Health Management

Double entendre there in the title,eh?

Yesterday there was some lively discussion amongst my companions regarding the current state of affairs here in the United States.  How did healthcare get in such a state of disrepair???  Good question. I cannot help but think back locally to a time when there were four hospitals prospering in this town alone.  People got sick and sought help and found it at any one of the medical institutions here in Erie. Emergency room waits were brief. Doctors made house calls in emergencies[granted, that was years ago when I was very,very young].  Care was compassionate, timely, and you had trust in the nurses, doctors and other health care professionals that they were there with your best interest at heart to make you feel better if they could and if they could not ,they could at least ease the pain and give comfort.  Now, as anyone who has had to deal with the neverending paperwork, out-of-sight cost of care, and rushed physician who see you for five- ten minutes tops and can only treat you for one conditon at a time because God Forbid you have more than one problem when you visit the doctor-[sorry for the run-on,just frustrated]-knows we need change and we needed it yesterday. Our nation is aging, our costs are skyrocketing, out system is failing.  Elderly people whom I know are saying they put off seeing a doctor until they absolutley have to go because they dread the office waits, the feeling they are inconveniencing the staff, the number of tests and then prescription medications they are told to take! They feel uninformed and unable to affect any change on this system as it exists.

Then, we moved on to discussion of Presidential politics, world affairs, and history! I don't even want to go there!!!  Let's just say shall we that it never ceases to amaze me that when the topic is one that a person can criticize the "other" side about it is one thing and when the same issue arises in the group that you support OMG, then  it is incumbent on people to mind their own business, "it's a private matter", the media should not delve into the issue, .... Can you say, hypocritical?!?  An aside to Emma who on her blog Eriepressible speaks out on the issue of women voters and more specifically  disappointed Hillary Clinton supporters and whom they will vote for in the upcoming election.- Well said, say I. We, women,  do have brains! We are not of one voice. We think for ourselves and  hopefully will make well-informed, thoughtful decisions on whom we think best will serve this nation as the next President of the United States.

Now, on the literal side of cooling down~ it is refreshing having this rain and cooler temperatures here in Erie. My lawn was looking parched.  The cool fifties and sixties at night that are predicted for next week will signal the trees and shrubs that it is time to prepare for the coming winter.  Our magnolia tree is in need of a fall-trimming. It is so lush with growth from this spectacular summer that we need to do a major pruning. It stands in our postage stamp-sized backyard as it has for many many moons [at least fifty years that we know of]. It provides wonderful summer shade and shelter to the flocks of birds now preparing for their long journey southward. It bloomed fragrant white and pink tinged blossoms throughout the summer. Now, its leaves are beginning to turn brown and tumble to the earth little by little. It deserves a good winter rest.

Stand Up 2 Cancer. I watched most of the program which was aired last evening on the three major networks. It was staggering to hear those statistics of how many people die each year from cancer.  One person dies in the United States every minute! There isn't anyone who has not been touched by this affliction.  Let's hope and pray that the money raised in this effort to fight this killer can find effective treatments and a cure soon.  It was interesting to hear that a simple radio plea back in the nineteen twenties or thirties by Eddie Kantor for every person listening to donate ten cents- just one dime- for research to battle polio resulted in the formation of the March of Dimes and the eventual cure and prevention of this disease. Just goes to show you the power that the media can bring to bear and the generosity of the American people in contributing to such a worthy cause. There was plenty of good advice and information on screening and prevention presented in the program as well. Stop smoking or better yet never start, get yearly mammograms, prostate exams, colonoscopies, eat a healthy diet and exercise.  And if you have the misfortune of getting cancer, FIGHT. Never Give up. Find support. Keep a positive attitude. Know that there are people out there in the fight with you.

C'est fini.