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!

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!

Heart Health Check List

Heart disease and high blood pressure are leading causes of many health issues today.  High blood pressure (hypertension) affects about 1 in 3 people worldwide.  Studies have shown that screening and prevention can change this to healthier hearts.  As one gets routine physical check-ups for the entire body, the same should be done for the heart.

Basic check your heart list:
___Heart and vascular exam by health care provider
___Blood pressure*, pulse, weight, height
___EKG

For further evaluation, especially if symptoms are present, and/ or a strong family history of heart and vascular disease see a cardiologist for more testing.

Tests may include:
___Doppler echocardiogram (checks heart valves, size, etc.)
___Stress test - nuclear, doppler or exercise (heart function)
___Heart MRI scan (artery disease)
___Interventional studies like cardiac catherization, angiogram (checks artery blockage, valves)

Help your heart and overall health with these tips:

1. Maintain a healthy weight.
2. Eat healthy small portions.
3. Exercise regularly - every little bit counts! Just do it regularly.
4. Keep blood pressure* under control.
5. Keep stress level low.
6. Get adequate sleep.
7. Take an aspirin a day if in a high risk group. Check with your health care provider.

*Add home blood pressure checks to your list.  It will help you and your heart!  http://mypatienthandbook.blogspot.com/2009/03/high-blood-pressure-home-checks_21.html

Best health!

Healthcare Deja Vu Come True?

As health care access decreases and costs increase, we must look ahead to improving it for everyone.  In 2011 employers paid an average of $11,000 for employees and their families, while yearly insurance premiums rose from $13,000 to $15,000.  The following is an excerpt from "Building an American Healthcare System" released in 2002 when the average premium paid by employers was $6500. While proposing ways to decrease cost and access, one is able to see that good healthcare can be deja vu come true.

One stop shopping for medical care is in order. By having more clinics, easy access to care will help people to get what they need in a timely manner. Waiting to see the doctor is one of the reasons our health care is out of control. The Public Health facilities will be a setting in which health care providers will employed and compensated as in the private sector. It will be just as prestigious to work for the Public Health as the private sector. In addition, permanent protection of physician incomes can be guaranteed by the government much like the recent ruling in Britain (British Medical Journal, April 5, 2003). The concept of second rate, low paying health care for the low income associated with Public Health Service must be changed and amplified. We must be proud to work for our country’s health system, and to obtain top notch health services! In this set up, the uninsured are insured and objectives of the Fair Care to the Uninsured Act of 2003 will be met. This is very important. Those without insurance are sicker, die younger and receive less care for many conditions. The risk of illness increases the longer one is without insurance.


More emphasis from the USPHS for education, prevention and screening, eldercare, disabled care, chronic condition care/ chronic multisystem illness (CMI), health awareness, and education is needed. The Public Health clinic will evolve from the barely visible building or little trailer in the field to highly visible, easily accessible structures. Vacant malls and warehouse buildings can be bought and transformed to mini-medical facilities that provide it all. Pre-existing clinics in the area can be merged, or remain as satellite facilities. The goal is to have health care at every corner much like the neighborhood convenience store. The era for traveling 100 miles to your doctor, waiting half a day or more only to spend the average 5 minutes with your health care provider must cease.

Minnesota has set up a system that covered about 95% of its residents under 65 in 2001 (86% in 2000). It uses government and private insurance together to achieve insurability.  "Approaching Universal Coverage: Minnesota’s Health Insurance Plans" by Debra Chollet & Lori Achman of Mathematica Research Policy, Inc.states that it has been successful at serving "all populations in need at all levels of income". Coverage is included for the "medically uninsurable" like the person with chronic multisytem disease, or pre-existing conditions. Its GAMC and MA plans includes coverage for expenses that occurred in the 3 months prior to application, and do not have premiums or co-pays. Minnesota's programs have been, or are currently used in other states, and can be used to help lay the foundation for health care uniformity. The Commonwealth Fund has several publications that look at other states' health systems, and universal health coverage.

The effort to consolidate the American health system is a priority. Karen Davis' summary, "Time to Change: The Hidden Cost of a Fragmented Health Insurance System", states that the present system "is not up to the challenge of ensuring a healthy and productive nation because it is 'fragmented' ". The focus of her summary exemplifies how lack of uniform health services costs more with less results.


Attention must also be placed on employer health provisions.  In 2002 companies spent an average of $6500 per person for health care. This does not include the patients' out of pocket payment for services. The pages of uncovered services listed in many insurance handbooks grows longer. About 41 million employed by small business pay directly for services at prices compatible with the Medicare and Medicaid models. Through the leadership of the Public Health Service all businesses are uninsured primarily because it is unaffordable. Congress is presently looking at a concept called an Association Health Plan (AHP) as part of the Small Business Health Fairness Act. This would allow small business owners to offer large corporation health discounts. It would also be uniform nationwide. The AHP is in use in some states, and has come and gone in some. Last year 16 states closed down 48 AHP plans. This would be a great opportunity to "phase in" national coverage. As employer health programs are phased out, patients should be offered the option to obtain national insurance. Each person preventive and screening will be done without charge. Eventually this will lead to a healthier people, and health system at a much lower cost.

  

Health Education Affects Your Health & Care

Care systems can be set up based on the prevalence of disease and proven preventive measures. For instance, heart disease kills about 1 million/ year, and about 1.5 million hospitalizations occur as a result. We can build on existing programs that focus on guidelines and evidence-based data for the most prevalent conditions, and implement them in our clinics. The USPSTF is dedicated to this type of service. The USPSTF recently found evidence that early detection (with bone density tests), and treatment of osteoporosis in women without symptoms reduced the risk of fractures. Globally speaking, the recent World Cancer Report by WHO has found that cancer may rise by 50% by 2020. One third of these can be prevented. That is very significant! The following table lists (British Medical Journal, March 29, 2003) the costliest conditions to treat.

