You may be missing out on health information that could save your life.
In an ideal world when you had an appointment with your physician, a portion of the time allotted would be devoted to a discussion of your lifestyle and health habits. Physicians would be advocates of lifestyle changes that encourage good health and longevity. They would be educators as well as healers. Every appointment would include counseling on the benefits of physical activity and planning for ways to increase physical activity.
Unfortunately this does not appear to be the norm. Despite recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and Healthy People 2010, physicians and other health care providers are not including preventive health counseling during routine office visits. Established research has shown that regular physical activity promotes psychological well being and healthier bones.
Physical activity, along with proper nutrition can also reduce the risk of developing diabetes, colon cancer, hypertension and obesity.
Experts recommend a minimum of 30 min of moderate physical activity a day, five days a week for adults. Research indicates that at least 68 percent of American adults don't exercise for the minimum amount of time recommended by the centers for disease control and Prevention and the American College of Sports Medicine.
The U.S. Physical Activity Study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine . Researchers surveyed 1,818 adults nationwide who represented a cross-section of race and economic groups. Three quarters of the respondents reported that they saw a doctor for regular healthcare. Only 28 percent reported that they had received counseling from their healthcare providers on increasing physical activity. They also reported a similar lack of counseling on increasing fruits and vegetables in the diet and on cutting back on fat. Only smokers regularly reported that their health care provider recommended that they quit smoking.
The lead author of the study Russell E. Glasgow, Ph.D. suggested that physical activity needs to join weight, blood pressure and smoking as a vital sign of health status conducted during routine healthcare visits. Glasgow says, "The frequency with which physicians provide advice to exercise and follow-up support fails to reflect growing evidence of the importance of physical activity in prevention and disease management."
Prevention Guidelines For Healthcare Providers
* Increase Exercise
Experts recommend 30 min of vigorous physical activity at lease 5 days weekly. Activities such as walking , bicycling , running , and tennis , are all excellent choices for seniors. Help your patients set a goal and exercise plan during the initial visit. Evaluating the goal and plan during subsequent visits will help to ensure compliance.
* Improve Diet and Nutritional Status
Emphasis the importance of a low fat diet at all visits. Blood tests for cholesterol along with weight measurements can help to monitor compliance. Many insurance plans will cover the cost of a visit to a dietician for nutritional counseling.
* Stress Reduction
Stress can negatively impact health. Simple questions about sleep habits, family and work can elicit a lot of information about a patients stress level. Patients can be counseled on stress management techniques or directed to a mental health provider if the stress is overwhelming or leading to depression .
This study shows that a few extra minutes spent during a routine medical visit may save time and money in the long run by improving health.
