The actual cost of obesity may be as high as $8,000 for women because they may earn less in the workplace than their “slim sisters.” (more)]]> It isn’t a secret that obesity often has deadly consequences. We’re all aware that there is an increased risk of diabetes as well as heart disease. But the bad news doesn’t end there. Obesity now costs 17 percent of the total health bill amounting to at least $2,800 more per year for an obese person.

The actual cost of obesity may be as high as $8,000 for women because they may earn less in the workplace than their “slim sisters.” Seems there is more discrimination against fat women than men.

For employers there are extra costs as well. Obese employees will probably have more sick days, which translates into less productivity. And they may have more disability claims as their legs and backs suffer from the extra weight.

Obese children have at lease two strikes against them. They are more likely to develop diabetes, and they are less likely to be accepted by their peer groups because they don’t participate in sports and other activities.

We all have a responsibility to help children make better food choices by insisting that schools eliminate high sugar snacks and drinks. If adults don’t take the lead to help our children, who will?

Nowadays, retirement is on everyone’s lips if they are heading into their 60s. Recently an article from US News listed the seven secrets of a happy (more)]]> While growing up on a farm in southern Indiana, I don’t recall ever hearing the word “retire.” Farmers just kept on until they dropped. Well, that isn’t exactly the truth-there was often a son who took over the actual farming while Dad and Mom continued to live out their days in their old farm home.

Nowadays, retirement is on everyone’s lips if they are heading into their 60s. Recently an article from US News listed the seven secrets of a happy retirement. No surprise that good health is No. 1. Without it, nothing else matters very much. Here is the rest of the list:

• A significant other; married or cohabitating couples are happier than singles in retirement.
• A social network; having friends was reported to be more important than having kids or grandkids.
• Not being addicted to television; happy retirees have a variety of interesting activities to fill their time.
• Maintaining intellectual curiosity with brain stimulators; bridge, reading, etc.
• Not addicted to achievement if your job defined who you are; you will probably have more difficulty in retirement.
• Enough money to support your retirement lifestyle. More than that does not seem to increase happiness.

I will add one more thing to the list. Become a volunteer or work part-time. It will help fulfill many of the requirements on this page.

Mine was when my husband awakened me early one morning to tell me that he was suffering severe chest pains. He was already dressed and told me that he was driving himself to the emergency room.

We all know that the ONLY way to handle this situation is to call 911. Never, under any (more)]]> Have you or a loved one ever had to deal with a medical crisis? Lucky you, if you haven’t. Most of us older citizens have had this experience.

Mine was when my husband awakened me early one morning to tell me that he was suffering severe chest pains. He was already dressed and told me that he was driving himself to the emergency room.

We all know that the ONLY way to handle this situation is to call 911. Never, under any circumstances, should the patient or spouse to do the driving. Unfortunately, my husband had a very strong will and away he went. The good news is that he arrived at the hospital safely, but later admitted that it was all he could do to keep the car on the road.

Where was I? Scrambling to get there as quickly as possible. He survived after having angioplasty but it could have been a very different ending.

My own medical crisis was when I learned that the biopsy report from an earlier surgery indicated that cancer cells were present. The oncologist recommended a second, much more invasive surgery.

That’s when I began my investigation about where to get a second opinion and what were my other options. Again, a happy ending. No more surgery but constant vigilance and check-ups.

So far, so good.

Preparing for potential crisis includes keeping your will and power-of-attorney updated and having a friend or family member who can help in an emergency. Emergencies happen when we least expect them and they require quick thinking and immediate action. Consider taking a CPR or First Aid class at your local EMS department. Remain calm so you can talk to the person in crisis and get information from them. Call 911 if you think you need immediate help.
Also remember to be vigilant about your health. Get routine exams, eat right and exercise.

Barbara Lewis, host of WFYI’s Sound Medicine and Inside Indiana Business, moderated this talk on the IUPUI campus. Several students and faculty attended—including some physicians.

Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Indiana University School of Medicine, Dr. Lee Learman discussed the importance of communication between patients and physicians. Dr. Learman (more)]]> On Nov. 1, I invited two health care professions to join me to discuss a topic I’m passionate about and have written about here several times—patient empowerment.

