Atlantic Complementary Blog

Finding a solution to our “Health care Crisis” must be based on true prevention. I’m not talking about disease screening which Western Medicine and insurance companies call  “preventive care”. I’m talking about changing our habits and behaviors to promote wellness.

Lesley Alderman’s article in yesterday’s NY Times talks about our joints.  Dr. Patience White of the Arthritis Foundation is quoted as saying “Arthritis used to show up in people during their late 40′s and 50′s, now we’re seeing it earlier like in the 30′s and 40′s”  Our population is aging; more people are obese; more people are playing serious sports.  These all put more wear and tear on our joints.”

In addition to the pain of arthritis, the pain after joint replacement surgery, and the lost days of work, the related medical costs are significant.  The bill for a hip or knee replacement is roughly $30,000 to $40,000.    In 2007, our nation’s bill for hip replacements was $19 billion and for knee replacements was  $26 billion.

Think about this.  Would you spend your own money on a new knee or can you think of something you’d rather spend that money on?  The truth is, health care is paid for by our taxes or our insurance premiums, our money.

Check out the article  “Caring for Hips and Knees to Avoid Artificial Joints”.

My copy of the Haitian Health Foundation Newsletter arrived just the other day. (I made a donation and it was sent with the thank you note.) Reading it reminded me how much Americans take for granted. The front page talks about the HHF Ambulance and how many lives have been saved by its presence and personnel.  The ambulance is a four-wheel drive Toyota Land Cruiser which is completely amphibious and can cross streams to travel to remote mountain villages.  The ambulance’s focus is to evacuate pregnant women out of the rural villages – when they are having a troubled, life-threatening labor. Since 2006, it has transported 587 women and has an annual operating budget of $25,000. The article points out that “it is the only vehicle that is available to mountain villagers, some of whom are an 18 hour walk away.”

Imagine being in a troubled labor — or just sick — and having to walk for 18 hours to receive care. I am again reminded of how very very lucky we Americans are.  Newsletter

Before becoming a Hypnotherapist, I had no idea just how many aspects of our lives can be helped by this simple, evidence based process. When I began practicing, my clients truly had more belief in the system than I did. For example, an older man called saying “I need to see you. My dentures don’t fit.’ Hmmm. Are you sure you don’t want to see my husband, the dentist? “No, I need to see you.” It was true. The challenge was in his mind and easily corrected with just one session.

There are more many examples. A healthy, athletic man had broken his arm. At the end of nine months, it had not healed. He was facing surgery and the loss of his job.  He called asking for an appointment telling me “I am a hypochondriac. When this first happened, I heard of the possibility of non-union and I knew right then it would happen to me” I certainly had my doubts as I shared visions of healing.  He was right   He returned to his doctor after only two sessions and his arm was healed. He avoided both surgery and losing his job.

Why would you call me?

1. You are not sleeping well
2. You have irrational fears or phobias
3. You feel “blocked” in some part of your life
4. You have been diagnosed with a challenging disease
5. You have a habit you would like to change

Call me or e-mail me. It’s likely that even lifelong challenges can be conquered with a handful of private sessions.

Months ago, I gave up trying to keep track of all the provisions of the proposed health care plan. Let’s face it, the health care system many now embrace could bankrupt our nation and continues to have less than optimal outcomes.

Access to care and insurance coverage for everyone should take a back seat to keeping people healthy.

Have you noticed that Western Medicine tends to treat symptoms instead of the underlying cause?

I know a man who had a low testosterone level. His doctor ordered injections without asking “Why” (and the patient accepted this solution). Doing a little research on line reveals that low testosterone can be the result of a brain tumor or sleep apnea. In this instance, the man did have severe sleep apnea. The cascade of diseases associated with sleep apnea is long and expensive: diabetes, obesity, strokes, cardiovascular disease, A-fib, decreased cognitive learning ability, short term memory loss, high blood pressure, the list goes on and on. Just coincidentally, the risk of sudden death is increased by 30% in the presence of sleep apnea. This particular man had memory problems, multiple TIAS, one stroke, was overweight and had A-Fib — all by age 64. Are doctors screening for sleep apnea? Not usually. Is it common? Yes and it’s becoming more common in our overweight culture.

Think of the impact of the chronic stress in our culture. It impacts our immune system, shapes our bad habits (overeating, drinking, smoking), accidents, hurts relationships — and that doesn’t even include how stress can exacerbate illnesses such as asthma, diabetes and IBS. Many scientists feel that stress even allows the proliferation of cancer. It is thought that we often times have cancerous cells in our bodies which a healthy immune system keeps in check. If we tax our immune system with stress, it can no longer keep us healthy. If you want more details, keep reading below to see  “The High Price of Stress.”

Now is the time to take control of your health in four ways.

1. Do your homework. Research online. Ask lots of questions of your health care providers and use your common sense.

2. Take care of your mental and emotional health

3. Stay physically active

4. Check out complementary healing modalities which may be far less expensive, have fewer side effects, and excellent outcomes. Examples, hypnotherapy, guided imagery, chiropractic, acupuncture and for exercise Hanna Somatics and the Feldencrais method.

