15.1-15.12
Healthcare and Responsibility
This week’s chapter begins with how a person’s health is his or her responsibility to be proactive. There are certain points in a person’s life where they will get sick and need to decide if self-care versus seeing a professional is necessary. Practicing preventative care, can greatly reduce a reason to be seen by a doctor. Always paying attention to one’s body signals and alerts, can assist in realizing something isn’t balanced. Using routine check ups, proper use of over-the-counter medications( OTCs), using reputable services for health evaluations, and a healthy way of living, are all ways to take care of one’s self. Having severe health symptoms such as high fevers, shortness of breath, and unexplained bleeding/weight loss, must always be inspected by a professional instead of just as self-care. There is also the topic of the placebo effect, and how sometimes a person will be taking a substance or procedure and feel effects of an improved state or a cure. At times, people may be taking sugar pills or procedures with little evidence for wellness, and their mind will tell them they are feeling better because of it. The desire or expectations, will persuade a person that a health choice is working in their favor. There is also the opposite called the nocebo effect, which is a negative outlook on a procedure or substance that can influence how a person heals negatively.
Health Professionals
It is also discussed how choosing health professionals are key to having a strong relationship and having confidence in a doctor’s abilities. Seeing certifications and if a doctor is affiliated with high standing medical facilities, are components to look at. Not only that, making sure a patient knows their rights when receiving medical attention is important. A person has the right to know if their procedure is standard or experimental, the right to informed consent, and the right of being able to refuse treatment. There are also the discussion of allopathic medicine, which is considered western, and scientifically based medical practices. This includes primary care practitioners, specialists, nurses, and physician assistants.
Prescription and Over-The-Counter Drugs
About 49 percent of Americans have taken at least one prescription drug in the last 30 days and about 11percent take three or more. Doing one’s research on drugs that are prescribed and seeing if there are any cheaper generic brands are important. When it comes to OTCs, it is advised to read the medicine label for all ingredients, and to ask your health care provider to see if certain ones are alright to take with other medications that a person may take. Taking OTCs occasionally is deemed to be harmless, but if one takes it often enough, it can create a dependency and possible organ damage.
Complementary & Integrative Health
Another topic gone over is the different medical approaches that are popular. With complementary health approach, a non-mainstreamed way of dealing with health problems are used with something mainstream. Using prescriptions for pain, while using yoga would be a form complementary therapy. This way of dealing with health problems are also known as integrative medicine. There is also alternative medicine which are non-conventional means of health practices. Traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, Homeopathy, and Naturopathy, are medical routes that are seen as non conforming to the practical types of scientific medicine. There are also mind and body therapies such as acupuncture, acupressure, reiki, and qigong. These energy therapies have controversy on how effective they are, considering there could be a placebo reaction for patients.
Health Insurance
When it comes to health insurance there is private insurance, which charge premiums, and medicaid/medicare which are funded by taxes. The three most common types of insurance are HMOs, PPOs, and POSs. There are many concerns with cost and accessibility when it comes to being insured; the ACA or the affordable care act was introduced to address these issues.
Reflection
This is my last reflection for the semester and I must say overall I did complete most of my goals. I have been regularly going to the gym, and do at least one yoga session each week. I may have veered away from the keto diet a little bit, but I did manage to lose 5lbs. I also have stayed clear of alcohol still, which I’m proud of everyday. When looking at this weeks chapter, I must say I need to do more preventative health care. I rarely go to the doctor unless I’m sick, and I have insurance that covers most of those preventative measures, so I really shoud take advantage of it. I also need to be more vigilant with what doctors examine me, and to make sure I ask the right questions concerning my health. There is also making sure my that I have health insurance that makes more sense for myself. I believe I have an HMO , which kind of restricts who I can see but is less expensive premium wise. Even though this class is ending; I intend to keep up with my health goals.
Kim's Health Journey 