HealthyLife Articles

Tag: Healthcare

Save On Dental Care

Medical Care

Take care of those teeth.

Get a dental checkup twice a year. Brush your teeth two times a day. Floss one or more times a day. You will have something to smile about when you hear “no cavities” and receive lower dental bills.

Look for advertised specials.

Many dentists offer specials or discounts to attract new patients. These include free X-rays, cleanings, and/or exams. Even if you have a regular dentist, you can take advantage of these services. Go back to your regular dentist for other work. Look for advertised specials in direct mail packs and local newspapers.

Save with managed care dental plans.

If your health insurance plan offers an HMO or PPO option, use one of its dentists. You could save between 25 and 50% on your dental bills.

Find out about free and low-cost dental clinics and providers.

Get information fromwww.nidcr.nih.gov/FindingDentalCare.

Save money at dental schools.

They give discounts to patients willing to trust dental students. Licensed dentists or dental hygienists supervise the students. Find out where dental schools are located atwww.nidcr.nih.gov.

X-rays to go.

Dental X-rays are expensive and expose you to radiation. If you switch dentists, want a second opinion, or must see a specialist, take your X-rays with you. Just ask your dentist or his or her staff for them.

Materials matter.

Some types of fillings, bridges, and crowns cost more than others. Talk with your dentist about the ones that suit your needs, as well as your budget. Ask about OTC products to whiten your teeth.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Advance Directives

Medical Care

Hospitals and nursing homes are required to give you information about your rights as a patient under their care. Advance directives are a legal way for you to declare your wishes to choose or refuse medical treatment.

{Note: If you live in or get medical care in more than one state, have advance directives for all states involved.}

Two Types of Advance Directives

* Living Will. This written document states what medical treatment you would want or not want if you were unable to state it yourself. A living will applies when you can’t express your wishes on your own and you have a terminal illness or condition from which you aren’t expected to survive. In writing, you may choose or refuse:

– Measures to Support Life, such as a respirator (a machine to breathe for you).

– Measures to Sustain Life, such as tube feedings and kidney dialysis (a machine that does the work of your kidneys).

– Measures to Enhance Life. These keep you comfortable, but don’t prolong life. Examples are pain medications and hospice care.

* Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care. This written document names a person who would make treatment decisions for you if you are not able to make them yourself. This person would state your wishes. Your condition does not have to be terminal or irreversible to have someone speak on your behalf.

Each state has its own laws on advance directives. Get forms for them from your lawyer, local hospital or library, or from your state’s Web site. Other places for forms and information:

* Caring Connection:www.caringinfo.org– Click on “Planning Ahead” and “State-Specific Advance Directives.”

* U.S. Living Will Registry:www.uslivingwillregistry.com

After you complete advance directives, discuss them with your family and close friend(s). Give your doctor a copy, too.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Immunization Schedule

Medical Exams

1. For updates, contact CDC Immunization Program at 800.CDC.INFO (232.4636) orwww.cdc.gov/vaccines. Ask your child’s doctor what vaccines, health screenings, and checkups your child needs.

2. Catch-up vaccines should be given to children and teenagers who have not already had them.

3. PCV vaccine protects against meningitis and some pneumonias. One dose is needed for all healthy children aged 24-59 months who are not completely vaccinated for their age.

Vaccines for Traveling Abroad

Before you travel to other countries, find out if you need certain vaccines. Get information from the CDC Travelers’ Information Line. Call 800.CDC.INFO (232.4636) or use thewww.cdc.gov/travelWeb site. Discuss your needs with your doctor.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Patient Safety

Medical Care

Although estimates vary, as many as 251,000 people a year die in U.S. hospitals due to medical errors, also called Preventable Adverse Events (PAEs).

Take an active role in every decision about your health care. If needed, have a family member or friend oversee your care.

“Wrong-site” surgery includes operating on the wrong person, the wrong organ, or the wrong limb.

Before you are taken into surgery, make sure the surgery is the one scheduled for you. Mark the body part to be operated on, too. Use the marker, etc. the doctor gives you to do this.

Find out about patient safety from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement atihi.organd the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality atahrq.gov.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Save On Eye Care

Medical Care

“See” what you can do to get free or low cost vision care.

Get a list of state and national resources for free and low-cost aid fromwww.nei.nih.gov/health/financialaid.asp.

Eyeing eye care.

It costs less to have an eye exam from an optometrist than an ophthalmologist. An optometrist (O.D.) is trained and licensed to examine eyes, prescribe lenses, and detect vision problems. Ophthalmologists are M.D.s. They can do everything optometrists do. They can also do surgery and prescribe medicines.

Experience counts.

If you are thinking about having surgery, etc. to correct your vision, find an eye surgeon who has a good record and approved equipment for the type of surgery you want to have. Ask your current eye doctor to recommend an eye surgeon. Don’t just use ads and low prices as your only factors in choosing an eye surgeon. It could cost you more in the long run.

Get it in writing.

When you get an exam for eyeglasses or contact lenses, get a copy of the prescription. Use it to get prices from different retail places, pharmacies, mail-order companies, and online sites.

Check for coupons and discounts.

Some retailers offer discounts, “buy one, get one free,” etc. You may also be able to get a discount on eyeglasses, etc. through membership with your auto insurance company, credit card program, and/or warehouse stores.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Alternative Medicine Systems

Alternative Medicine

These are complete systems of theory and practice. Often, these systems have been used in other countries for centuries. They can be very different from mainstream medicine that is used in the U.S.

1. Ayurveda (“ah-yur-VAY-dah”). This system of diagnosis and treatment has been used in India for more than 5,000 years. It includes yoga, meditation, herbs, massage, specific diets, and controlled breathing.

