Denver Schools Are A Model Of Good Health

Colorado has a reputation as one of the healthiest places to live in the country. Lots of skiers and healthy outdoors types usually come to mind. Denver Schools are doing their best to make that perception a reality. Denver Public Schools Student Services and the Nutrition Center have created a unique health initiative to bring information and medical attention to needy children in Denver Schools. The Nutrition Center is run by the University of Denver and is aimed at providing communities like Denver Schools with ways to improve the problems of childhood obesity and malnutrition.

With community funding from the CU Cancer Center, and partnerships with other community educators, Denver Schools offer a variety of nutrition and medical programs. The Center for Human Nutrition provides Denver Schools’ 3rd and 4th graders with classes on healthy eating and behaviors. The Denver School Based Health Centers now are present in 7 high schools, 3 middle schools, and 3 elementary schools. These centers are placed in areas with higher poverty and increased risk. Counseling, pregnancy care, and private health care reach the corners of the Denver Schools District with the greatest need.

These partnerships between Denver Schools and community businesses reach even further than school boundaries. The Colorado Nutrition Network used the collaboration to create an educational program in the Denver Schools community aimed towards at-risk residents. Denver Schools expect these programs to have far reaching effects that will impact concerns like dropout rates and student test scores.

Many reports linking childhood obesity to diseases such as diabetes make the Denver Schools initiative a program watched by many around the country. It is considered a national model and offers resources and assistance to other school districts that wish to implement a similar program.

Denver Schools also benefits from a University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center program that may contribute to the future health of students at Denver Schools for years to come. Each year high school students in Denver Schools can apply for one of the Summer Cancer Fellowships Programs to do research and clinic work at the Health Sciences Center. The National Cancer Institute funds this program that benefits many students at Denver Schools each year.

Denver Schools also team with University Hospital to provide middle school children with an opportunity to shadow a hospital employee for a day. While these programs may not address every issue that Denver Schools face, they are positive steps away from raising children who watch TV, play video games and eat junk food to the exclusion of all other activities. Denver Schools are clearly aware of the correlation between household income and poor nutrition. They are one of the few districts in the county that have taken active and effective steps to slowing down and reversing this trend. Teachers, principals and superintendents nationwide will watch Denver Schools to assess their results and mimic their actions.

Dental Plan

As the cost of living seems to go up almost every time you turn around, finding ways to save becomes more and more important. And yet, despite the almost instinctual urge to budget where possible, it remains enormously important that we don’t ditch the things we really can’t afford to be without, in some effort to save a quick buck now. Sometimes investing in the right things now can save a lot of money and heartache later, and a good dental plan is one thing you can’t afford to be without. But if you are counting the cash, how do you keep your find a plan that will keep your oral health covered without ruining your financial wellbeing?

Most people already appreciate the importance of general health insurance, but dental cover is just as crucial. Oral health has been shown to have implication on other aspects of physical wellbeing, but that aside, dental problems can cause a great deal of pain and emotional distress. Finding yourself with an oral injury or infection is bad enough at the best of times, but the situation can become far more complicated when financial concerns are added to the mix. Mitigate this added stress by keeping your family covered in advance with a good dental plan.

Some types of general health insurance do include dental coverage, but often this is rather basic – check your policy to find out exactly what is covered. A group dental plan, such as those offered by employers, usually offer a good deal, but once again, it is wise to check what procedures are covered by the plan. Some plans restrict your choice of dentist, which might not be suitable if your own dentist is familiar with your family’s oral history. Other restrictions include the possibility of offering preventative care only – something that is of little use in the event of a dental emergency. Be sure to find out whether any co-payment is demanded, and whether you can expect to receive full or partial reimbursement of dental fees. This information gives you a more comprehensive picture of your financial situation, allowing you deal with dental issues with fewer financial concerns to bog you down.