Barbara Lewis, host of WFYI’s Sound Medicine and Inside Indiana Business, moderated this talk on the IUPUI campus. Several students and faculty attended—including some physicians.

Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Indiana University School of Medicine, Dr. Lee Learman discussed the importance of communication between patients and physicians. Dr. Learman has a doctorate in social psychology and has studied physician/patient interaction.

Too often the interaction is one-sided, he said, with the patient not contributing enough information. “You want the type of conversation that benefits you. And, use your voice—that will definitely benefit you,” he added.

I truly believe what Dr. Learman said. We need to shift from being passive patients to being active patients. I know from my own experience that we patients can do so many things to keep us empowered. Communication is key to this. For example, when you leave a physician’s office, the two of you should agree on the next steps in your treatment plan. Dr. Learman often asks his patients what they understand about the diagnosis just given to them or about what was discussed in the office.

Executive Director of Indiana University National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health, Dr. Debra Stiffler has a deep interest in communication. Before she began delivering babies as a midwife, she worked as a labor and delivery nurse. She wasn’t happy with that role because she didn’t have a chance to communicate much with patients after the birth of the baby. In midwifery, she can work beside a woman from adolescence to old age.

Dr. Stiffler discussed the importance of choosing the right health care provider that will address your specific concerns. “Once you find the right one, bring what meds you’re on and which doctor prescribed which medication. Bring a list of questions so you won’t forget them.”

According to Dr. Learman, the best doctors want patients who care about their health and are willing to communicate effectively with them. “The right health care providers are delighted to meet empowered patients.”

Ask yourself, though, how much of this is your own fault?

I know what you’re probably thinking. “Lorene, you weren’t there and don’t understand the situation.” Well, I have been there many times myself. I (more)]]> How many of you have felt cheated after leaving a medical appointment? Your complaint may be about a shortage of time, or the doctor talking mumble jumble (med talk that you don’t understand), or simply leaving with another handful of prescriptions without precisely understanding what’s changed.

Ask yourself, though, how much of this is your own fault?

I know what you’re probably thinking. “Lorene, you weren’t there and don’t understand the situation.” Well, I have been there many times myself. I finally decided that I couldn’t change the doctor, but I could change my approach to the appointment.

Here’s what I do:

1. I bring my personal health care notebook that contains information on every appointment. (You can find information about how to create your own notebook elsewhere on my website.)

2. I have another loose-leaf notebook with dividers where I keep information about different doctors. I write down the date of the appointment at the top of the page and the name of the doctor. You may also want to make a note of how long you waited to see the doctor and how long your actual appointment with him or her was. In the first paragraph I write why I’m seeing the doctor noting symptoms, the length of time they’ve existed and what I’ve done about them on my own. In the next paragraph, I write a list of questions to ask, leaving space to write down answers. It’s always helpful, if you can, to bring someone with you to take down this information. Finally, I summarize the visit, note if drugs have been prescribed and why, or if other therapy and referrals to specialists have been suggested. I also ask the doctor if there is a preferred way to communicate with his or her office if questions arise after the appointment.

You will be amazed at the professional care you will receive because the doctor will know that you are on target with making sure that you get the maximum from the appointment. Everyone should take a pledge to be a better patient. That will also ensure better appointments.

Where else can you do this when you don’t pay with cash, a check or credit card? Instead, if you have a Medicare card, you just hand it over and expect to get service. It’s really amazing when (more)]]> We live in a society where we can “purchase” science for one of the most important aspects of our lives, our bodies. And we often pay nothing for it, or at the least no money changes hands at the time of our “purchase.”

Where else can you do this when you don’t pay with cash, a check or credit card? Instead, if you have a Medicare card, you just hand it over and expect to get service. It’s really amazing when you think about it.

But what is generally our attitude when we have nothing invested in a service or activity? We think it isn’t worth much. How often do you think that attitude prevails today when we receive our “free” health care?

Perhaps if we felt that we had some responsibility for our medical outcomes, we might invest more effort in the process. Consider this: We make an appointment with the doctor, show up and leave with advice that we don’t necessarily follow. And then we complain about health care?

Come on folks. Do your part in this physician/patient partnership. If you don’t agree with your doctor’s advice, talk about it and come to an agreement on what you are willing to do. Here are some examples of sound medical advice that patients very often don’t follow. Hang your head in shame if any of these apply to you.