2. Homeopathy This method is based on the idea that “like cures like.” Things that cause certain symptoms in a healthy person can also cure those symptoms in someone who is sick. They must be given in small, highly diluted amounts.

3. Naturopathy. This uses methods to allow the body to heal itself rather than treat disease. It uses diet, herbal medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy, body manipulation, etc.

4. Reiki (“RAY-kee”). This Japanese word stands for Universal Life Energy. With Reiki, spiritual energy is channeled through a Reiki practitioner to heal a patient’s spirit. Healing the spirit heals the physical body.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Immunize Or Your Health Care Costs Could Rise

Medical Exams

Vaccines prevent many diseases that could have a costly impact, resulting in doctor’s visits, hospitalizations, and premature deaths. Sick children can also cause parents to lose time from work.

* Learn about vaccines you and your children need fromcdc.gov/vaccines.

* Find if and which vaccines are covered benefits of your health plan.

* Contact your local health department about its vaccine services.

* Find out about free or low-cost vaccines for kids from the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program atcdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/index.html.

* Beginning in early fall, read local papers and store ads to find out where flu shots will be given. Find out if and when flu shots will be given at work.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Plan For Emergencies

Medication

Do you have a plan for what to do about your medicines during an emergency?

One-week supply:Have a 7-day supply of medications and other medical supplies. Check expiration dates every six months.

Storage tips:Store medications in labeled, child-proof containers in a dry, cool place. For refrigerated medicines, plan for some temporary storage.

An important list:Include a medication list (prescription and non-prescription) and phone numbers for your doctors and pharmacies. Include copies of current prescriptions.

ID cards:Always keep health insurance and prescription drug cards with you to replace damaged or lost medication, if needed.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Save On Hospital Services

Medical Care

Hunt for hospital quality.

Choose a hospital that has a good success record with the kind of surgery you need. You are less likely to die or have serious problems if the hospital does the surgery a lot. What is “a lot”? Some experts say the hospital should do a surgery at least 200 times a year. If the surgery you need is rare, that may not be possible. Ask about the hospital’s experience with surgeries like yours. Talk to your doctor, the hospital administrator, or the hospital’s chief of staff.

Avoid hospital germs.

Five to 10% of all hospital patients will get an infection they did not have before they were in the hospital. To protect yourself:

* Be well-rested and well fed before you go to the hospital.

* Check that persons who give you care wash or sanitize their hands.

* If a roommate gets pneumonia, ask to have your room changed.

Control consults.

You could get a hospital bill for a doctor visit that you didn’t even know about. To avoid this, try to make sure your doctor knows that you or someone acting for you must approve a consult with another doctor. If you can, ask your insurance company if the cost of the consult is covered in part or in full.

Keep track of hospital services.

Keep a list of services you get. Compare the list to your hospital bill. Have a friend or relative make the list if you can’t. Also, ask for an itemized bill and check it. Some common things to note are:

* Doctor visits. X-rays. Tests.

* Medicines (pills, shots, IVs).

* Giving blood samples.

* Consults and services with specialists.

* Anesthesia. Surgery. Receiving blood.

* Room charges. Telephone and TV charges.

You stay, you pay.

Find out when hospital check out time is and make plans to follow it. If not, you may be charged for an extra day.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Using Decongestants Safely

SELF-CARE CORNER

As we approach the peak season for colds and flu, many people turn to over-the-counter medicines for relief. And if you have a stuffy nose (known as nasal congestion), you may be thinking about taking a decongestant.

What are decongestants?

Decongestants are medicines designed to relieve stuffiness and pressure in the nose and sinuses. The two over-the-counter decongestants available are phenylephrine (i.e., Sudafed PE) and pseudoephedrine. Pseudoephedrine are stocked behind a pharmacy counter, but you don’t need a prescription. Both medicines work by shrinking blood vessels in the nose, allowing air to pass through more easily.

Are decongestants safe?

Decongestants are safe when they are used properly. Here’s what to know before you take one:

* Read the label and be sure you understand how much you can take and how often to take it. If you’re not sure, ask your pharmacist or doctor.

* Know the active ingredients. Many cold and flu products contain several active ingredients. They are listed on the drug facts label at the top. Be sure you don’t accidentally take too much of one ingredient. For instance, many cold products contain acetaminophen, a pain reliever that can be toxic in high doses. If you’ve already taken a pain reliever with acetaminophen and you take the cold medicine too, you could take too much acetaminophen.

* Talk to your doctor before taking a decongestant if you have diabetes, heart conditions, high blood pressure, glaucoma, prostate problems or thyroid disease.

* If you take other over-the-counter or prescription medicines, ask your doctor if decongestants can be safely taken with your other medicines.

* Do not give decongestants or any cough or cold product to kids under 4 years of age. Ask your child’s pediatrician before giving them any medicines.

* Talk to your doctor if you need to take a decongestant for longer than a week.

What about nasal sprays?

Saline nasal sprays with no medicine in them are safe to use daily, as often as needed. These can help flush out allergens and mucus so you can breathe easier. Not sure if it’s just saline? Look at the drug facts label and be sure it contains only sodium chloride as the active ingredient.

But, decongestant sprays that contain active ingredients are not safe to take for more than three days in a row. This is because your body can become dependent on them. When this happens, your nose may become even stuffier over time, and you’ll have to use more and more spray to get relief.

Medicines can help you cope with bothersome cold and flu symptoms. But, be safe and savvy before you take them – and keep them in a locked cabinet out of children’s reach!

Sources: American Academy of Family Physicians, Food and Drug Administration

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026