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Saturday, August 6, 2011

Here's how to avoid hospitals and doctors

I've been working in this field for 15 years now, yet it was in year one that I first noticed the pattern. Some of my patients are people who took care of themselves and just got unlucky. Yet a majority are people who made themselves a regular patient of mine.

So, that said, here is a list of things you will need to do to minimize your appearances at a hospital, and hopefully you'll never have to meet an RT like me.

That said, here's the rules to a healthy you:
  1. Educate yourself. I can think of nothing more important than this. Read so you can learn how to take care of yourself
  2. Don't smoke
  3. If you do smoke, quit smoking
  4. Don't let people smoke in front of you or your kids
  5. Get plenty of physical activity (walk, jog, run)
  6. Participate in muscle toning exercises
  7. Eat a healthy diet most of the time
  8. Eat an unhealthy diet some of the time
  9. Know the difference between a healthy diet and an unhealthy diet (see rule #1)
  10. Limit your stress (Don't make a big deal out of little things)
  11. Learn relaxation techniques
  12. Don't put your foot or finger under a lawnmower
  13. Wear your seatbelt ALWAYS (make your kids wear them too)
  14. Learn how to correctly fasten your kids into their car seats, and how to correctly insert the car seat into the vehicle (90% of car seats are inserted incorrectly)
  15. Don't distract yourself while driving
  16. Get at least 8 hours of sleep every night (or as often as possible)
  17. Spend quality time with your kids or any kids (they make you younger)
  18. Drive safely
  19. Get an annual wellness checkup with your doctor
  20. If you don't feel right, don't procrastinate, seek help immediately
  21. If you feel chest pain, seek help immediately
  22. If you become short of breath, seek help immediately
  23. Keep your bloodpressure normal
  24. Don't be modest (modesty kills)
  25. Know that nobody in the medical field will think you are stupid for visiting the ER because you "might not be sick enough." If you even think you need help, get help. If the doctor says you're fine, then at least you'll have piece of mind
  26. Avoid second hand smoke
  27. Don't take life to seriously
  28. Have fun, but don't overdo it
  29. Drink alcohol on occasion, but use common sense (studies show some alcohol is good for you, and those who drink live longer than those who don't. The Irish had it right by their old saying, "You see more old drunkards than old doctors."
  30. Take your medicine
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