Protecting your health and health insurance

Q: I’m worried that in the future, my family is going to have a hard time finding health insurance and affording health care. How we can make sure we are protected? – Julia P., Garden City, Kan.

A: Good health care coverage includes preventive health services, such as vaccinations and checkups as well as medical treatment. That’s why losing health insurance is a threat to you, your family and society. A healthy, well cared for population contributes more to the economy and isn’t a drain on public money or the resources of hospitals.

What can you do? Speak up: make your worries known to your representatives. Then take steps to make sure you and your family avoid preventable health problems.

The American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple 7 guidelines on protecting your heart also help you fight lifestyle-triggered cancers, reduce weightrelated digestive, mental and joint problems, beat diabetes and stay happy. A study in the Journal of the American Heart Association estimates a savings of $41 billion a year if all Medicare patients achieved five of the seven steps, but with all savings considered, it could hit over $200 billion.

1. Stop smoking (go to http://cle.clinic/2l3GPUF for help).

2. Get daily physical activity (10,000 steps daily or equivalent). 3. Upgrade your nutrition (ditch the five food felons; eat five to nine servings of produce daily).

4. Maintain a body mass index below 30 (Google “calculate your body mass index”).

5. Control your blood pressure (aim for less than 120 over 85; exercise; lose weight if you have to; talk to your doc about medication).

6. Control your cholesterol (upgrade your nutrition and exercise routines, and talk to your doc about a statin)

7. Control your glucose level (aim for less than 100; exercise and nutrition upgrades make a huge difference here, too).

So let’s all meet the challenges to America’s health: Support accessible health-care coverage for everyone, and take responsibility for making sure you and yours are as healthy as possible at every stage of life.