1. You are told to lose weight, yet you have no intention of changing the way you eat.
2. You are told to stop smoking, but know how hard that will be, so you don’t even try.
3. The doctor tells says you drink too much and advises you to cut back. Your response? “Oh, come on doctor, be serious. I don’t drink that much.”
4. When told to take every bit of prescribed medicine, you stop when you start to feel better.
5. The doctor tells you that an exercise program will help you lose weight and feel better.

What do you say? “I don’t do sweat, doctor. Besides, exercise just doesn’t fit into my schedule right now.”

See the problem? We waste everyone’s time and then we complain we’re not getting results.

What could possibly be more important to you than you good health and well-being?

The truth about those waits is that when doctors are paid by the number of patients they see, they may double-book patients for 10 to 15-minute (more)]]> On a scale of one to 10, how much does your doctor annoy you? Are you forced to wait more than 30-minutes past your scheduled appointment? That would be a 10, in my book. Or, have you ever felt that he or she isn’t really concentrating on your problem? That would be another 10.

The truth about those waits is that when doctors are paid by the number of patients they see, they may double-book patients for 10 to 15-minute appointments. That means you often end up in their office for an hour or more.

Here are some suggestions about how to handle doctors who make you wait.

1. Switch doctors. Make an appointment to interview a new doctor and just talk.

2. If your insurance company allows it, ask for a discount. Your time is valuable, too.

3. Post reviews on Internet sites. Doctors hate them!

4. Complain to the doctor and show him or her how angry you are.

5. Ask the doctor how he or she feels about waiting for a medical appointment, or any other appointment for that matter.

If the doctor is a specialist whose practice involves life-threatening emergencies, be prepared to wait without complaint. You would certainly want the doctor to address your own medical crisis with all the time, attention and care possible.

As for not having your doctor’s full attention, ask yourself if you are part of the problem? Have you prepared a concise list of symptoms for the ailment that brought you to the office in the first place? Have you prepared a list of questions? These are some of the things that make doctors gnash their teeth and give patients a 10 on the annoyance scale.

The bottom line here is that there is vast room for improvement on both sides in the dynamic relationship between doctors and patients. Do your part to make that relationship work.

What’s the point of this bragging bonanza? If we are going to live longer as predicted by the longevity gurus, we also want to live well! What’s the point of being 95 and unable to (more)]]> I don’t feel like I’m 76 years old and people tell me that I don’t look that old either. But here’s the best part: I’m happy, fulfilled and passionate about my newly created life as a writer. After only six years, I’ve produced six books.

What’s the point of this bragging bonanza? If we are going to live longer as predicted by the longevity gurus, we also want to live well! What’s the point of being 95 and unable to function?
I believe that our lifestyle and attitude have a lot to do with living well as we age. I know that I harp about being overweight, but folks, look around you the next time you are in a doctor’s office. How many people are there that are overweight versus how many that are at their best weight for their bone structure, height and age? If you are overweight, don’t use the excuse that you have big bones or that everyone in your family is over weight so it must be genetic.

In a July 13th Wall Street Journal article, the headline was “Eating to Live or Living to Eat.” It describes two types of people. Those who eat to live are homeostatic. Those who live to eat are hedonic eaters. Hedonic eaters don’t listen to their body’s built-in mechanism that regulates hunger.

For example, if lunch is over and you feel full at the sight of dessert, homeostatic eaters say, no thanks. But hedonic eaters don’t listen to their body’s built-in mechanism that regulates hunger. Not surprisingly, they are more likely to be obese.

The scientists who are conducting this research developed a “Power-of-Food” gauge to determine how vulnerable we are to hedonic eating. They can even tell through brain scans that Hedonic eaters have stronger reactions to images of food than non-obese people.

So the question is, if you think you are a hedonic eater, what are you going to do about it?

One thing you can do is change your diet. Studies have found that a diet of sweet, high-fat foods can indeed blunt the body’s built-in fullness signals. However, some studies suggest the best way to do this is by having a very controlled lifestyle with restrained food intake and exercise.

Knowing what kind of eater you are and why you are eating is also important so you can limit yourself from eating on impulse.