General Health Advice
Commit to less screen time!
It seems obvious that most of us are spending too much time looking at screens. What may have been a youth problem 10 years ago, now is an issue for toddlers right on up to our oldest patients. Please work with us to be cognizant of the issue, aim for less than 2 hours per day and set a good example for others by disconnecting, at least sometimes. Screen addiction is a major cause of depression, anxiety and lack of motivation. Delay giving smart phones to teens until at least 16, and commit to "phone free" family time on a daily basis. Spend more time talking, playing games and going outside!
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Hypertension
For those of you who read these updates, you know we always have a quality improvement project each year. This year's winner is improving control of our patients' blood pressures. If you have a blood pressure greater than 140/90, we will be trying to work with you on lifestyle modifications like decreasing salt, losing weight, exercising, and decreasing alcohol. If that's not enough, then we will be tweaking meds to try to get you to your goal. We highly encourage our patients with increased blood pressure to invest in an automatic home blood pressure cuff that fits their upper arm. You can then take your BP away from the office and bring us readings. We feel more confident making treatment decisions based on more than just the one blood pressure reading we get at your visit. For those of you who simply cannot afford a cuff, we do have some loaners available at the office. Let your provider know, and they can set up a nurse visit for you to receive the cuff and teaching needed to use it. If you are interested in this, please call and ask to be put on the attendance list. We would love to see everyone with Hypertension checking their pressures at home!
Prescription Costs
Nobody knows what the future holds for our health care coverage in America, but I can tell you that one of our system's biggest problems is the cost of prescription medications. Over the last ten years, we have made every effort to avoid brand-name medications whenever possible. I go days without prescribing anything but generic medications. However, the pharmaceutical companies have caught onto this, and now are ratcheting up the costs of certain generic meds as seen with the Epi-Pen debacle this past year. Old-time medications can go from $4 to $100 in the blink of an eye. Insurance plans will charge co-pays of $40 for a medicine that costs $2. Patients need to know to check what medications their prescription plans will "cover", but you also need to compare that price to the price local pharmacies will charge if the prescription is not run through insurance. For example, if I want Tetracycline for acne and use my "insurance,” it will cost $500 at all of the local pharmacies and my mail-away plan. However, if I use Goodrx, a coupon service independent of insurance companies, at the same local pharmacy, I could get that same medicine for $25. Keep in mind that if I don't run this prescription through my insurance plan, it will not go toward my deductible. However, I would rather save that $475 for something else! Prices can also vary greatly from one pharmacy to the next. So as a consumer, I highly encourage you to shop around for the best prices. Go online or call and check to see what your insurance plan will charge for a particular medication that we want you to get. Compare that price to the Goodrx (an app on your smart phone) prices available at your local pharmacies. And then let us know where you want the prescription sent. I know, I know, it is much too complicated. Complain to Phil Scott, Bernie Sanders, Peter Welch and Becca Balint. Everybody has to rant sometimes...
The best way to decrease your child's use of drugs and alcohol
Be clear with your child about your family's expectations and rules. Revisit the topic often. Have clear ramifications for breaking these rules and follow through with them. Set a good example. Show your child that you can spend time with family and friends without having to drink or use drugs. Don't leave things you don't want them to use out in the open, and certainly don't involve them in getting drinks or drugs for you. The same applies to cigarettes. We can lecture our kids about many things, but an even more important motivator is setting a good example.
VeggieVanGo
The Vermont Foodbank's VeggieVanGo events promote health for Vermonters and provide an opportunity for participants to bring home fresh produce. They distribute free boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables at locations around the state. Individuals and families do not need to register, for more information about these events please visit vtfoodbank.org.