And always remember that despite the type of dental plan you have, prevention is always far better than cure. While accidents will always happen, ensure that your whole family takes proper care of their teeth. Good oral hygiene not only contributes toward their general health, but it helps keep your wallet feeling good too!

Defining the Complexities of Sexual Health

The youth of today enjoy much freedom when it comes to self-expression as compared to the old days when parents decide for their children even to the point of choosing their lifetime partners. Although some families remained conservative and traditional, the rest of society adapts to a fast-paced lifestyle where convention is out of the the rule and individuality is the name of the game.
In this sexually-permissive culture, it is important to consider what lies ahead for you and for your loved ones, and how you can protect each other from getting Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD).
Awareness of sexual health issues is very important. More than just the absence of the disease or its dysfunction and infirmities, it is also a state of physical, emotional, psychological and social well-being with regards to one’s sexuality. Addressing sexual health issues involves a complex web of factors such as attitude, behavior, genes, environment, and economy.
Sexual health also deals with problems such as STD, HIV, pregnancy, abortion, infertility, cancer, and a wide range of sexual dysfunctions. Those who are in a relationship must not automatically consider an infected partner as being unfaithful. One must learn to practice a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships and this can be achieved if the sexual rights of every individual is respected and protected.
Do not be deceived by mere appearances. Even the healthiest-looking person can be infected by STD. It’s not easy to tell if the person beside you has STD, or other illnesses for that matter, just by the way that person looks and acts. There are STDs that do not show any obvious signs. Symptoms can be very subtle that the person infected may not even know it. It is very important that aside from your regular health check-up, you should also take special attention in knowing your own body especially when you are healthy. So that if any changes take place such as skin infections or sores, as well as any unusual discharge or pain while urinating, it will be easier for you to recognize these signs and symptoms because you already know how your body is like when healthy.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases are diseases caused by by viruses, bacteria and parasites, which can easily be transmitted through body contact during sex. There are at least 25 different sexually transmitted diseases which can be spread by sexual contact, including vaginal, anal and oral sex.
Sometimes, STD takes a long time to display any kind of symptoms. The following are some of the most common STD that affect sexually active individuals: Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Bacterial Vaginosis, Crabs or Pubic Lice, Epididymitis, Genital Herpes, Genital Warts, Gut Infections, Hepatitis, Molluscum, Non-Specific Urethritis, Scabies, Syphilis, Thrush, Trichomonas Vaginosis, Balanitis.
Early detection and treatment of STD is very important to avoid serious infections that may lead to long-term or permanent damage. When left untreated, STD may cause infertility and can be passed on from a pregnant mother to her unborn child. Sexually Transmitted Diseases can be easily passed onto sexual partners and can aid in the transmission of HIV.
One of the surest way to avoid STD is by sexual abstinence. But you don’t have to be chaste just to be free of this dreaded STD. The practice of safe sex can greatly help in minimizing risk from STD. Consult with your professional health care provider for advice on getting tested for STD and other sexual health concerns.

Service Health Insurance

A POS or Point of Service plan is kind of like an HMO and PPO combined type health care plan. You have more flexibility than a regular HMO, but pay a smaller fee and deducible than a PPO. It is perfect for those people who need more flexibility but want to pay less. You will be asked to select a general provider that is off the list of acceptable doctors. This will be your primary care physician and he or she will be the one to manage what care you receive. He or she will direct you to specialist and hospitals as needed that are also participants in the plan. Usually there are many providers from each specialization to choose from and typically covers a wide geographic area. With this type of policy, you will not have a large deducible if any, and still have a minimal co-pay on visits and prescriptions. Of course, this is if you stick with the preferred providers list. You also may want to make sure what drugs are covered under this plan and if you have to pay more for newer on not generic medications. Some doctors don’t think about what kind of insurance you have when writing out the prescription and you need to remind him or her if you are only allowed to buy generic to be covered.

