healthcare vs. wellness.

One of the hot topic debates during the election year was health insurance in the United States, and the flawed system of pharmaceuticals. I agree that its absolutely unacceptable that basic health needs are not covered, and that cancer patients and the elderly are unable to pay their medical bills because their HMOs have refused to cover treatment. While health care in this country needs improvement, our mentality towards taking care of our bodies is flawed.

When we get headaches, we reach for the nearest painkiller. When we are in a bad mood or irritable for a few months, we go to our therapists and ask about the commercial we saw for Prozac. When we sit on the couch, binging on greasy potato chips and buffalo wings, we see a commercial for Nexium, and realize these very heartburn symptoms are what we are experiencing right now. When we get a cold, we immediately medicate with Tylenol Cold, instead of looking for natural remedies. As Americans, we depend on medication. We medicate ourselves before trying to problem solve.

The feelings of pain and discomfort are our body's way of telling us that something is wrong. Instead of looking to relieve our symptoms, we need to keep track of these symptoms and look into the greater cause. Could you be constipated from a lack of fiber or from being dehydrated? Do you have constant migraine headaches from the over-consumption of red meat?

This topic comes to mind as a recent college graduate who has been kicked off my dad's health insurance. I've been forced to come up with new and inventive ways to avoid going to the doctor. During this quest I've discovered a few tricks to keep you WELL. It's all about preventative measures. I'm finding that I'm healthier now with no health insurance than I was with full coverage. Go figure. Here are some things I've learned:

Stop popping OTC painkillers for every ache and pain. They'll stop working. Pick and choose your battles (aches).

Midol/Pamprin do not work. Yes, they take the pain away, but really, you're filling up on a painkiller/diuretic that really only lasts for 4 hours tops. Pop an anti-inflammatory painkiller (NSAID's like Aleve or Motrin), drink lots of water and go to a yoga class. Bikram Yoga is actually reported to relieve menstrual pain all together.

The minute you feel a cold symptom, TAKE ZICAM! This stuff seriously works. I usually get colds constantly (I'm taking immune system boosters now, yes) and Zicam knocks whatever cold I have in a little under a week. AMAZING! Yes, it's about $20, but really, isn't it worth it? Colds suck.

Look into natural/homemade cures for acne/skin problems online. My best girlfriend clued me into this. Seeing a dermatologist can really break the bank, even if you do have health insurance. There are some great remedies that use ingredients often found in your fridge or medicine cabinet. I haven't tried any yet myself, but look out for reviews in the future.

...and all around take better care of yourself! Try to put in that time at the gym, and make better food choices. Sometimes just a minor tweak in your daily life will save you a lot of headaches (literal and figurative) in the future. Your body will thank you for it.