The SECRETS to Avoiding Medical Bills in 2020 | JET PHYSIO SPORTS PHYSICAL THERAPY

5 Free Secrets to Lower Your Chances of Going to the Doctor

I’m going to dive right in on this topic. I don’t actually believe any of these are secrets. It’s widely accepted that these 5 concepts are a no-brainer and will help avoid medical bills. But, what I will say about them may surprise you.

1. Nutrition

Again, this is conventional wisdom. If you ask anyone, “Do you want to be healthy?” 99.9% of people will say yes. Those same people know the answer is “eating right”, but don’t do it anyway. The reasons are this: most people don’t know where to begin, they don’t understand how big of an impact it has, they can’t give up their favorite foods.

Let’s keep things simple. There are plenty of fad diets out there, but the research supports a common theme: get your macronutrients. Carbs, fats, and proteins are the basis of proper nutrition. Don’t demonize one macronutrient over the other, because all three of them are important.

The other secret (or reminder) is to diversify your food. Here’s an easy concept: The more color, the better! According to Heart.org, the best way to get essential vitamins and minerals is to “eat a variety of fruits and vegetables.”

2. Exercise

We know exercise helps with heart health, pain, decreasing falls, and improves mood. All three help avoid trips to the doctor and hefty medical bills. The problem isn’t starting exercise, it’s maintaining it. Gyms and fitness clubs offer incentives to sign up 6-month and 12-month commitments because they know most people quit after the first month. 1 month of exercise is not enough to keep you from avoiding medical bills in 2020. Here’s two concepts that may help avoid this trap.

Internalize the importance of exercise towards your health. Would you rather spend 30 minutes a day walking, or $40,000 on coronary bypass surgery? Don’t underestimate the importance of daily exercise for avoiding the hospital and ER. The ACSM recommends you exercise 5x a week at a moderate intensity for at least 30 minutes, in order to maintain good health and avoid unnecessary medical bills.

Find exercise that you enjoy! It will be significantly easier to exercise when it’s something you enjoy. Generally speaking, actually exercising in whatever form is more important than the type of exercise itself. If you don’t know where to begin, YouTube is a great resource. Search videos on CrossFit, Yoga, Pilates, Weightlifting, Outdoor exercise, or 10-minute workouts. See what tickles your fancy, then let your curiosity give it a try.

It takes 21 days to make something a habit, and 90 days to make it routine. These two concepts should help you get started!

Mood

My mom was a realtor and broker during the 2008 housing market crisis. I won’t get into too much detail, but I will say that her stresses of sending two kids to college, managing her parents’ health ailments, and worrying how she’s going to pay the bills actually put her in the hospital (Patients undergoing hysterectomy were significantly more anxious and depressed both pre- and post-operatively as compared to the control patients). Stress can lead to hospitalization, medication, and unforeseen medical bills (even more stress!).

Here’s the secret: take 10 minutes everyday to sit, reflect, and meditate on what is positive in your life (the air you breathe, the friends you have, etc.). You’ll be surprised at how much it can lower your stress and cortisol levels in your body.

Risky Behavior

I’m not talking about ski jumps, mountain biking, or cliff jumping. If you do those things, make sure you have a helmet and have not had any alcohol. On a more relatable level, a large number of hospital admittances, ER visits, urgent care appointments stem from accidents due to clumsiness. The medical bills nationwide sum up to around 50-75 billion dollars annually!

Balance, muscle strength, and flexibility all diminish with age. 1 in 4 individuals over age 65 fall each year. And at that age, bone integrity is weak and it may lead to a hip or shoulder fracture. Falls are among the most prevalent, but most preventable causes of hospital admissions. You prevent falls by improving your balance and strength, but also educating yourself on how to lower your risk for falls. This includes cleaning up unnecessary clutter, electing for stable footwear, and not rushing yourself. You aren’t 20 years old anymore, where you don’t have to worry about falling when running down the stairs. Unless proper exercise and nutrition has been a permanent staple for you, understand that you are at risk!

Treat Yourself

Don’t be so “Gung-Ho” with your new fitness lifestyle. Be proud of it, and reward yourself appropriately. Go on a vacation, laze on the beach, eat something decadent. But make nutrition, exercise, and positivity the backbone of your mindset in 2020

Here’s my 2020 challenge to you: In 21 days, I want you to email me (info@jetphysio.com) what good habit you formed in the month of January. Just one! Feel free to write me a short note of what you plan on doing also. I want to be able to congratulate you in 21 days, and encourage you to keep up the good work. 2020 is YOUR year!