You will also have a choice to see out-of-network providers when you need a specialist and they are not on the list. Most POS plans require you get a doctor’s referral prior to seeing another doctor or specialist. Once referred to a specialist within the network, you will have to be prepared to pay more. If you choose to do this, you will be billed directly and must submit the claim to the insurance company your self. Your insurance company will pay their flat rate for whatever you had done and you will be responsible for the rest. You may also be responsible at the time of service to pay the entire amount and wait to be reimbursed your self from your insurance. If you chose to see a specialist on you own, the cost will be higher and around 50% if you were not referred. You will be required to pay a higher amount if you go out-of-network. So in essence, you have the right to see whom you chose, but at your own expense. The POS plan will only pay their flat rate for specific medical issues and not above it, unless it is an emergency situation. Many people like the idea of having more say in their health care choices, while others care more about saving money and don’t care who they go to. What you chose will depend on what you personally want and what is more important.

The emphasis on this plan is prevention of illness or disease to cut the cost to both the individual and the insurer. Most other plans such as HMOs and PPOs have the same basic emphasis. You are encouraged to take an active roll in your health and do what it takes to remain not sick and disease free for as long as possible. The idea is to see the doctor less so both you and your carrier together spends less money. The idea with this plan is that if you have to put more money into your health care you will think twice at whether or not you really need to go. If you want to waist the insurance companies money you have to waist your own too to do it. Medical insurance companies are in business to make money, they want you to stay healthy so they can collect your premium and not have to pay it out to the health care provider. So, for those people who do not want to pay as high as a monthly premium tends to opt for this type of health insurance plan. This one will ensure a low rate with out having to worry about huge deductibles or co-pays if used more like an HMO. So, if you think that this sound like something you are interested in, talk to several different companies and get some policies to look at. Make sure to look at what is covered as well as the price. Do a little research in the various insurance policies that are available. The one that you need to pick will depend on your priorities.

Dealing with Diabetes to Enjoy Healthy Aging

Learning to deal with diabetes is never easy. It is bad enough we have to live in a greed-based world filled with confusion, violence, media junk, and so on. Still, those with diabetes can live healthy providing they adhere to diet, medications and exercise. Diabetes is a serious condition. The disease is the mother of all disease in the world and it is a killer.

What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease that you can get if you do not eat right or take care of your body. Genetics play a part in diabetes as well. In fact, hereditary is a hard cause of the problem. The disease can cause blindness. The disease can lead to amputation of legs, or feet. Diabetes is a disease that when your body does not produce enough insulin to break down sugar in the bloodstream. Diabetes includes two types, yet various levels are considered. Diabetes includes Diabetes Insipidus and Mellitus.

The first diabetes is where your body is incapable of producing enough insulin to do what its supposed to do. This type of diabetes is treatable. You will need medications, exercise and strict diet to maintain your health. Diabetes Mellitus has five types. Each type results from insulin interruptions whereas the system is disrupted. The disruption causes chaos within the body’s ability to function. The body cannot act naturally and it takes insulin shots to treat this condition depending on the type.

How would I know that I have this disease called diabetes?
If you go to your doctors on a regular basis, your doctor will monitor your health. If you have family history of diabetes, let your doctor know so he/she can conduct random testing. A glucose test is necessary to find diabetes. Blood lab tests are useful also to spot diabetes.

What you should watch for?
Drinking but not filling your thirst quench. If you feel fatigue often and don’t know, then you should be tested. Diabetes, depending on the type makes a person feels weak, endure pain, lose weight, gain weight, etc. The disease is so confusing to the bodily functions that it doesn’t know the direction to head.

What can I do to help me not to get this disease?
No one has control over disease but you. If you adhere to regular checkups, the doctor can spot the disease at an early stage, which the disease then can be managed. You need to eat right and do excises daily to help maintain your weight, since diabetes takes delight in feeding the disease to the point of death.

What happens to those with diabetes?
Unfortunately, the disease is not partial. The disease targets young and old alike. Once the disease develops it puts the person at risk of blindness.

