include year done)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

MEDICATIONS (list prescription, over-the-counter, foods, herbs

also write dosage and how often taken)

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PAST MEDICATIONS (list anything you have taken and stopped – note why it was stopped)

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

FAMILY HISTORY (list medical conditions in family members – list ages, list if deceased and reason)

MOTHER____AGE________

LIVING: YES___NO____

FATHER____AGE_________

LIVING: YES___NO____

______________________________________________________________________________________________

SISTERS_____AGES_________

LIVING: YES___NO____
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

BROTHERS __AGES_________

LIVING: YES___NO___

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

GRANDMOTHER (Mother’s mother) AGE__________LIVING: YES___NO___

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

GRANDMOTHER (Father’s mother)  AGE__________LIVING: YES__ NO___

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

GRANDFATHER (Mother’s father)    AGE__________LIVING: YES___NO___

 

GRANDFATHER (Father’s father)    AGE___________LIVING: YES___NO___
______________________________________________________________________________________________

 

OTHER RELATIVES (list any more sisters, brothers, great grandparents, etc. especially those with medical conditions)_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

OTHER MEDICAL TREATMENTS (list any other treatments like prayer, massage, chiropractor, exercise, physical therapy, etc.)___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

SOCIAL HISTORY

Home:  lives alone___ 

             lives with family___

             lives with friend____

             lives in facility_____facility name, address____________________year moved in____________

Marital: Single___Married____Divorced___Widow/Widower_____

Use of cane___ walker___ wheelchair___prosthetic_____

Other___________________________________________

Alcohol consumption: 

   How many times per day/week/year?________________

   How much per drink?____________________________

Cigarette use: Yes___ No___

   How many per day?________

   At what age did you start?_______

Sexual:  Are you active? Yes___No___

Drug use: Yes___ No___

 

OCCUPATIONS/ JOBS/SCHOOLING

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

MY MEDICAL NOTES

Use extra page to list any other medical history

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Your Choice: Medication or Food?

As health care costs rise everyone is looking for ways to save and cut costs. Recent studies and polls reveal that many are foregoing their medicine for other necessities of life like food and shelter.  Patient compliance has dropped to a new low.  Patients are taking their medication as needed when their budget allows.  This means less to none on a daily basis. Many are finding this indeed saves money, and possibly affects their health outcome minimally.

As food is the sustenance of life, many are making healthier choices.  This helps their medical maladies as well.  For hypertension and diabetes proper food choices can often alleviate the need for “stronger” treatment with medication. As more patients learn about dietary management and adhere to it, they find that they can indeed save money.

Talk to your healthcare provider if you are noncompliant with your medication because of the cost, or side effects that may cause other conditions requiring more medication, more money.  Be sure to get formal diet and nutrition counseling.  This will help make the right choices when you shop for food.  Contrary to popular myth, healthy food is actually affordable.  Shop smart to save your money and your health!     

How To Connect With Your Inner Doctor - You

Studies and common sense have shown that doctors who listen to their patients receive the proper care and diagnosis over 90% of the time.  Self care is very important as are routine check ups on yourself. It is time for you to take responsibility for your health. It is time for you to know what your health numbers are. It is time for you to know your medical conditions, risk factors, and family medical history.

Give yourself a medical checkup. Start by writing or typing or recording your medical history - medical conditions, surgery, treatments, family history. Add your medication. Save it. Update it. Add to it. Correct it. Keep it current. Keep a copy in a secure place.

Examine as much of yourself as you can. Look at your skin, hair, nails, eyes, teeth, and every part of your body that is visible to you. Make note of any abnormalities. Make note of any symptoms you have - new, old and ongoing. Go through each body system. Add this information to your medical history.

Add to this your doctors' and health care providers' names, phone number, land address, and email address.

Call your doctor for an appointment for a comprehensive CPE (complete physical exam).  Get it done routinely (yearly, every other year, etc. ). Take your information and notes with you on your appointment. Review everything with your doctor. Take notes.

Sign a medical record release to obtain a copy of your medical record from each doctor you see at the time of the visit.

Be sure to schedule a follow-up appointment within a month or less to go over everything with your doctor. Get copies of your information including blood tests, and any other tests as well as medical notes.

Take charge. Care for your health is good health care. Be the healthiest you can be. Best health!

