Wellness/ bienestar
Sara Silva Encourages
Bill to Cap Insulin Prices in TX Picking Up Running to Stay Fit Steam at the Capitol
ver the past decade, insulin O prices have more than tripled. Out-of-pocket prices range from hundreds, to thousands of dollars a month, and now state lawmakers are trying to put a cap on those costs. “Children with diabetes, Type One Diabetes, cannot live without insulin, they have to have it,” said Texas nurse Dawn White. Her son Cole was diagnosed with diabetes four years ago when he was 15.. “Since that time, we have paid varying costs for insulin, we’ve paid as little as $100 a month, and as much as $500 a month,” White explained. Tugboat team frees container ship from Suez Canal after being stuck for nearly a week But, some of her friends in support groups are stuck paying even more out-of-pocket each month. “One mom in our support group who actually has twin daughters that have diabetes, and she has to meet a $4,000 deductible. And after she meets that her insulin costs for three-months supply $2,800,” White said. She said some families are having to choose between the life-saving medication and food, which is why Republican State Senator Lois Kolkhorst authored Senate Bill 827. “Which caps the copay, the out-of-pocket expenses at $50 for people,” Sen. Kolkhorst
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BY REBECCA RUIZ, INTERN FOR LATINO LUBBOCK MAGAZINE
explained. The bill is already getting plenty of bipartisan support. On the Senate floor last week, Democratic Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. called it one of the best bills he’s seen in the legislature in years. “There isn’t much legislation that will, I believe have more of a direct impact on our constituents than this one,” Sen. Lucio said. That impact isn’t limited to the 2.8 million Texans living with diabetes, it’ll also cut down costs for taxpayers. “Diabetes and prediabetes cost Texans an estimated $23.7 billion a year,” Sen. Kolkhorst explained. Sen. Kolkhorst said oftentimes when insulin gets too expensive, people start rationing their medication, which then leads to severe problems that lead to hospitalization. And even though they’re still insured, if they’re struggling already financially, many times they’re not able to foot the entire hospital bill. That’s when it trickles down to taxpayers. After the bill officially passed unanimously in committee, and then passed on the Senate floor last month 27-3, White is hoping it passes in the house with just as much support. “We just, we have to make insulin affordable for everyone,” White said.
ara SilS va enjoys running
and uses it to stay fit, which she says has benefited her health. Silva was overweight as a teenager and decided that running would be a good way improve her weight and become healthy. “I started running my junior year and saw that it helped my weight. I would go outside, and it felt good, that’s what motivated me to run,” she said. According to a study from Healthline, the benefits from running for just 5 to 10 minutes at a moderate pace each day may include: reduce risk of death from a heart attack or stroke, reduce risk of cardiovascular disease, lower
risk of developing cancer, developing neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Silva runs four to six miles a day four times a week and believes running its preventative care for long-term health issues and a way to release stress. During her morning runs, she enjoys catching up with friends and being outdoors. Silva said that running has prevent her from having a chronic illness. According to a study from Healthline, the minimum recommendation for exercise is at least 150 minutes per week. However, it is important to start slowly and let your body rest from time to time. “We were raised needing to work and have an education, which is very important, and I am who I am because of those two factors, but we are neglecting our health. Which is causing issues in the long run and exercising is good for your health as well as mental health.”
Sara Silva alienta correr para mantenerse en forma
POR REBECCA RUIZ, INTERN LATINO LUBBOCK MAGAZINE
S
ara Silva le gusta correr y lo usa para mantenerse en forma, lo que dice que ha beneficiado su salud. Silva tenía sobrepeso cuando era adolescente y decidió que correr sería una buena manera de mejorar su peso y de estar saludable. “Empecé a correr en el tercer año de la escuela secundaria y vi que me ayudaba con mi peso. Salía afuera y me sentía bien, eso es lo que me motivó a correr,” ella dijo. Según un estudio de Healthline, los beneficios de correr solo de 5 a 10 minutos a un ritmo moderado cada día pueden incluir: reducir el riesgo de muerte por un ataque cardíaco o accidente cerebrovascular, reducir el riesgo de enfermedad cardiovascular, reducir el riesgo de desarrollar cáncer, desarrollar enfermedades neurológicas como el Alzheimer y el Parkinson. Silva corre de cuatro a seis millas
por día cuatro veces a la semana y cree que correr es una forma preventiva para problemas de salud a largo plazo y una forma de liberar el estrés. Durante sus carreras matutinas, le gusta ponerse al día con amigas y estar al aire libre. Silva dijo que correr le ha ayudado a no tener una enfermedad crónica. Según un estudio de Healthline, la recomendación mínima de ejercicio es de al menos 150 minutos por semana. Sin embargo, es importante comenzar lentamente y dejar que su cuerpo descanse de vez en cuando. “Crecimos con la necesidad de trabajar y tener una educación, que es muy importante, y yo soy quien soy por esos dos factores, pero estamos descuidando nuestra salud. Lo que está causando problemas a largo plazo y el ejercicio es bueno para la salud, así como para la salud mental.”
Vive tu vida, Get Up Get Moving!
Noticias de salud/ Health News FREE COVID-19 VACCINES Each week the site is shipped vaccine to enable those who qualify to start the COVID-19 vaccination series. For an appointment or for more info call the Health Department at 775.2933 and selecting option three. FREE COVID-19 TESTING at Rodgers Park Gymnasium has started operating five days a week. This testing site, located at 3300 Auburn, will be open Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. No appointment is necessary for this location. Appointments are not required for this location. For more info call the Health Department at 775.2933 and selecting option three. FREE COVID-19 testing site located 5502 26th St, at Lubbock Christian University. Open Mondays-Saturday from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. No appointment is necessary. 2-1-1 NON-EMERGENCY QUESTIONS 2-1-1 is a free help line answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, which will link you to health and community services. HEALTHBEAT EQUIPMENT brings the best of the gym to the great outdoors at Buddy Holly Lake of Cesar Chavez Drive, for ages 13 to 100. The outdoor fitness equipment is available to the public and has 10 pieces of fitness equipment. This is a project of Los Hermanos Familia. FREE. FREE CLINIC at Lubbock Impact The Free Clinic holds a free doctors clinic every Wednesday at 34th Street and Boston Avenue. Registration begins at 4 PM. Patients must be 18 and older and medically uninsured to receive free medications and doctors visits. For more information, please call (806) 799-4320. FREE SICK CHILDREN'S CLINIC is a free, all-volunteer clinic that treats sick children up to age 15 at 10th Street and Avenue A. Prescriptions at the on-site pharmacy are free. Call 7621805 for more info. FAITH BASED AA for Lubbock and the surrounding area, Thurs. from 6:30-8:00 P.M. and Sundays from 7-8 P.M. For more info call 806-793.3336. FREE PARENTING CLASSES Family Guidance & Outreach Center provides free anger management classes and parenting classes. For more information or to register for a class, call 747-5577. Visit us online: www.familyguidancecenterlubbock.