Some people lose their legs or other limbs resulting from diabetes. Most people with diabetes are at risk of kidney failure. If you already have diabetes then listen to your doctor and follow all instructions. One of the top recommendations to diabetes patients is to consume much fluids. Your body is losing fluids as diabetes drains your bodily organs of its natural elements. You will also need to avoid saturated fat foods and basic sugars. In addition, your doctor will need to test you regularly to control your illness.

You want to take care when diabetes is present since it can lead to meningitis, headaches, tachycardia, dehydration, muscle weakness, pain, and so on. In addition, you may endure blurred vision, sexual dysfunctions, slow healing, and so on. Again, diabetes is a killer; so take care of your health.

Smoking on Women Health

Everybody is aware of the dangers of smoking. It is absolutely damaging to the human body. While carcinogens in cigarettes pose a hazard to everyone, women are three times as likely as men to get aggressive forms of lung cancer and more likely to develop it at an earlier age. Women are also more likely to die of lung cancer than breast cancer.
Quitting smoking is easier said than done. And women, it turns out, have an even harder time quitting than men. Stronger withdrawal symptoms may be attributed to hormones or the bigger nicotine dose absorbed by smaller female bodies. Regardless of women’s age, the dangers of smoking contribute to infertility, anxiety, blindness, and osteoporosis. Pregnant women who smoke risk not only their health but their babies’ as well. Second hand smoke affects the children and other people around mothers who smoke.
Smoking is a vice that almost always begins during adolescence. When teenagers finish from high school without ever smoking regularly, they probably never will. However, while boys and girls are equally likely to start smoking, the latter get the worse health complications. Young people may exhibit symptoms of addiction within a few days or weeks right after they started smoking.
While cigarette smoking was rare in women during the beginning of the 20th century, the tobacco industry realized the potential of women as a market for the expansion of the cigarette industry. In fact, tobacco companies launched the campaign slogan “Instead of a sweet, reach for a smoke” to encouraged women to smoke so as not to gain weight. This was followed by “You’ve come a long way, baby” as a tribute to the burgeoning women’s liberation movement.
These marketing campaigns not only depicted women smokers as beautiful, independent and fun, but also sent subliminal messages that smoking helps women control their weight. Cigarette ads are banned in kids and teens magazines but billion of dollars are spent on t.v., billboards, and adult magazines which can easily be accessed by the youth.
Since 1987, lung cancer has surpassed breast cancer as the leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the United States. About 87% of all lung cancer cases in America is directly attributed to smoking. Smoking causes heart disease, which is the number one killer of women in the U.S. The dangers of smoking contribute to respiratory diseases such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, as well as many kinds of cancer.
Women who smoke also harm their appearance as smoking speeds up the aging process and produce more facial wrinkles, gum disease, dental decay, and halitosis. Mental health is also affected due to depression and anxiety disorders. Women are more likely to be depressed than non-smokers, and that women with anxiety disorders are more likely to smoke.
Some women, however, are finding creative ways to break the habit for good. Engaging in activities where smoking wouldn’t fit, such as exercising, biking, mountain-climbing, as well as turning to a non-smoking lifestyle that includes going to smoke-free places with your kids.
The dangers of smoking for women has increased attention and awareness from women’s organizations, resulting in a number of projects that focus on supporting tobacco cessation efforts specifically for women.

Danger Our kids health is at risk

The American nation on the whole faces a very serious problem at present. It is obesity.Now matter how much time adults spend in the gym, it will not change the situation much till we do not pay attention to the need of physical activity for our children who are going to track the risk factor from childhood to adolescence and, finally, adulthood. The problem of nation’s overweight is to be dealt with starting with the youngest representatives of our society.

The American children, one in eight being obese, are on the verge of such health outcomes as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension. And this are only a few to mention. This is dangerous as unhealthy children will grow up into unhealthy adults. So far, the effort of the officials to promote physical actibvities in children has not brought evident results. On the contrary, countless social, cultural and environmental factors have caused the increase of sedentary life style in children.

