There is so much talk going on about the US healthcare bill, not only in the States but worldwide, as everyone waits to see the results of that bill. Healthcare affects all sectors of the economy and therefore insurance companies, drug industries and hospitals are keen to know their fate as per the bill.
Employers are also affected since they must offer healthcare coverage for their employees. In an effort to preempt any unpleasant repercussions of the bill, citizens need to maintain lifestyles which do not predispose them to diseases and other preventable medical conditions.
Lifestyles that encourage healthy living include:
1Osteopathy
Many people often complain of back pains, numbness in different parts of their bodies, muscle pulls and so forth. These conditions are mostly related to the workplace and schools where people spend long periods in uncomfortable positions and postures whether sitting at a desk, driving, typing away on a laptop, etc. Osteopathy as a preventative healthcare technique is used to address such lifestyles that can have major health implications on a person’s life in the future. Companies are nowadays eager to identify body-straining working positions and postures which cause aches and pains. As such the companies end up saving on the costs of replacing a sick worker and ultimately the insurance benefits for compensating such a worker.
2Exercising
This is a widely known preventative healthcare technique but it is disturbing to see people harboring medical conditions that could have been easily prevented by just doing 30 minutes of exercise daily. Exercising helps the body burn up calories which would otherwise be stored as fat. Too much fat in the body clogs up blood vessels and causes sensitive body organs such as the heart and lungs to malfunction. These organs facilitate the supply of blood and oxygen to the entire body. Shortness of breath and poor blood supply causes weakness of the immune system placing the body at risk of all sorts of opportunistic diseases.
3Healthy Eating
In present times all people seem to be are in a hurry and as a result, fast foods are there to complement this hurry nature. The problem is that fast foods are generally unhealthy as they are mostly made of processed foods which contain unhealthy fats such as cholesterol. Excessive fat intake normally results in one being overweight and worse, obese. Obesity is the condition where one’s weight is more than what their height and body frame can handle comfortably. An overweight person is fat but his/her body frame can carry the mass. A balanced diet is a preventative healthcare technique effective against the dangers of being overweight which include high blood pressure, strokes, osteoarthritis, gallstones and physical discomfort.
4Regulating Exposure to the Sun
The sun is a great source of vitamin D. Quite a number of people are obsessed with the skin tanning effects of long exposure to the sun. Too much exposure to the sun’s ultra violet rays is harmful to the human body. UV rays are connected to the many types of skin cancers such as melanoma. Overexposure also causes aging of the skin because its elastic tissues are destroyed. Sunburns may cause skin blisters, painful swelled-up skin and deep wrinkles. Eyesight can also be affected by too much sunshine. Applying sunscreen lotions, putting on hats and tinted glasses are good preventative healthcare techniques that can save thousands from the harmful effects of the sun.
5Quitting Smoking
Smoking tobacco has been identified as the single major cause of preventable diseases and premature deaths in the world. Lung cancer is the major cause of death among smokers followed by obstructive pulmonary disease, aortic aneurysm, ischemic heart disease, cerebral hemorrhage and cerebral thrombosis. The chances of contracting these diseases is proportional to the number of cigarettes one smokes and the duration of doing so. Other types of cancers involved are cancer of the esophagus, mouth, pancreas, bladder and larynx.
Non-smokers are also affected by second-hand smoke. Cases of lung cancer and ischemic heart disease especially in wives of smoking husbands have been recorded worldwide. The children in such families may suffer from respiratory illnesses which may graduate to bronchitis or pneumonia.
Governments have issued certain measures to curb smoking. These include introducing excise taxes, limiting of cigarette advertisements and the inclusion of a mandatory warning, e.g., “Smoking Kills” on cigarette packs.
6Stress Management
Life is full of stress-causing factors. However, there are certain factors or situations that can be avoided thereby preventing additional stress. Stress causes anxiety and tension which put the body in an overdrive mode resulting in high blood pressure and unusual exhaustion. An exhausted body cannot repair its worn out tissues effectively and thus it is susceptible to diseases and ailments.
There are several stress management tips used as preventative healthcare techniques. These include keeping to schedules, de-cluttering your office or home, joining a social group, eating healthy diets, exercising, getting enough sleep and attending to hobbies.