Together, we can do it!!

How to Lower Health Care’s Bottom Line

Companies today carefully calculate their bottom line, and the current cost of health care is of global concern. Yet, how often is one important ingredient—STRESS—factored in?
The Gallup Organization Well Being Index, the country’s largest poll of health and well-being, polls at least 1,000 adults daily. Here are some of their recent findings:
—Almost 40% of those polled said they were significantly stressed the day before.
—Two- thirds reported at least one chronic health problem, including hypertension and high   cholesterol.
—28% claimed they were not well rested.
—Two-thirds of working adults are overweight or obese.
Based on responders’ answers, the impact of negative work environment alone results in 12.3 million sick days a month nationwide amounting to about $14 billion a year in wages.

In addition to these statistics, The American Psychological Association published an online study reflecting the responses of 1,848 adults.  Their findings include the following:
—77% experienced physical symptoms during the last month as a result of stress
—73% experienced psychological stress during the last month
—74% find work a significant source of stress
—48% of adults lay awake at night because of stress
—43% overeat or eat unhealthy foods because of stress
—55% reported varying degrees of lost productivity while at work during the past month
—7% have sought professional support during the past year

To help us evaluate the financial impact of these findings, let’s consider one chronic illness, diabetes.
The prevalence of diabetes is increasing, partly as a result of obesity. According to the American Diabetes Association, the total annual economic impact of diabetes in 2007 was estimated to be
$174 billion.  This figure includes medical costs, indirect costs related to increased absenteeism, reduced productivity, disease related unemployment disability, and loss of productive capacity due to early mortality.  According to the ADA, 20% of health care dollars is spent caring for someone with diabetes.
The impact of stress on diabetics is well documented.  Not only does stress directly impact blood sugar control, but, when stressed, people use unhealthy coping mechanisms such as overeating, smoking and drinking alcohol.   Stress   also directly impacts the immune system which inhibits healing.
Wounds heal much more quickly in the absence of stress as shown by Janice Kiecolt-Glaser , Ohio State University School of Medicine, who observed that a pencil eraser size wound took 9 days longer to heal in a group of care givers who were under stress.
If we were to integrate stress management techniques and lifestyle changes into the care of diabetics, the savings could be astronomical.
Let’s consider more facts from “Stress in America”.   People are losing sleep as a result of stress.  People overeat and experience cravings when they have too little sleep. Sleepiness can lead to disruption of family life, an elevated rate of auto accidents (as much as 7 fold increase) occupational accidents, impaired immune function and increased cardiovascular events.
Forty-three percent of those surveyed reported overeating in response to stress.  We see the cycle continuing ad infinitum: people experience stress, overeat in response, become obese, are at greater risk for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues and orthopedic issues.

What do we do with this information?
Employers are paying a large portion of these costs in the form of absenteeism, presenteeism (employees who come to work ill, share that illness with others, and are less productive), health insurance premiums and Worker’s Compensation premiums.  They are also in a position to reduce the stress reported by 74% of the APA survey who say that work is a significant source of stress in their lives.
If you are an employer, please consider becoming pro-active in implementing changes.
Consider the following interventions personally and for your company’s wellness program:
1.     Schedule time to meditate daily.
The Wall Street Journal, November  5,  2004,  Scan of Monks’ Brains show Meditation Alters Structure and Function,  talks about Neuroplasticity “ the brain’s recently discovered ability to change its structure by expanding or strengthening circuits that are used and by shrinking or weakening those that are rarely used.  Just as aerobics sculpts the muscles, mental training sculpts gray matter in ways scientists are only beginning to fathom.”
For those who find it difficult to meditate, consider starting with “Peace of Mind”, a relaxation CD for anxiety.  It is simple, easy to use and cost effective.  It’s available at www.atlanticcomplementary.com.
2.    Develop a culture of empowerment and responsibility.
3.    Provide encouragement and opportunities for employees to adopt healthy habits.
4.    Mediate differences of opinion.
5.    Ask employees for input and hear their response.
6.    Create a comfortable and peaceful work environment.

Incorporating these simple and cost effective actions can and will have a huge impact on personal lives, productivity and ultimately costs associated with health care.

In this huge drama about health care costs, emotions have led us away from two facts: We in the USA have the most expensive health care system and  the worst outcomes of any non third world country.  Remember that.

We, the end user, have the power to take control but we too often make our decisions based on fear.

Richard J.  Ablin’s article in the New York Times today points out yet another instance of using our health care dollars unwisely, much like  the  overuse of mammograms.  “The Great Prostate Mistake“.  It’s long been known that prostate cancer is often very slow growing.  Many men will die with prostate cancer, not of it.

Let me quote Richard. “I never dreamed that my discovery four decades ago would lead to such a profit driven public health disaster. The medical community must confront reality and stop the inappropriate use of P. S. A. screening. Doing so would save billions of dollars and rescue millions of men from unnecessary, debilitating treatments”