WARNING – This blog may feel like a little dose of tough-love for some of you. If so, please know that all of these words come from a place of caring and wanting what’s best for my patients. Even if that means telling you things you may not want to hear.
How much value do you place on your health?
That may sound like a loaded question (and for the purposes of this article, it is), but take a second and think about it. When was the last time you passed up a healthcare appointment or check-up that you needed because you’d rather spend money on other things?
Or maybe this isn’t you at all…but I’m sure you have someone that comes to mind when you read the phrases below…
I don’t have the time. I don’t have the money. I don’t know where to start. It’s a gland problem. It’s genetic. I hurt too much. I’m too tired.
The Apathetic and Unhealthy. It’s what we should probably be calling the ever-growing population of human beings that make these excuses for not taking care of themselves. You know these people. Perhaps they work with you, go to church with you, eat at restaurants next to you or live with you. Hell, maybe it is YOU. I’m describing the person with excuses for days about why they just can’t seem to get their health together.
If this sound familiar, then pay attention.
I recently started a conversation on a forum where experts (also-known-as keyboard warriors) gather to postulate about world problems; a place called Facebook. The premise was essentially about value. More specifically, what people give priority to when they have finite dollars to spend in a month.
I was inquiring about where healthcare fell when people were prioritizing their expenditures. Basically, when you make a decision on what has value when funds are tight vs. those products/services you don’t purchase when you don’t have expendable income. It’s the age old question of what is a NEED vs a WANT…a MUST-HAVE vs. a NICE-TO-HAVE.
In my experience, patients have a habit of discontinuing a legitimately necessary treatment, many times that THEY sought out, because they can’t “afford” it. This, of course, can be interpreted as “they don’t value this THING over something else.”
To clarify, I am not talking about life-saving cancer treatment that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars or the unfortunate costly medical care that’s related to an accident.
I am talking about the care provided in a physical therapy, chiropractic, dental or even medical office where there is typically an out-of-pocket expenditure with or without insurance coverage.
Sadly, for many in the US today, this becomes a choice between paying the electric bill or buying groceries. I can absolutely understand the prioritization there. However, when it’s a matter of cutting back on the Starbucks coffee runs or swapping out an off-brand bag instead of a designer purse, this is where the waters become muddy.
Is healthcare a NEED or a WANT for you?
So maybe it’s a not a smart phone that’s sucking up your money, and that Coach bag was a gift. And let me be clear–I have NO ISSUE with people spending their money how they see fit for whatever product/service they choose. But when it comes to your health…literally how your body feels and functions on a daily basis, I don’t understand how people with the means to access exceptional care don’t see value in spending their money to get the care they need.
Perhaps you find this insensitive, but open your eyes and see it for yourself. You’ve got money for the premium cable package, ready-made meal delivery services and other delivery box clubs, but you don’t have money to shop for clean, healthy food or for a gym membership or online exercise subscription (which BTW, you don’t there are free options for exercise..see below). You have no qualms about spending money for satellite radio, dinner out and handcrafted booze, but you can’t afford to finally go see someone about the nagging pain that’s been plaguing you for months.
I Shouldn’t Care About your Health More Than You
As a doctor of chiropractic and a registered therapist, I take your healthcare seriously. Am I more serious about it than you? Perhaps. Only you can answer that. My experience is that most people don’t care about their health as much as I do.
Truthfully, nothing is more frustrating than someone coming to see me with a problem, I provide a viable resolution for that problem, only to have it completely ignored due to all of the aforementioned excuses.
My job is to inform you of your choices. Not placate you by reinforcing the bad ones you are/might be making.
As a healthcare practitioner, my priority is to help you achieve your goals and feel your best–even if that means giving you a heaping dose of reality sometimes. It’s not fun, but being honest with you is my highest priority and is the first step for me to address any issues you may be having.
But honestly, this all comes down to your responsibility. Who’s responsible for your health? Is it your general practitioner, your ortho, your nurse, your chiro? Even “Dr. Google” can’t help you with this one. We can give you the answers you seek, but it is up to YOU to accept them and make the changes necessary to heal.
Here are Three Ways to Prioritize Your Health…And Save on Cost
Now that we’ve established the importance of investing in your health, let’s talk about small changes you can make that can make a big difference. I also realize that regardless of your level of income, the prospect of spending THOUSANDS of dollars each year maintaining your health isn’t exactly exciting for anyone. The good news is, there are many free or inexpensive things you can start doing right away to decrease the likelihood that you’ll develop a condition that requires long-term or life-long care.
- Look for Free and Inexpensive Ways to Move your Body
Over the years, tens of thousands of studies have shown the overwhelmingly positive effects of exercise and regular movement for physical and mental well-being. Just moving 150 minutes per week has been shown to improve moods, enthusiasm, alertness, promote better sleep, boost energy and combat cardiovascular disease.
The best part? It costs exactly $0 to get outside and walk around your neighborhood, do squats or sit-ups in your living room or go for a brisk jog through a local park. Find something you enjoy and build it into your weekly schedule.
2. Listen to your Doctor
As a sports chiropractor, I can tell you with certainty that if I ask you to come back for a follow-up visit, it is for a reason. My job is to provide you with treatment for your issue so that you can feel better as quickly as possible, so if I ask you to come back, it’s because we aren’t done yet. Just because you feel better doesn’t mean that the work is done. Discontinuing care early leaves you at a greater risk for re-injury which may mean more complex (and expensive) treatments are needed the second time around.
So do us both a favor–do your home exercises, listen to my directions and come back for follow-up visits when I ask…you’ll be glad you did.
3. Address the Small Problems Before they Grow into Big Ones
How many times have you heard of a friend, family member or colleague that “threw their back out” and just laid in bed for days on a heating pad?
Most of us would never dream of breaking a limb and just ignoring it, right? So why then do you strain a muscle or sprain a joint and just try to ignore the pain?
Our brain is a complex organ and so much of how it works is still not fully understood. One thing that we do understand is that pain signals are the brain’s way of telling us that something is wrong. If you’re experiencing pain, don’t ignore it. Let us find out what’s going on and address the issue quickly so that it doesn’t become a more complex issue later on.
When all is said and done, it’s ultimately YOUR decision to take charge and prioritize your health by investing in the care you need and taking it seriously.
Now that you know better (you’ve read this far, right?!), you must do better.
Tired of getting the run-around from providers that don’t take the time to get to know you? Feeling frustrated after visiting specialist after specialist but still dealing with the same problem?
I understand and I’d like to help. Fill out the form below to connect with my team and schedule an appointment.