Details on all of the above are explained simply in Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide http://amzn.to/13m51UU 
 

Sun Safety Saves Your Skin

The incidence of melanoma is rising.  Cancer statistics estimate that the incidence doubles every 10 to 20 years.  It is one of several skin cancers that may result from repeated exposure to harmful ultraviolet radiation (UVR), natural (sun) or artificial (tanning bed, phototherapy lamp). UVA, UVB, and UVC rays cause irreparable skin damage which leads to wrinkles, premature aging, and pre-cancerous lesions. Sunburn during childhood as well as frequent bouts of sunburn increase the risk, too.

Of course total avoidance of the sun would be ideal; however, it is a good source of natural Vitamin D, and should be taken in moderation. Avoiding the painful peril of sunburn is one of the best ways to prevent skin cancer.  Simple, easy ways to do this are:

• Limit sun exposure – avoid 10AM to 4PM, spend less than one hour in direct sun - less if burn easily, prone to skin cancer.
• Wear protective clothing – wide brim hats, long sleeves, long pants, skirts and/ or clothes made with sun protection fabric.
• Umbrella and shade.
• Use sunscreen SPF 15 or greater. Put on every hour if sweating or swimming. Put on every area exposed to sun, and be sure to remember behind the ears and on the neck. Stay well hydrated by drinking lots of water.
• Be aware of medication that you take that causes photosensitivity (medication interacts with the light to induce sunburn).

Symptoms of sunburn include redness and pain over the skin (even through clothes especially if wet).  This may be accompanied by fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, and blistering. Seek medical attention as soon as possible. Use of cool compresses/bath/shower, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), hydration, and rest should help ease symptoms of mild sunburn.  Oatmeal baths, milk baths, aloe vera plant/products and honey are also useful.

Best health!

by J. L. Richardson, MD, family practice physician, patient advocate, and author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.

Free Prescription: Lifestyle Changes

Behavior modification takes time as most good things do. Studies show that this is a sure way to attain and maintain excellent health. Changing your behavior is safe, inexpensive and free from side effects that you might get from medication. Lifestyle changes that result from behavior modification become habit especially as you feel and see the health benefits.

Exercise and healthy eating are two of the easiest ways you can make your behavior count towards your health. For instance, home preparation of meals makes it easier to select healthy choices. The focus is to eat the proper foods that nourish and heal.  Likewise, exercise keeps the body in motion and less susceptible to pain. Walking and stretching benefit the body as much as an expensive gym membership.  The more you can do in your home or at your home is probably better.  This also provides less stress which is good for mental health.

 

Give your body and mind what it deserves.  Modify your behavior to help yourself attain better health and fitness.  Use your free prescription freely.

 

Best health!

Family Doctors: Your Primary Health Care Source

The family physician cares for the whole person and the whole family. Training in this specialty teaches one to care for all aspects of the patient no matter what age, sex, or illness. The Family Physician’s Creed is:

I am a Family Physician, one of many across this country. This is what I believe: You, the patient, are my first professional responsibility, whether man, woman or child, ill or well, seeking care, healing or knowledge. You and your family deserve high quality, affordable health care including treatment, prevention and health promotion. I support access to health care for all. The specialty of family practice trains me to care for the whole person, physically and emotionally, throughout life, working with your medical history and family dynamics, coordinating your care with other physicians when necessary. This is my promise to you.

Because of their versatility, family doctors are excellent primary care physicians. They are able to diagnose and treat many different problems and refer to specialists when needed. They provide continuous routine medical and preventive healthcare. Family doctors may also perform minor surgical procedures in the office. These may include excision of small skin lesions such as warts, opening drainage of a small abscess, and even suturing (sewing up) minor lacerations like cuts. In addition, some also take additional training to perform procedures such as a colonoscopy.

Everyone should have a family doctor as their primary health care source and resource.  You will be guaranteed the most comprehensive care and compassion you deserve. Join the Family Medicine revolution!

Best health!

Obesity: One Big Eating Saga Is Taking You

Obesity affects more children and adults than ever before. About one-third of the world's people are overweight enough to be considered unhealthy. It is a risk factor for more serious health conditions like hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and more. Body mass index (BMI) is an indicator of obesity. BMI is calculated from your weight and height. You are considered obese if your BMI is over 30. Research shows that you can reduce your risk of concurrent health conditions and potential associated risks by losing weight.