The public opinion poll’s results are sad and clear: the children at present prefer watching television and playing video games to going for sports. The hours kids spend on this useless pastime reach up to 25-27 a week. Average kid though spends only 14 minutes a day on physical activity!

And we cannot blame them as our schools are very poor at providing children with sufficient physical training.
Of course, there are physical education classes at school. But however ridiculous it might sound, they are more into theory rather than drawing kids into physical activity (sports). It feels for teachers and instructors together with parents more safe for children’s safety. And lack of play grounds is another negative factor.

To achieve sufficient results every parent, teacher and all the agencies and persoanlities involved this way or that should show team approach do his/her best to:

  • limit time children spend on watching TV and playing computer games
  • to raise kids’ interest in active games by playing with them during recess at school and physical education classes
  • take measures to assure the kids’ health and life are safe during the physical activity

Role of the parents in raising interest for physical activity in their children is under question the social quests tell. According to the recent data, the fact that both parents are involved actively in sports and healthful way of living in general does not mean that their offspring are as much active if active at all. Maybe being too busy with their own fitness program or whatever, they leave their kids’ physical activity life up to school staff.

On the other hand, if youngsters are forced to take physical training, they are more likely too ignore physical activities when they are grown up. This issue is to be taken care of with great delicacy, first of all on the parents’ part who must choose playful form of exercising to encourage their kids to be active. Playing in the backyard with kids or even fooling around with them in the house can become an excellent alternative to the bring and, unfortunately, useless physical training classes. And short 5-10 minutes active breaks during a day will give your kid necessary 30 minutes activity a day. In addition, do the following to support your children:

  • don’t hesitate to tell a kid again and again and again that he is really good at this or that activity
  • encourage regular physical activity no matter where a child is: at home, school, etc.
  • give preference to the activities that the child enjoys and never force him.
  • Don’t forget about the individual approach and choose an activity adequate for a child

The significant effect can be achieved only if the measures are taken by all the institutions related to a child, that is as much by an educational institution as by a family. And as earlier we start the physical education of a child in the full meaning of these words, as better the result will be. So, promoting physical education in primary school must become an every-day life issue.

In conclusion, it is necessary to underline that to sustain health of the nation children must have adequate conditions for sport and physical activities in general. And traditional models of physical training are proved to be ineffective, therefore, are to be substituted for modern ways to encourage love for healthy living. Children and their families must kept informed about al the progressive innovations in physical activity and stimulated to make them part of their routine. This measures will serve to awake healthy behaviors in our children which is so needed to improve the health situation in the country.

Dance to Your Health

We as a world are more aware than ever of the importance of physical fitness to our overall health. While we remain aware of the need for physical activity far too many of us find far too few reasons to incorporate physical activity into our daily lives and routines. There are many reasons that we procrastinate in this particular effort. For some time is the defining factor while others will readily admit that they have no appreciation whatsoever for those activities that come to mind when exercise is considered.

Whatever your reason for not incorporating exercise and physical activity into your daily routine, have you considered dancing for your health? There are all kinds of wonderful reasons to dance though I can think of very few that would be better than dancing for the sake of your health and physical well being. The good news when it comes to dancing is that in most instances it doesn’t feel as though you are getting exercise and the burning of calories doesn’t sting nearly as much when you’re having fun burning them.

Dancing has evolved a great deal and while the history of dance is a long and noble history. Even, one might add, a quite manly history for those men who haven’t considered dancing in the past.

Benefits of Dancing

In addition to burning calories, a good thing for dieters everywhere, dancing also helps strengthen your muscles and bones. It can provide either a low impact or high impact workout according to your wishes and the music you select, it can be entertaining and feel like fun rather than a chore-this means you are more likely to actually do it than many other exercise programs, and it can help tone all areas of your body rather than focusing on one particular area as many exercises do.

