THERE'S NO
Everyone's trying to cut costs, but your health is not the place to scrimp. No one knows how bad the economy will get, but a major (or even a minor) health crisis surely won't help.
Some health problems are unavoidable, but there are relatively inexpensive things you can do to safeguard your health and bolster yourself to weather the coming financial storm.
LOW-COST HELP
Focus on things that are totally or almost free.
Get enough sleep. Lack of adequate sleep can have detrimental side effects such as decreased productivity, increased stress and weight gain.
Approximately seven to nine hours a night is recommended, although individual needs vary. Getting enough sleep costs nothing more than a comfortable spot and some quiet.
Exercise outdoors. If the weather allows, you don't necessarily have to pay to go to a gym. You just need a good pair of walking/running shoes and a safe street, track or trail. Or you can exercise at home to a DVD, or with activities like yoga, which calms the mind and requires little room.
Consider riding a bike. If you already have a bicycle (having to buy one would make this tip no longer inexpensive), consider riding to work or to do light errands. You'll get exercise, reduce stress, save on gas and help the environment.
Safeguard your bones by getting calcium and vitamin D from your food. Adult women need between 1,000 and 1,200 grams of calcium and 400 to 800 IU of vitamin D per day. Instead of supplements, try to get what you need from your diet.
Getting adequate vitamins and minerals from our diets can sometimes be tough, but calcium and vitamin D have been added to a lot of foods, and most women can get enough by eating just three to four servings of calcium-rich foods per day--foods like dairy and soy products, fortified orange and grapefruit juices, some cereals, and leafy green vegetables like kale, collards and spinach.
Ramp up your intake of these foods, and you may be able to cut down on supplement costs.
Eat at home. Evidence shows that people who eat at home eat more healthful diets. And, it's cheaper. Shop with coupons, buy store brands and take advantage of store sales to boost your savings even more.
SPEND LESS ON CARE
Here are some ways to cut your health care costs:
Space your Pap smears out. Not everyone can do this (for example, those with a history of cervical cancer/precancer and women under 30). But most women over 30 who have a history of regular, normal Pap smears don't need to have a Pap smear every year.
This is especially true if you've had the HPV (human papilloma virus) test along with your Pap. If both are normal, your chance of developing cervical cancer within the next three years is only 1 in 1,000.
Most women with no cervix because of a hysterectomy, or who are around 65-70 years of age, can skip the Pap altogether. Just remember, you still need a yearly pelvic exam.
Get your mammograms done at the mobile mammogram van, especially if you have no history of breast cancer or other breast disease. Mobile mammograms often cost less than those done at a hospital or radiology center.
Ask for generics. Generic medications offer considerable cost savings over brand-name medications, and are usually just as effective. There are times when your doctor will recommend a brand name, but an equally effective generic alternative may be available. Ask.
Look into Wal-Mart's $4 prescriptions. Get a copy of the $4-per-month (or $10 for three months) prescription list from Wal-Mart at walmart.com (click on the Pharmacy link) to see if your medications are included. Some other stores, including Target, also have $4 prescription programs. In these tough times, any cost savings is a good thing.
Increase your health-insurance deductible. If you have health insurance, are relatively healthy and have savings you can use to cover initial medical costs, consider increasing your deductible, especially if you pay for your own insurance. This will lower your monthly insurance premium.
Of course, none of these tips is going to solve the economic crisis, but as we head into lean times, our health will be more important than ever and every little bit of savings counts.
Dr. Arlene Lewis welcomes reader comments and questions. She can be reached by writing to her at The Free Lance-Star, 616 Amelia St., Fredericksburg, Va., 22401 or by
Dr. Arlene Lewis is a gynecologist in private practice at Thrive! Health and Wellness Center for Women in Fredericksburg. |