One chaotic area of health care is medications. We have more meds and more conditions to use them on every day. At some point we ask, "Am I taking too many meds?" Those in my Healthier Living workshops often tell me they'd like to take less medication.* There are just too many meds with too many side-effects that they've been told "just to live with."
The best way to minimize the meds we take is to take better care of ourselves. For example, if you have high blood pressure and you begin regular relaxation exercises, you may reduce your blood pressure and then could ask your doctor about reducing your dose of blood pressure meds. Visualization and distraction can manage chronic pain with less medication. Breathing techniques can not only help those with asthma and COPD, they help the rest of us with our stress!
These are just a few of the techniques we cover in the free Healthier Living workshops which meet 2.5 hours/week for six weeks. Another benefit is the support workshop participants get from one another as they try new behaviors and develop new habits. The Stanford-developed program encourages us to see ourselves as partners with their doctors so we're active participants, not passive recipients of our health care. The workshop is intended for those with chronic conditions, but before you rule yourself out, remember that depression, being overweight and many others count as chronic conditions, too. Studies report that up to 50% of Americans suffer from some chronic condition.
Healthier Living begins January 8th from 10:00-12:30 at the Benicia Community Center, 370 East L Street. Call (707) 643-1797 to register.
*Do not change the amounts of your meds without consulting your doctor. If you are experiencing side effects or drug interactions, call your physician.
