Your doctor and your health insurance company are not the people in charge of your healthcare. In reality they are only there to help you receive the important medical care and medical supplies you need. The real master of your health and well-being, is you. With the recent decline in health care coverage and the increase in costs, it has become incredibly important for all of us to be more proactive with our healthcare, and not just a helpless bystander. Below are some simply steps to help you be more proactive about controlling your healthcare.
Step 1: Choose Your Doctor Carefully
It’s a sad fact that some physicians aren’t entirely honest with their practice. Some will do whatever they can to make as much money as possible, even if it means doing extra and unnecessary procedures. On the same note, some may even ignore important routine checks and tests that should be paid attention to.
That’s why you shouldn’t just go with the first doctor you find who accepts your insurance. Go online and do your own research. Read reviews on physicians offices and the doctors themselves. Look at this scenario as if you are buying a car, only this is much more important.
Word-of-mouth is also a great way of finding doctors, ask your friends and friends of friends, about which doctors they’ve had good or bad experiences with. Usually word-of-mouth references work the best if they are from people you know you can trust.
Even though there is a lot of work that goes into finding a doctor, but you will be happy later when you find a doctor who works well with you, and will pay attention to your individual needs.
Step 2: Make Necessary Lifestyle Changes
Continuing to do the things that may have lead to your chronic illness (eating unhealthy foods, not exercising, smoking, etc.) will only make managing your healthcare even harder, and more expensive. If your lifestyle didn’t contribute to your illness, there are still some changes you can make to help make a difference in your health.
Some of the overall lifestyle changes you can make, are eating fresh healthy foods and cutting out fried, fast food, foods high in salt and processed foods, quitting smoking, cutting back on how much alcohol you consume, drinking plenty of water and getting enough regular exercise. Make sure to talk to your doctor about any supplements you are, or should be taking, and which exercises you should be doing in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Step 3: Do Some Reading On Your Conditions
You should learn about your illness on your own, and keep on top of new information. There are many newsletters that you might even be able to get for free, that has information on your chronic illness. You can also easily search the internet for websites full of important patient information, with tips of managing your illness.
Step 4: Manage Your Stress
Stress takes a big toll on your body, and if you have a chronic illness, it is likely a great source of stress in your life. It’s important to voice your concerns to your doctor and let him or her know if you are feeling depressed, stressed out or anxious. These things will only make your condition worse.
Scott joined American Medical Sales and Rentals in 2008 as a Web Manager and Content Writer. He is a writer and designer. He is extensively trained on oxygen therapy products from leading manufacturers such as Inogen, Respironics, Chart, Invacare, ResMed and more.
Scott works closely with respiratory therapists and oxygen specialists to educate the community about oxygen therapy products, COPD, asthma and lung diseases. He writes weekly columns and is passionate about educating the community on oxygen therapy and respiratory issues.
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Scott Ridlhttps://www.oxygenconcentratorstore.com/blog/author/scott/
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Scott Ridlhttps://www.oxygenconcentratorstore.com/blog/author/scott/
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Scott Ridlhttps://www.oxygenconcentratorstore.com/blog/author/scott/
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Scott Ridlhttps://www.oxygenconcentratorstore.com/blog/author/scott/
