Your Health & Wellness - the team approach

What role do you play when you visit your doctor? Do you realize that you are an important member of the team? After all this is all about your health and wellness. As the most important member of the team, you are the one who can be most effective in describing your health concerns. It is your specific details that guides the health care team to determine what may be the cause of your symptoms.

You are in charge of your health! Therefore when you visit your doctor, you should engage in the discussion of your care. You will be able to tell them about your symptoms making sure not to hold anything back - no matter how insignificant you may think it is. Do not dismiss anything as it may be the key to help the health care professional team with the tests they need to run or what plan of action they take.

If your visit to the doctor is a scheduled appointment as an annual check up then you should discuss weight, diet, blood pressure, cholesterol level, reviewing family health history in case you need to have further testing, your job (stress) or lack of job (stress) among other concerns.

In the case of those in treatment for an illness/disease, engaging in your treatment plan is necessary. It's all about knowing what treatment is best for you:
* When will treatment begin/end
* How will you be treated
* Who will be a part of the team and will they be available for follow up
questions/calls
* Will there be any further tests to confirm the state of the disease

Keep a journal/take notes. Write down the discomforts you may have. Be sure to note the day and time. Include what you may have been doing before the symptoms of discomfort occurred. Did you eat? What did you eat? Did you have your medication or any other prescriptions? Keeping notes may help avoid unnecessary delays/tests. The health care professional team only knows what you tell them and who knows, something you share may help move the process efficiently.

It's all about you - your health and wellness depends on you.

What others are saying about the new suggested guidelines for cancer screening

While preparing for Part II on the Cancer Screening Guidelines - Cervical Cancer, I am still finding great articles, reviews, responses,interviews, debates, you name it, I am on it. Many women are worried, confused and completely disappointed in the new guidelines as the results may affect their health and well being. Cancer has touched many lives. It has taken away family,friends, co workers,acqquaintances, fellow church members, etc. The discussion continues as it has set a spark in many women who feel that they are being sentenced to death


Rene Syler speaks on Cancer Screening Guidelines

Let us not allow this fast paced technological era distract us from this important issue. Stay informed and speak up. Upcoming topics on the Health & Wellness Show will explore more on these very important guidelines (suggested guidelines). We will have open discussions with survivors, health care experts (specific to the field of cancer) as well as other related organizations.

Upcoming Books
1. All Things Cancer
2. When Cancer Came Knocking
3. The Day That Changed My Life Cancer an uncertain journey

(Part II )Cancer Guidelines for Cervical Cancer coming soon.

Puff Puff - Give It Up!

Smoking can be traced back for centuries with pictorial records as far back as the 11th century. In 1864, the first American cigarette factory opened, producing around 20 million cigarettes a year. By 1898, there was a concern about the effects of cigarettes and a ban was placed in Tennessee. Two years later, Iowa, North Dakota and Washington decided to outlaw the sale of cigarettes. By 1901, 43 of the 45 states were actively engaged in support of banning cigarettes. In that same year,3.5 billion cigarettes and 6 billion cigars were sold. According to the reports of that era, 4 out of 5 men smoked a cigar at least once a day.

As time went on, the debates continued. Television commercials were banned, as well as smoking in airplanes, buses,trains, hotels,restaurants and of all places the bars where having a drink and a smoke goes hand in hand. Community activists held meetings and spoke out against the cigarette companies that appeared to target the youth demanding that their billboard advertisements be removed. The surgeon general placed warnings on the boxes to warn that cigarette smoking is dangerous to your health yet smoking continues. Some states raised the prices on cigarettes,increased taxes yet the tobacco companies are thriving. The anti smoking commercials are graphic with their message. Even closer to home, the loss of family and friends - have not deterred others from smoking.

What will it take to give it up?

Here are the current statistics
Smoking and Tobacco Use
Trying to Quit?

Videos made to appeal to smokers







Clearly, quitting is certainly not an easy task. It is a habit that has developed over time - one that has become a source of comfort during social gatherings and stressful periods. In some cases, smokers who have had the success of giving it up have found that a traumatic event triggered the urge to return to smoking and many of them have and are having a difficult time giving it up once again. There are many programs that are available to help smokers regain control of their lives and their health. If this post relates to you or someone you know, please take a moment and explore the following links.

Smoking Cessation
Smoke Free
Your Guide to Quit
American Lung Association
American Cancer Society
World Health Organization