There is no debate about the benefits of exercise, but people should be aware of the inherent risks, especially if they have health concerns. When developing an exercise program, fitness professionals first assess a client's health status. Proper screening will determine if there is a need for medical supervision or if the client may begin without restrictions.
The following categories have been established by the American College of Sports Medicine.
Low Risk Individuals have no symptoms of disease or illness and have no major coronary risk factors. Major risk factors include high blood pressure, serum cholesterol greater than or equal to 240 mg/dl, family history of heart disease, diabetes, cigarette smoking and a sedentary life-style (couch potato). Minor risk factors include age, gender, weight and stress. Individuals in this category who are under the age of 45 can most likely start a moderate exercise program without further medical evaluations, other than a physical examination with their personal physician.
Even though the risk is relatively low in this group, people should still be aware of normal versus abnormal responses to exercise. Abnormal responses include (but are not limited to) shortness of breath, pain or palpitations in the chest or surrounding areas, light headed or dizziness or ischemia.
Any abnormal responses should terminate the exercise session and be reported to your physician immediately.
Moderate Risk Individuals are those who have at least two of the major risk factors listed above. This group should consult with their physician prior to the start of exercise and are advised to have a diagnostic stress test.
People in the moderate risk group may still participate in an exercise program, but the help of a qualified fitness professional is also advised so that the exercises and the program meet the health care needs of the individual. Obtaining exercise information from mainstream magazines, books, videos, etc. for this group is not advised because they often do not offer modifications for medical concerns.
High Risk Individuals are those who exhibit symptoms of cardiopulmonary or metabolic disease. They should consult with their physician prior to starting any sort of exercise program. It is likely that they may be referred to a cardiologist for diagnostic stress testing for valuable information concerning the safety of exercise training, functional capabilities and decisions regarding further medical evaluation or intervention.
Exercise provides health benefits to most, but health care concerns must be considered before starting any type of exercise. Consult with your physician for recommendations or restrictions. Consulting with a qualified fitness professional is also recommended to ensure that your program is best suited to your specific needs.
The good news is that we are able to help you find your potential loss before the garbage man arrives. Here is how.
Many patients are not aware that their dental benefits are lost if they are not used on or before December 31. At that time, insurance companies are allowed to keep all the benefits that you have not used. For example, if you have $1000 of dental benefits that you can use each year and you have only used $300, your insurance company gets to pocket $700. You have now lost $700 that you can never get back.
We always want to help you get the best dental care for the best value. Maximizing your available dental benefits is just one way to do that. Our computer tracks what you use of your benefits for every visit. That way, we can help you make informed decisions as to what services you can have done with the benefits that you have left.
We find that many patients do not realize that each person in their family has their own benefit limit. The $1000 maximum is not spread among all the family members. Instead, each person in the family receives $1000 in benefits to be used throughout the year. Thus if you are a family of four, and each person uses $300 in benefits, you now will give $2800 to your insurance carrier if you do not have needed services completed.
Some of you have a plan that has orthodontic benefits, where orthodontics are not included in that yearly amount. Orthodontics has a benefit all of its own and is a set amount to cover orthodontic treatment. It will not renew so when it is fully used it is gone. This is another benefit that is often never used so the insurance companies can pocket that amount as well when your child exceeds the age limit for orthodontic treatment.
Your mouth is the gateway to your body. You rely on it for daily nutrition and life support, communication and even expressing love. Veterinarians will look first into the horse's mouth to assess the overall health of the animal and over 80 years ago Dr. Charles Mayo, founder of the famed Mayo Clinic, noted that people who keep their teeth live an average of 10 years longer than those who lose them.
We want all of our patients to reach a higher state of health while maximizing their dental benefits. If you are interested in achieving this goal, please call the office at (231) 744-6661 for a New Patient appointment.
Keep a pad of paper with you throughout the day. Jot a note when you think of something you have to do, a gift idea or when you see a recipe you want to try. Writing down these ideas frees your mind to focus on your goals for the day.
"To do" lists are another helpful way to manage stress. Keep a master "to do" list that you update regularly. Write down deadlines by priority. To make things feel more manageable, break down certain tasks into smaller groups.
If you begin to feel anxiety or stress overwhelming you, take a few minutes and find a quiet place. Sit comfortably and close your eyes. Quiet your mind and stress by focusing solely on your breathing.
It's also important that you make time for yourself this holiday season. If you love to work out, schedule time to go to the gym. If you like crafts or reading, make time to incorporate that into your holiday decorating.
Don't forget to take your vitamins and get adjusted. Your immune system has a tendency to get run down during the holidays (or any other stressful time period). Give your body a fighting chance by supplying it with proper nutrients on a daily basis. Adjustments are especially important at this time, as any nerve interference in your body is going to affect the way you look, feel and think.
Lastly, focus on why you love the holidays. Keeping a positive frame of mind will help manage the stress that comes during the entire season.