Unfortunately, it's a fact: We're
all going to die some day.
For
generations, man has sought the
fountain of continual youth.
Our
nation's plastic surgeons have no lack
of patients requesting lifts, cosmetic
surgery, fat suctioning and tummy
tucks and buttocks tightening.
Yet, some people still don't seem
to get the message. How many are still
enslaved by tobacco, still eat whatever
pleases their taste at anytime the urge
moves them, live sedentary lifestyles
while refusing regular exercise, cannot
control their alcohol consumption, and
continue playing Russian roulette with
their sexual habits?
Our nation is in a medical cost
crisis and it's not the industry's fault—
it's ours. There's a segment of our
population requiring costly medical
care to maintain it's way of life --
largely due to a lack of responsibility.
It's a fact—20 percent of the
population accounts for more than 70
percent of the demand on our medical
services. The U.S. spends 14 percent of
it's gross domestic product on medical
care—more than $900 billion a year, or
over $3,000 per person per year, for
every man, woman and child. It's far
more than any other nation.
f f 'W
asoumoNS
I
(Lt. Col. Mickey Melton is a Siletz Tribal
Member)
’S C M K i
ou hear it every
January 1: A
promise to quit
smoking, to diet,
to read a good
book. It has become a tradi
tion — making New Year’s
resolutions — and we all
promise to keep them.
But, from what you hear, the rate of fulfilling resolutions is not
very high. What’s going on?
Many people honestly believe they will stick to their New
Year’s commitments. But they often fail to, either because of lack
of willpower or because the habit they want to break is just too
powerful. A lifelong routine of eating calorie-laden chocolate
snacks is not easily dismissed.
Sometimes, the resolution is broken because its novelty wears
off. Or cold realization sets in, and it’s obvious that 35 pounds
can’t be lost in three months. But perhaps the most honest reason
for ditching a pledge is a conflict with social and business life. It’s
difficult to run a mile at noon when you’re at a working lunch.
And it s nearly impossible to eat a leisurely dinner if you’re late
for the PTA meeting or the washing machine is overflowing.
So, why do people bother to make resolutions? For several rea
sons. They may be ready for self-improvement and see this as a
good way to begin. They may want to test their willpower.
Perhaps they see such promises as a way to achieve health and fit
ness, or they might have made resolutions because their friends
were doing it and they wanted to be a part of the group.
Then there are traditionalists who think that resolutions are a
pact with fate. They’ll tell you they’ve always made resolutions
on the first of the year, and they don’t want to break the cycle.
Finally, there are the true believers — people who really
believe making a resolution will rid them of bad habits.
**
By: Lt. Col. Mickey Melton
36th Medical Group commander
Did you know:
* $2.8 minion a year is spent on
smoking-related medical care for
active duty members;
* About 40 percent of Air
Force's preventable duty time lost
is due to alcohol related incidents;
* Smokers return three times
more often than non-smokers for
medical treatment of upper
respiratory infections;
* Smokers average six more
visits to the physician every
year compared to non-smokers;
* Children of smokers average
four more visits to the
pedia
trician every year than children
on non-smokers;
* 70 percent of patients in
intensive care units get there as
a result of alcohol and/or
tobacco related causes; and
* The military has a higher
percentage of smokers than our
civilian counterparts?
Air Force Chief of Staff General
Ronald Fogleman recently articulated
the core values of our institution;
integrity first, service before self and
excellence in all we do.
Are our bodies physically capable of
serving the mission before self? Is the
health of the fighting force in as
excellent a condition as can be? The
Air Force is rapidly moving toward a
program called Put Prevention Into
Practice.
Now ju st suppose your
physician has a health report card on
you, or an Air Force physician/provider
’
RUBES
By Leigh Rubin
■nt
ÖARLIC
FLAVORED
MOOlft-
. WASH ,
UU_____ J
*|..W
Medical Commander
Addresses Health Issues
13
January 1996
has documented your heath status in
your medical record.
Will taxpayers continue letting the
air Force pay for medical care needed
by
patients/beneficiaries
Who
repeatedly get counseled on their
responsibilities
for
maintaining/improving their health?
It's a free country and it's certainly
everyone's right to treat their body
exactly as they wish, but taxpayers
certainly don't have to pay for the
medical care.
So, what's my point? I'd hate to see
one person's life shortened when it
could
have
been
lengthened
considerably through decisive, personal
action and changes in habit. I'm not
saying it's easy to quit smoking, eat
healthy, exercise regularly, learn stress
relief techniques, adopt moral practices
that will preclude catching/ spreading
sexually transmitted diseases, keep
your cholesterol level below 200, and
l i m i t or eliminate the use of alcohol.
Team Andersen has several support
services to assist in this transition—the
medical group, base chapel or church,
family support services , or the fitness
center.
Please, take health and
wellness seriously. It's one of the most
important things you can do for
yourself, your family, your Air Force
and your nation.
«8
Major product failures
of the dental-hygiene industry.