Isn’t Your Health Worth More Than Your Car?

Do you spend more money on your car than on your health?  Many of us do.  I know because every now and then, when I want to do a specialty test or prescribe a compounded hormone that is not covered by medical insurance, I get push-back.  So then I have talk about money and health with my patient. I call this my “you take better care of your car than yourself,” talk.

As your car ages, you will have to pay for new tires, break pads, routine oil changes, etc and you know darn well that when you hit the 50,000 mile mark you’ll spend even more to keep your engine humming.

Your body is no different. You should just expect that at 50, 65, and beyond you are going to need preventive and reconstructive work to keep yourself well tuned, just like those costly 65,000 mile tuneups.

There’s good and bad news.  The good news is that we baby boomers are destined to live into triple digits! Most of us will live beyond our 90^th birthdays.  The bad news is that its going to cost you if you want to enjoy these “bonus” years. You’re going to need preventive treatments and testing to ensure good health. Individualized therapies like natural bioidentical hormone support, good quality supplements, neurotransmitter evaluations to measure and support serotonin, dopamine and other brain chemicals, genetic panels to help avoid individual weaknesses, and digestive analyses to make sure your bowels and liver detox are working.  Such specialty testing may not be entirely covered by your insurance, but for the best older age, it’s worth it. You must plan and budget for high quality preventive care to ensure graceful and enjoyable aging.

It may be time to invest as well in lifestyle changes.  Learn to meditate, join a gym, hire a trainer or life coach, get acupuncture or a massage, eat more organic fruits and vegetables.

To stay healthy after 50 means you may have to start spending more money to care for your body than you routinely spend on your car.  Here’s my check-list of goals to be addressed for overall good long-term health:

Adequate energy

Solid sleep

Stable moods

Stress management

Weight management

Regular bowel movements

Fulfilling relationships

Regular physical activity

Prevention of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, bone loss, and dementia

In order to address the above list you will need to budget for testing and treatments.  The first step is realizing that long-term health is a priority and research how you can best afford to keep yourself as well tuned as your car.

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