It's Time to Take Care of Yourself
When is the best time to take care of yourself, and exactly what does that mean? It may mean scheduling an annual physical, or taking a weekend off to do nothing, or adopting a new diet and exercise routine. For many of us, it's something we let fall by the wayside while we're busy doing other things...working, taking care of the house, the family, and the dogs, volunteering, going to school, going to church, running errands. It sometimes seems like we're the last in line to do things for ourselves.
It's a good idea not to let that happen. A friend of mine was proud of saying he hadn't visited a doctor in over 20 years. That came home to roost a couple of months ago when he fell ill, finally went to the emergency room, and after some tests, the doctor told him he needed emergency heart surgery. He's having a slow recovery and not very happy about it. He was forced to take an early retirement due to a lot of complications.
We understand the appeal of natural medicine. It's why we make plant-based pain relief products. But we're not out there claiming to prevent heart attacks or serious disease, either. We also understand the hesitancy and anxiety some people have about going to the doctor. Sometimes it's distrust based on a bad past experience, sometimes it's worrying about how much it will cost. Understandable, since the cost of healthcare keeps rising. The average cost of one day in a hospital in the US ranges from $1305 per day in Mississippi, up to $4181 per day in California, with the other states falling somewhere in between.¹
There are a lot of medical conditions that can be managed well, especially when they are detected early. Just a few decades ago, many people with cancer were advised to go home and get their affairs in order. Today, there are more survivors than ever due to advances in treatment. According to the American Cancer Society, the overall cancer death rate declined 32% in the years from 1991-2019.² Science is a wonderful thing.
The American Medical Association and the American Cancer Society recommends regular health screenings in order to facilitate early discovery of problems, making them easier to treat.³
- Women ages 40 to 44 should have the choice to start annual breast cancer screening with mammograms (x-rays of the breast) if they wish to do so.
- Women age 45 to 54 should get mammograms every year.
- Women 55 and older should switch to mammograms every 2 years, or can continue yearly screening.
- Women age 25-65 should have regular screening for cervical cancer.
- People age 45 to 75 should have regular screening for colorectal cancer.
- People between the ages of 25-65 should have screening for HPV (human papilloma virus every 5 years.
- People age 50-80 who are smokers or who have ever smoked a pack a day or more for at least one year should have a low-dose CT scan of the lungs every year.
- Men age 50 and over should discuss prostate cancer screening with their physician. If there is any family history of prostate cancer in the immediate family, or your ethnicity is African American, it is recommended that be started at age 45.
The simple act of scheduling an annual checkup, including a blood panel, is a smart move. Diabetes, high cholesterol, and elevated blood pressure can all be treated and the earlier they are caught, the easier they are to treat.
In the meantime, get enough sleep. Try to eat a little healthier. Take a walk. Drink less soda and more water. Making small changes can really add up when it comes to your health. Try to avoid sweating the small stuff and letting trivial matters cause you stress. Remember this: if something is going to affect your life a year from now, it's worth stressing over. But if it's something that's not going to matter tomorrow or next week or next month, don't waste your adrenaline on it...take a deep breath and let it go. Take care of yourself!
1. Benzinga. Average cost of hospital stays with and without Medicare. Retrieved 07/01/2024.
2. Veytsman I. Advances in cancer treatment can mean longer and better lives for patients. Retrived 07/02/2024.
3. American Cancer Society. Cancer screening guidelines for early detection.
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Self-Care