It’s Time to Take Control of Your Health

By Dr. Michael Cerami

If this article doesn’t scare the pants off you, it should.  http://healthland.time.com/2013/02/20/bitter-pill-why-medical-bills-are-killing-us/ The unpredictable and exorbitant cost of medical treatment continues to rise astronomically. Our insurance companies will continue to limit our choices and reduce payments until there is a consumer revolution in health care.

Yes, strong words and somewhat apocalyptic I admit. I MEANT to get your attention. Look at some of these fees:

·         $15,000.00 for lab tests

·         $995.00 for an ambulance ride

·         $8000.00 for a stress test

·         $9400.00 for an ER visit

·         $1791.00 per day room charge

·         $13,225.00 per day ICU charge

·         $6538.00 for 3 CT scans

Let’s keep talking numbers. I had a patient last month that asked me a very interesting question. He was referring to his mom who has struggled with her health her entire life and is really hurting now. He said, “Dr. Cerami, I wonder how my mom would be feeling today if she was under chiropractic care her entire life? I mean, I feel so good it’s a shame she didn’t start getting adjusted when she was young.”  I thought about it for minute as an investment. If she invested in her health maintenance for just 20 years of care at our office, her out of pocket costs would be about $10,000.00. At first glance it seems like a lot. But wait… now compare it to those fees quoted in the magazine article.

Taking care of that knee pain today with bio-mechanical correction and FSM might save you (or at least put off) a knee replacement surgery. Getting your child adjusted at 10 years old might reduce the dependence of NSAID medication in the future at prevent liver or stomach problems. Attending to that bicycle crash immediately could get you an additional 20 years of riding in your senior years.

The bottom line is this. YOU need to take control of your health today. There’s no sugar daddy waiting to “help you” when you get sick. The grim reality is that if and when you injure yourself or get sick there’s going to be more than just physical pain. It’s going to cost you more and more very year that goes by and my guess is that your insurance premiums are going to double in less than 5 years.  And for what? Extortion money you pay the insurance company to “cover” you because you think your health outcomes are out of your control?

I believe you can change the outcome if you are willing to do the work.

Please read the entire article to get a clear idea of what’s happening behind closed doors. Then make a real commitment to taking an active participation in managing and controlling your health. You can begin by:

·         Reducing your stress

·         Cleaning up your diet

·         Getting a maintenance adjustment monthly

·         Starting and continuing an exercise program

·         Reading more on how to take better care of yourself

·         Educate yourself on how to make medical decisions:  http://www.amazon.com/Your-Medical-Mind-Decide-Right/dp/014312224X

·         Make your health a priority not a second class citizen that only gets attention when it’s complaining

Remember: all theses action steps will save you BIG DOLLARS (and less pain) in the long run. Start today!

Dr. Michael Cerami is a local Utah sports chiropractor and triathlete who has been treating patients for over 25 years. He writes a weekly patient blog and monthly athlete article for community education on a wide variety of topics including treating sports injuries, nutrition, exercise, motivation and wellness.