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Be Your own doctor
I got up one morning recently and wrote in my journal:
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Woke up feeling great after seven hours of intermittent sleep. No alarm clock, ever. Just sleep until I wake up by myself. Good exercise yesterday, good food, one small drink for relaxing while I read in the evening, good work output, no upsets or household emergencies. My agenda for today is mostly prepared so I can hit the ground running.
Fixing coffee, I thought it doesn’t get any better than this. Part of the reason for that outlook, of course, is that I have no immediate health issues to worry about or to limit my activities. And that, aside from a bit of luck, is the predictable result of good choices. Not just yesterday, but as a lifestyle. Yes, I am lucky - and grateful - for the wonderful level of healthcare services available to me. Compared to a generation ago, the advances are amazing. But good doctors and treatments cannot overcome a destructive lifestyle. Sustainable is the key concept.
I remember when I first became an expat. In those early days, I wrote:
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Another concern – both financial and personal – was the nagging question of what would happen if I became seriously ill. My invitation letter from the University assured me that any required medical treatment expenses up to 5,000 yuan would be paid by the University. Anything over 5,000 yuan, however, I would be personally responsible for paying. When I arrived in China, I had no other health insurance. It was obvious that, in the event of a serious or lengthy illness or anything requiring surgery, 5,000 yuan might be woefully inadequate. In the original consolidation, as ZZU was formed a few years earlier, a medical school with its teaching hospital had been incorporated into the new university. Thus, if necessary, I could be treated in the hospital affiliated with my university. The problem would be paying for such treatment. For now, since I could do nothing about it, I just hoped for continued good health so this theoretical expense remained only theoretical.
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Fortunately, my luck held and I got through the following years without any medical or subsequent catastrophes. However, this is not a wise long-term strategy. Today, as I write these words, I have health insurance - big relief! - and I have saved enough to cover most healthcare expenses myself. It’s called being self-insured. But, for future expats and for the general population, let’s explore this concept of being your own doctor. What can we do besides just hoping for “continued good health”?
From an earlier journal entry:
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December 19th. Chester’s great-grandfather’s birthday. I wonder what kind of world he was born into on December 19, 1906. Their lifestyle was very, very different from today’s world but, actually, individual and community behaviors have not changed much. Our daily lives are filled with many more conveniences and comforts, more security and services but our basic needs and drives are unchanged from our primitive ancestors.
One major change since great-grandpa’s birth is the explosion of technology that allows so many more medical treatment options. Truly, the healthcare services and medical knowledge we have today makes it possible for us to live longer, continuing to be alert, active, and productive for decades longer than in great-grandpa’s 1906 era.
Even better, more people around the globe can now expect this extended life span. I am certainly a beneficiary of such largess and am truly grateful. I live well as a way of expressing my gratitude for this medical equivalent of a last-minute pardon from the governor the night before the scheduled execution.
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How does this relate to expats? In the past, becoming an expat might mean moving to a place where good healthcare was not available. Fortunately, the medical world was one of the first areas to adopt the internet. Today, wherever an expat settles on our planet, he has a reasonable chance of getting any health services needed. (Paying for it is another matter.)
However…
You should frequently ask yourself this question: If I didn’t have today’s immense medical establishment to fall back on when I am ill or injured, would I continue this specific behavior? Next, ask yourself what habits would I change if I did not have that healthcare safety net? Would you continue to engage in high-risk behaviors if you were not confident that the medical establishment would restore your good health?
Why not change those habits now, before you experience the easily predictable consequences? Rather than expect the medical cavalry to come to your rescue, wouldn’t it be better for many reasons to be proactive and select a healthier lifestyle to minimize health risks?
Let’s explore some principles of self-care that are the bedrock of a sustainable, lengthy lifestyle.
You know how you feel.
Granted, the thought of our own mortality is uncomfortable for most people. Likewise, the possibility of long-term limitations, chronic discomfort, or crippling expenses, is not pleasant to think about. But far too many people do not take even the most elementary precautions.