The 15 costliest treatments (and number of people with diagnosis) in 1997 Heart disease $58bn (17 million) Cancer $46bn (9 million) Trauma $44bn (37 million) Mental disorders $30bn (20 million) Diabetes $20bn (10 million) Hypertension $18bn (27 million) Cerebrovascular disease $16bn (2 million) Osteoarthritis $16bn, (16 million) Pneumonia $16bn (4 million) Back problems $13bn (13 million) Kidney disease $10bn (2 million) Endocrine disorders $10bn (18 million) Skin disorders $9bn (20 million) Infectious diseases $6bn (16 million)

Alongside the USPHS is the HHS which has in place the ACHI, Association for Community Health Improvement. This group focuses on communities
networking together for better health. It is in 42 states (D.C. and Canada), and is composed of people from different areas of medicine. This is a valuable resource to use in developing health system uniformity because it is almost nationwide, at the local community level, and very diversified. HHS has 300 programs that help in "protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services". The Medicare program is the largest health insurer in the nation. In April 2003 HHS had a national
summit, "Steps to a Healthier USA: Putting Prevention First" that addressed prevention and promotion of healthy lifestyles. Funds ($15 million) for “Healthy
Communities” will help communities do their part. The ODPHP works to promote disease prevention and healthy living. Their program, Healthy People 2010* is "the prevention agenda for the Nation". It outlines health objectives for the Nation.

Providing more health information is vital. TV is the most powerful, and most accessed way to get information. Almost everybody watches TV, has a TV, and talks about what is on TV (even if they say they don't watch TV you can be sure you will be asked, "Did you see on TV..."). In addition to public service announcements, more television programming on health issues can be added to the daily schedule on existing channels. Eventually Public Health TV will be available with daily medical news, and basic health information. After all, we have 24-7 dedicated channels for theology, sports, news, finance, cartoons, and music, to name a few, yet basic health programming is still in its infancy.

More basic health information should be available. Health TV channels now tend to focus on lifestyle changes (cooking, exercise, etc.), and reality shows focusing on emergencies, patient procedures, etc.. In the news media there is an occasional mention of the latest outbreak of the disease of the month, and maybe a mention of a profound medical study. This is good, but there is a need for more basic information programming that lets me know about this hypertension that I have, or the headache that won’t go away, or what doctor should I see for what I have. We need to know all the risks and complications as well as the different treatments for what we have so a more informed decision can be made. Like going on the Internet, or to a textbook, there will be a program that addresses a particular health concern. A daily health news show highlighting the latest medical developments is greatly needed. The Internet provides such information.
There are webcasts on the Internet that are becoming more accessible for professionals and the public. Some managed care providers have treatment guidelines for enrollees and doctors to view on their websites. The mantra for the 21rst century will be, "If
doctors don't educate themselves, patients will educate them".  Most people have a TV so what better place to start. In the future, computers will be in almost every home, too. With the Internet patients are able to access the same information as their doctor.

Providing educational materials that are easy to read and understand, i.e. at the lowest grade level possible, are essential, and key. This includes audio and visual learning - books, television, tapes, CDs, computer - as well as direct teaching. This is available
on the Internet with health sites just for kids like www.kidshealth.org and www.bam.gov . Health literacy systems can be of more use for distance learning technology via webcast teleconferences, and television programming. Learning in the home is effective and convenient.

Let your health home schooling begin!

*now Healthy People 2020

Violent TV Movie Syndrome: Public Health Crisis in Vivo

Did you know that Violent TV Movie Syndrome (VTMS) is a major cause of many health and social problems? Single and repeated images of young children (or anyone) shot laying dead in pools of blood is horrific and unhealthy.  As a medical professional familiar with death first hand as part of my job, I can only hope and pray someone will be responsible and speak up.  This is child abuse. This is mental abuse. This is public health abuse.  Hollywood makes movies with less violence and bloodshed. Any educated person knows that repeated violence harms people in so many ways. It is so unnecessary to show these images to tell a news story or any other type of story. Images such as these depict what is seen in the coroner's office., and should be kept there.

Suicide, homicide, and post traumatic disorder are just a few medical maladies that occur from watching violence.  Surely you can choose to watch something else; however, the curious child with a TV remote may choose otherwise.  Protect yourself and your children.  This type of programming is hard to grasp and confuse with something else - real life! They become real life.  Doctors and health care providers have much more serious conditions to care for instead of illness and death induced by "Violent TV/Movie Syndrome" which can be prevented. For the doctors who take an oath to "do no harm", let us hope our media will do likewise.  Until then we can only counsel our patients to turn it off.

See this reference for more details http://www.parent.net/article/tv-kids-violence.shtml

Praying for Health - No Insurance Required

Pray for me. This often forgotten yet basic request is often deferred until times of severe health duress. How effective is prayer in helping heal your illnesses or that of someone else? Combining this with other forms of treatment has proven effective in managing illness, especially chronic disease.

Prayer is considered an alternative health treatment; however, faith healing is the only way to many. Man made medical treatments like drugs and surgery combined with modern technology have overshadowed prayer. Prayer, like many other alternative "natural" treatments, is usually left off the intern and resident training in medical school. Research has shown that many patients pray for their health regardless of religious background, and that is does indeed have healing health benefits.

Praying for oneself as well as being prayed for are effective in staying healthy as well as in healing. The beautiful thing is that you can do it anywhere, anytime without paying any money. No health insurance is required.

Best health!

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

This book provides 112 pages (large print) of health information that will tell you what your doctor should be asking you, telling you, and doing for you - as taught in medical school and used since Hippocrates. http://amzn.to/13m51UU