Dancing also provides an excellent opportunity to socialize and meet others if you take classes while in the process helping you gain a better sense of balance and grace (those like me who have absolutely no sense of grace could greatly benefit from this alone). Dancing, and the physical activity alone can help you ward off potential illnesses that are often associated with excess weight and too little physical activity. Even as little as thirty minutes of dance 4 days a week can bring about profound results when it comes to your overall health and well being.

More importantly however than any of these benefits of dancing mentioned above dancing is fun. This means that you will enjoy life a little, laugh a little, and accidentally work a little physical fitness into your life without feeling as though you are suffering for the sake of doing so. So many people get very little physical activity because they do not see physical activity as fun.

If you are wondering what sort of dance is right for you, there are many from which to choose. Square dancing is great fun for couples as are ballroom and swing dancing. Line dancing, contra square dancing, clogging, and tap dancing can be great fun in larger groups or as a participant in a class. If you want something a little sexier for your dance efforts you can always try Salsa dancing, Flamenco dancing, or belly dancing.

If you live in or around a relatively large community it is quite likely that you can find classes or teachers for private lessons for each of these forms of dance quite easily. You do want to make sure that anyone you take lessons from knows what they are doing. You can also look in your local paper for square dancing groups or bars or clubs that offer line dancing classes on designated nights during the week.

Whether you have been dancing all your life or are a rank novice when it comes to dancing, this is a great way to bring physical fitness into your life and improving your health without feeling as though you are really working for it or experiencing a sense of dread at the very thought.

Cut Health Plan Costs

Cutting out the managed care middleman and contracting directly with medical providers may seem like a drastic solution for reducing health plan costs. Yet for employers who’ve been whipsawed by relentless cost increases, it may be the only solution that actually works. The profit-bloated managed care industry, with much to lose, has propagated many myths about why this sensible approach won’t work. But their solutions haven’t worked. Costs continue to surge and employers are desperately seeking relief. It’s time to debunk the myths about direct provider contracting and shed some light on this ingenious, innovative cost-containment strategy.

Myth 1: Employers cannot negotiate as good a deal with medical providers as can managed care companies. The truth is employers can often negotiate just as good a deal, or better. Providers welcome direct agreements for the very reason that they are not like conventional managed care contracts. Physicians have complained for years about adversarial agreements and poor reimbursements forced upon them by HMOs and PPOs. This negative perception has created a strong willingness among medical providers to do business directly with employers. These “win-win” agreements ultimately save employers money without shortchanging the providers. Unlike managed care companies, direct agreements disclose all contractual details so both employer and provider know the deal they’re getting and nothing can be hidden by a middleman’s “cut.”

Myth 2: You need large numbers of employees to negotiate direct provider contracts. The truth is physicians and hospitals will often contract with employers for limited numbers of employees. When a direct agreement is fair and reimbursement terms are reasonable, providers quickly realize it’s a smart business decision to work with employers in their own community. A local employer, regardless of size, represents an established group of existing lives as prospective patients, ready to use the direct network providers. Direct networks have been successfully developed in areas where the employer had as few as 30 employees.

Myth 3: Direct contracting won’t work in areas where other PPO networks are available. The truth is doctors are sick of disadvantageous agreements and miserable reimbursements forced upon them by managed care companies. They actually welcome the opportunity to contract directly with employers. For many doctors, the very fact it’s an agreement with the employer, and not a managed care company, is reason enough to participate in a direct network. A direct agreement establishes a true business relationship between provider and employer, one that promises the provider quicker reimbursements, better benefit payment levels, and easier access to the ultimate payer (the employer). It’s also a gesture of good community relations for any physician, medical group, or hospital to demonstrate.