When we are kids and see some old person tottering down the street or someone with a permanent disability, youthful braggadocio may lead us to utter, “If I ever get like that, just shoot me”. As we get older, a paradigm shift often changes our outlook to, “I can live with that”. Elderly Teddy Roosevelt, upon being told that he might be confined to a wheelchair after a risky surgery, replied, “I can still do my work”.
But what is the best way to extend our years of good health and general freedom from physical limitations? Some people ignore the most obvious warning signs. How smart is that? For example, there are people who ignore the warning lights on their cars and keep driving until something breaks down. Experienced pilots never do that. (That is how they live long enough to become experienced pilots.) If your body is telling you something is wrong, don’t ignore it.
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Imagine what a doctor would say
For the young and healthy, a good rule is to simply give your body time to heal itself. Thanks to the wonders of homeostasis, nature will take care of most problems. Allow yourself five days to return to normal before you seek assistance. As we get older, our bodies change and it takes longer to recover. Change that “five days” to “ten” but continue to follow the principle of letting your body heal itself without outside influences.
Remember that many medicines only reduce discomfort; they do little to cure you. Remember also that medicines often carry some side effects. Or they may combine with other medicines in ways that are not desirable.
Medicine is for when your body needs assistance. The first modern antibiotic, penicillin, was discovered less than one hundred years ago. Penicillin and other antibiotics were seen as miracle drugs. Now, some authorities are telling us that overuse of antibiotics makes them less effective. Save them for when your body really needs them. Likewise, unless you have a proven need for a specific vitamin or mineral, don’t spend your money on them. They should not be used in an attempt to replace good food and good habits. Supplements are intended to supplement a good diet, not counterbalance an unhealthy lifestyle.
Consider this analogy: You wouldn’t start on a long trip without checking that everything on your car was functioning properly. You wouldn’t start your trip with worn-out tires and hope they will not fail you on some deserted stretch of road on a dark and stormy night.
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You can go online to get answers.
The resources available today allow you to get information that will allow you to avoid many future health issues or make wise choices if they do arise.
A few years ago, a friend was given a more unwelcome diagnosis. He was told that his previously unsuspected cancer was quite advanced and he probably had only a few months to live. However, my friend vowed to use every treatment possible. Immediate and vigorous action on several fronts forced his cancer into remission. Moreover, because of his intense online research, his doctors were soon telling him that he knew as much about his condition and the latest treatment options as they did. In a way, he was acting as his own doctor. That was ten years ago and he is still going strong.
You know your history. Don’t ignore it.
You know your history - or you should. Your family medical history is probably your future. Your genetic legacy is probably the greatest indicator of your future medical issues. Many people have a predisposition to certain medical conditions; these are their genetic inheritance. The medical conditions that felled your grandparents and parents are likely to be your own as you advance through life. Knowing your family’s medical history will tell you what personal issues are most likely in your future and, hence, what early warning signals to be watching for.
Summary: Being your own doctor is not rocket science.
Keep these principles in mind.
1) Self-discipline and regular physical exercise are the best insurance. Additionally, a wise man gets regular examinations to detect any health problems in the early stages when they are most treatable. These are supplemented by realistic (not hopeful) self-examinations.
2) You know how you feel. Don’t ignore it. Think, don’t hope.
3) You are what you eat. Avoid foods loaded with additives that your grandmother could not pronounce. Eat a wide variety of lightly processed foods. Diet fads make diet fad makers rich.
4) Find a healthy older person and emulate their behaviors and diet. (Use discretion. They might have horrible, unhealthy habits. Maybe they just got lucky in the genetic lottery. Don’t depend upon their luck.)
5) Use online research to minimize risk and become aware of the newest treatment options.
6) Self-examination will detect most problems in the early stages.
So, since I have extended the quality and quantity of your life, how about extending the same courtesy to me by making a contribution on my Buy Me A Coffee page:
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Tune in next week for more compelling drivel and maybe, just maybe, some exciting news about Kon-Tiki 2.