You can prevent obesity as well as control the one big eating saga primarily responsible for the cause. Portion control and exercise are the main ways you can keep your weight in a healthy range. Choosing healthy foods is also a way to keep the pounds off. Strict attention to these factors alone will help you maintain instead of gain.  Check with your doctor for further resources including a registered dietitian, nutritionist, and formal exercise training.  Make healthy eating and exercise part of your life routine.

Best health!

Father's Day Health Checkup

"If I had known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself." — Mickey Mantle

Statistics show that men are less likely than women to get routine health checkups and physical exams. Men are more likely to seek medical attention when there is an acute problem, and once that has resolved not until another acute problem. Part of the reason for this is lack of health education. Men are also more prone to the "this can't be happening to me" syndrome. Is ignorance truly bliss? Short term, maybe. Long term, no.

So what's a fella to do? Make a yearly checkup routine. Do it around your birthday or holiday like Father's Day or Christmas as a gift to yourself (your most important asset!). In addition to a complete medical history (be sure to take your notes and questions http://bit.ly/122ZEeF) and physical exam, there are other things your doctor should do. This includes:

• complete blood panel including a PSA (prostate specific antigen) if over 40 or have a history of prostate cancer in your family - please note that PSA screening is very controversial as to if it should be done and should be discussed at length with your doctor as this test does save lives
• EKG, baseline at first physical then every 2-3 years - yearly if over 50, have risk factors such as smoking, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, increased cholesterol, family history of heart disease
• cardiac screening by a cardiologist if any signs or symptoms of heart disease especially if there is a family history of heart attack, angina
• colon cancer screening with stool guaiac cards - stool samples are placed on these and returned to your doctor who checks for blood (this should be done when a rectal exam is performed, but if for some reason it is not, be sure to get these cards)
• colonoscopy, baseline at 50, sooner if stool positive for occult blood or gross rectal bleeding, weight loss, stomach symptoms
• mental health assessment

Be sure to include regular visits to the dentist, and optometrist or ophthalmologist (eye doctor).

Best health, guys!

by J.L. Richardson, M.D., family medicine doctor and author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.

Health News Anemia

Have you noticed that there is a health news deficiency in television programming? In 24 hours of TV observance, mostly redundant repetition, health news rarely got repeated or even mentioned. In addition, health stories seemed to stem from some person's misfortune rather than their health challenge. As many times as the story is repeated, rarely, if ever, is there a clue about what you could do if it happened to you.

Within a 24 hour period health commercials comprised more health information than actual broadcasts.  If you wanted to know about the daily health news like the current blood shortage or the worldwide Ebola outbreak, you will hear about it from someone, or read about it on line before it becomes old news on TV, if at all.

Of course there are newsworthy things going on in health and medicine - everyday. Drug recalls, disease outbreaks, new disease research, and public health hazards infect our communities daily. Local news may mention it, and is more likely to carry health news you can actually use as well as local resources to help you out.

Medical information on TV is limited and stagnating. Sixty seconds on the news. Two minutes on the talk show after commercials on prescription medication. Outdated show on this channel, and outdated repeat on that channel in between the new show. Watch some on this channel then click and click to different channels to connect your medical news for today. Channel surfing can become quite cumbersome with a low yield within 24 hours. Excluding taped health shows the daily intermittent health news infusion averages less than one hour.

Health and medical coverage on TV is surely lacking in this consumer driven health conscious society. We can watch as much sports, cartoons, movies, news as we want, but we still have to piece together our medical news and supplement it with the written word, and spoken word of health care providers. Solution: health channels. The television is one of the most used sources by which folks get their news and information. It is certainly a way to get and give health information. The most used information source is one of the least used for health and medicine in general.  Dedicated health channels and more daily health news would make us even healthier and richer. Transfuse STAT!

Home Health Testing

Getting access to your doctor or health service may be a greater challenge than your health problems these days.  More patients are turning to home health care, treatment and diagnosis.  Preliminary self diagnosis aids are as close as the Internet and the corner drugstore.  DIY medical test kits are accurate and may aid your doctor in the final diagnosis.  Studies show that home testing may save your health, time, and money by making a correct diagnosis and starting treatment sooner.  Home health tests help many find answers to your healthcare concerns quickly and conveniently in the privacy of your home.

Home health testing is a mega billion dollar business which is an indication of their popularity and use. Many reliable test products crowd retail and drug store shelves across the world.  These tests enable you to screen, monitor, and/or diagnose yourself. 

