An Ounce of Prevention
Looking for ways to cut healthcare costs? The answers may be as close as your own kitchen
By KTRH's John Labus
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Doctors agree there are a few basic ingredients to living a healthier life. If there were five tips they could offer, UT Health Science Center Cardiologist Lance Gould says they'd be food, exercise, weight control, enjoyment - and staying on your prescription medications. "If you do the five things, you can reduce that risk of death, heart attacks... or bypass surgery or stents by 80 to 90-percent; so it works!"
There are some other things that will help you checkbook - and your health. "Having a primary care doctor significantly reduces health care costs and improves people's lifestyle... If you don't smoke, don't start; and if you do smoke, quit!" Dr. Victor Sierpina at UTMB says it's equally important to have an active prayer life. "I think having a spiritual community of support - people that care about you and that share your values - clearly is associated with good health."
Dr. Gould says studies show that maintaining a proper diet - and avoiding the obesity epidemic has a positive effect on your wallet. "Do what you have to do in the traditional medical sense... but if you do the first four (food, exercise, weight control, healthy hobbies) usually you get away with less medicines, less docs, less cost."
He's even conducting what he calls a 'Century Trial'. "Why is it called century? Well, because I'm a firm believer that if you do these five things, there's a real good chance that most people could live a healthy century."