Myth 4: Direct networks create more administrative burdens and higher costs. The truth is once direct networks are developed, the advantages of “owning” a network quickly outweigh “leasing” one from a managed care company. There are no recurring network access fees; less physician attrition; fewer employee complaints; simpler self-renewing contracts; better provider relationships; straightforward plan design features; and the ability to choose the best contractors for utilization review, case management, claims processing, and other administrative tasks. Managed care companies have failed to contain employer medical cost increases, despite all their so-called network management efforts. Ironically, and coincidentally, managed care industry profits are at an all-time high while employers continue to suffer.

Myth 5: Direct contracting exposes employers to greater liability. The truth is direct contracting poses no greater risk of litigation than any other benefit program component and may actually offer greater protection against it. Direct contracting is intended only for self-insured employers whose plans are governed by ERISA, which offers built-in protection against liability. ERISA preempts state tort laws and limits the employee’s ability to hold an ERISA plan liable for malpractice under state laws, which govern malpractice, not ERISA. Because direct provider agreements state the employer is not providing/directing medical care and has no role whatsoever in any medical decision, the protection offered by ERISA’s preemption is safely maintained.

Myth 6: Managed care companies can’t (or won’t) process claims for direct networks.
The truth is that processing claims and administering benefits for employer-owned provider networks are well within the technical capabilities of managed care companies. Their feigned inability to process direct network claims is one of many ways that managed care companies hold their employer-clients hostage in networks that are owned, leased, or arranged by the managed care companies themselves. If an existing managed care company cannot or will not administer direct network claims, there are plenty of third party administrators (TPAs) than can handle it, usually at a lower cost per employee. For employers that want direct networks in select locations (but want to keep commercial networks elsewhere), using a TPA is a convenient and cost-effective way to get the job done.

Myth 7: Managed care companies do a better job containing costs and saving employers money. If that was true, employer medical plan costs would be falling instead of rising. The truth is employers who have implemented direct provider contracting are experiencing lower costs and higher savings. One national employer with 20,000 employees has used direct networks to keep their health plan cost trend flat for the past five years. Another major employer reduced its health plan costs by more than 20% without reducing benefits or shifting costs to employees.

Bottom Line: Cutting out the managed care middleman and contracting directly with medical providers can help savvy employers reduce benefit costs and regain control over their corporate health care plans.

Taking Care Of Your Health

All people need to utilize healthcare professionals and services throughout their lifetime. It is important that people make regular visits to their physicians, dentists and other healthcare professionals for checkups and to keep tabs on their health. My suggestion is not that people stop going to see their doctor or dentist on a regular basis. I do want to suggest, however, that people could significantly cut down on the costs and inconveniences of making visits to see various healthcare professionals if they would do simple things to take care of their own health.

We all know that taking care of our health is important. But how many of us actually spend our days accordingly? How many of us take our health as a matter of life and death? I would suggest that many of us take not only our ability to see healthcare professionals for granted but we also take our very health for granted. Most people I know are caught up in what they should do or could do for their health and very few people are actually presently doing good things. Getting proper healthcare and having proper health are ideals rather than norms.

Most people could cut down on frequent trips to see healthcare professionals simply by adopting a more active lifestyle. It is amazing how many sicknesses and even diseases can be prevented by consistently exercising our bodies. We were designed to move and to use energy yet we rarely use our bodies to their full potential. Most people have no idea what level of physical fitness is possible for their lives because inactivity has become a way of life. Whatever your current level of fitness, you can start today to take control of your health by getting more active. Look for ways to incorporate more movement into your everyday life.

Another obvious way to make your healthcare provider proud is to watch what you eat. In many ways, it is true that your body and your health becomes what you eat. Years spent eating fast food and making unhealthy food choices will eventually catch up to you. What we eat affects our energy levels and our overall health. Find ways to cut out fast food, soda and other high calorie beverages. Incorporate fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains into your diet as often as possible. Drink water instead of other beverages. You might be shocked by how these small changes decrease your need to schedule frequent visits to see your healthcare professional.

Your health is in your hands. Take an active role in making your life better starting today. You and your healthcare provider will be glad you did.