As good as it may sound, DIY home testing is not a replacement for professional health care especially if the symptoms worsen or persist.  Once you have positive tests consult with your doctor or other health provider.  Get the tests repeated along with the others your doctor gets.  If a health care provider ignores your request, get another, or check at independent facilities that do testing for you.

 

Prevention Requires Less Intervention

Prevention and early detection are important for your health and wellness.  Routine check ups are shown to improve overall health while requiring less medical intervention and treatments.  Done on a "routine" basis means just that - in a consistent manner based on your health profile.  As one gets older, or if one has chronic disease they may become  more frequent than every few years.  As you prepare to see your doctor you will find that Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide is the ideal reference book to inform you about what checkups and tests you may need for prevention intervention.

This Writer's Digest International Self-Published Book Award winner informs patients about basic medical care. By reading this how-to reference book you will learn:

• how to keep a medical diary
• how to get your medical records
• how to document your complete medical history
• what the physical exam should include
• about preventive tests and when to get them
• about tests your doctor orders
• about specialists and other medical providers
• about health care plans and coverage
• how to seek quality health services

Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide is on Kindle, and can be borrowed via the Kindle Owner's Lending Library.

High Blood Pressure (HBP)

High blood pressure, also called hypertension affects 1 in 3 adults. Do you know your numbers? Do you what a normal reading is? Optimal is 120/80.  More precise classification is as follows:

  Normal 120-129/80-84

  High normal 130-139/85-89

  Mild 140-159/90-99

  Moderate 160-179/100-109

  Severe over 180/110

For more accurate measures of your blood pressure and what affects it consider home blood pressure monitoring. Buy a blood pressure monitor for home use. Wrist and arm monitors are available at retail stores, drugstores, and local medical supply stores.

Record your blood pressure readings daily starting with morning, midday, and night. Make a note of your activity and how you are feeling. You may notice that extreme anxiety makes it go up. The correlation to your pressure will help you manage the things that make it go up. Share your results with your doctor so medication and lifestyle changes can be made if necessary.

You may find that while your blood pressure is high in the doctor's office, it may be normal in everyday activity. Remember, the doctor's result is a one time reading every one to four or more months. With normal home results, and high results at your doctor visits you may have "white coat" hypertension http://bit.ly/1cGaeMj . There is much controversy over whether this should be treated. Check with your cardiologist.

If your blood pressure is borderline at 130/85, you want o start a low salt diet. The best is the DASH diet (http://bit.ly/hnbsL). Exercise, weight control, and stress reduction are other things to include in your treatment plan. For higher blood pressure readings over 140/90, medication may be necessary. Take your home blood pressure results in to your doctor. This will help in deciding on the best treatment for you.


by J.L. Richardson, MD, author of the Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.

No Insurance or Cash, No Medical Care

Doctors today are faced with so many issues that divert their attention from their patients. One of these is payment for services.  If a patient has no health insurance, cash or credit card, that patient will go without, or seek medical care at the ER and pay later. As physicians are faced with so many diversions like increasing patient visits and "paper work" (computer, phones, etc.) primarily associated with insurance issues, many are taking cash only.  Cash only secures immediate payment without paper pushing.  This decreases overhead as well because less staff is needed.  More doctors are finding this the preferred way to do business. 

Patients with insurance are already finding that some doctors are not taking any insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid.  Why?  Reimbursement rates for their services are getting less each year thereby decreasing overall income, and profit to run their office. The overwhelming amount of “paper work” is taking more time and often requires more staff.  Without this more time is spent in patient care.  This is what most doctors find rewarding – more time with patient care and doing what they do best, taking care of their patients.

Yes, you must pay to see your doctor and other health care providers, but how you pay may determine the availability.  Cash allows you to see who you want to see.  Health insurance usually has provider networks of who they want you to see.  Should you want to see an out of network doctor that you know, or feel would be better for you, you still have to pay for services rendered.  Even with health insurance cash/ credit is required for deductibles and co-payments.

The bottom line remains, no cash or health insurance, no medical care.  At least with health insurance, you are covered especially if a major medical malady occurs like surgery http://bit.ly/1hwqnpX or chronic disease.  If you have the cash you’re covered.  If not, get covered.  Great health is true wealth.

Best health! http://amzn.to/13m51UU