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RETHINKING PREVENTIVE HEALTHCARE
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CCORDING TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES, many health insurance companies, employers, and healthcare providers in general; preventive healthcare includes getting screenings, check-ups, and counseling to prevent illnesses, disease, or other health problems. (*1) Although these are highly advised and great ways for us to have an active role in the healthcare portion of the process, it may narrow our focus of what it truly means to be preventive. Hear Me Out It’s very important to acknowledge the fact that many working adults seek out health and wellness information through the resources made available by their employer, health insurance provider, and healthcare professionals within their covered network. We should certainly take advantage of the benefits we are enrolled for, however most of the messaging around preventive care from those sources will place a large emphasis on a reactive approach to your health. Regularly scheduled checkups, screenings, and blood panels determine if your health markers at that moment are within an acceptable range. But similar to an employee’s annual evaluation or quarterly review, acceptable numbers and results don’t always mean that person is doing a good job. Hitting production targets while violating severe safety protocols and risking major damage is not a good trade off.
triggering a flood of insulin through your body, which over time encourages fat to accumulate around your midsection, also known as visceral fat. African American adults are 60 percent more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to be diagnosed with diabetes by a physician. (*2) • Added sugar and processed foods overtaxes insulinproducing cells in our pancreas, causing them to malfunction and leading to insulin resistance, eventually leading to diabetes. • Research has shown that when we consume too much sugar, it can decrease the levels of “good” cholesterol (HDL) in our blood. HDL cholesterol “eats” the bad cholesterol in our blood, or LDL. If you cut the amount of sugar that you consume, you could ultimately lower your cholesterol level, particularly when it comes to the “bad” cholesterol that is linked to heart disease.
PHOTO BY MART PRODUCTIONS FROM PEXELS
By Marcus Bailey
The statistics show that African Americans are more likely to die from some of the major reversible and preventable chronic diseases. (*3) So it’s not enough to wait until you detect a problem to start taking action. The best approach is to adjust your daily routines to keep the unwanted test results from even showing up. The best way to be preventive with your health care, is to be proactive with your health habits. u Citations 1. https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/preventive-services/
Proactive vs. Preventive The adage, “the best defense is a good offense” applies to many things in life. In the competitive space, the idea is that a strong offensive action will hinder your opponent’s ability to mount an attack, leading to a strategic advantage. Unfortunately, in the healthcare space, we are not always strongly advised to make these proactive steps until after we receive concerning test results. One major offensive move we can make is to significantly reduce the amount of added sugar and processed foods in our diet. • Sugary drinks and juices spike your blood sugar,
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https://www.cigna.com/individuals-families/understanding-insurance/preventive-care 2. Source: CDC 2021. Summary Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey: 2018. Table A-4a. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/shs/tables.htm 3. African Americans ages 18-49 are 2 times more likely to die from heart disease than whites. African Americans ages 35-64 years are 50% more likely to have high blood pressure than whites. Source CDC - https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/aahealth/index.html Heart disease is the leading cause of death for African American and white women in the United States. Source CDC - https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/women.htm
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