It's so much cheaper to stay healthy!

1Life’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Avron Urison gives his expert advice on how to live well and reduce the incidence and cost of disease. You can live better and longer! The added bonus – less money spent on healthcare and lower insurance premiums!

Preventive health

Preventive health consists of actions individuals take to avoid disease or to detect it early when it is more manageable. 

One of the most important ways you can avoid disease and injury is to practice preventive healthcare. This can be anything from vaccinating to following the rules of the road such as wearing a seatbelt to reduce the chance of injury. Follow the basics and you can also lessen the impact of any existing or potential future disease and injuries.

Practicing preventive health has positives from a health and financial perspective. Detecting conditions such as hypertension or diabetes before they become advanced allows you to make lifestyle changes so that you can manage your condition, live a healthy life and avoid complications. It is nearly always cheaper to treat disease in the early stages. And of course, healthy individuals pay less and often have more comprehensive life insurance coverage than those with chronic conditions because it reduces the risk of you claiming earlier than expected. Smokers, for example, have a high risk of conditions such as heart and lung disease and can pay up to 100% more for life cover than non-smokers. And if you have an advanced chronic condition, you may be offered accidental life cover only, without cover where death is due to natural causes such as a heart attack or cancer.  

Self-care is the first step in preventive health

Eat. Sleep. Move.

There is a lot you can do to manage your health!

• Eat a balanced, healthy diet – this will reduce the risk of diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and more.
• Exercise – 30 minutes of moderate activity that gets the heart rate up 5 times a week reduces the risk of multiple diseases. Exercise is a concerted effort to work out and I cannot stress enough how important it is.
• Move – in addition to exercising, be active in your daily life and make sure you get up from the desk or couch often. 10 000 steps a day is a minimum must.
• Sleep – if you are not getting 7 to 8 hours a night you are harming yourself and increasing the progression of any chronic diseases.
• Avoid harmful substances – Avoid smoking and vaping, drink alcohol only in moderation or not at all, and don’t take too many medications. If you’re using several self-care, over-the-counter, or prescription medicines, ask your doctor for advice to ensure your health isn’t at risk.
• Manage your stress levels – reach out for help such as counselling if you need mental and emotional support. Regular exercise and diet also assist in managing stress.
• Connect with others in person – spend time with family and friends and be an active part of your community. Online contact isn’t a substitute!
• Self-examine – women should examine their breasts and men their testicles every month, looking for any unusual lumps, bumps, pain and discharge.
• Check your skin – keep an eye on your skin for changing growths and moles. South Africa has a very high rate of skin cancer.

These will help you live a healthy life, avoid and or reduce the chances and progression of illness and detect illness early.

Don’t worry if the list feels long and overwhelming! Start with small changes. Every percentage change you make has a significant and compounding effect on your health and wellness. Just like compound interest gives you more money over time! And, of course, you will spend less on healthcare, so your finances benefit as well!

Have regular health checks and screenings with a professional

These are general guidelines on when and how often to have these tests. However, if you are high risk, such as having a family history of an illness or chronic condition, your healthcare professional may advise more regular or earlier tests and more frequent screening.

Women

• Pap smear and HPV test: every 3 years from the ages of 25 to 65 years
• Mammogram: every 2 years from the age of 40 (start earlier if there's a family history of breast cancer)
• Bone density scan: for those who have gone through menopause

Men

• Prostate: PSA test from age 50 (from age 45 if there's a family history of prostate cancer or if there is an increased risk)

All adults

• Blood pressure: annually
• Cholesterol: annually
• Blood glucose/HBA1C: annually
• Skin check with your GP: annually
• Mental health screening with GP: annually
• Dental check-up: every 6 to 12 months
• Eye exam: every 1 to 2 years
• Colonoscopy: every 5 years from age 50
• ECG or stress test for your heart health: as advised
• HIV screening: annually for sexually active adults, or as advised
• TB screening: especially for those in high-risk communities or with symptoms

You should also ensure you have vaccinations as per your age and advice, including influenza, pneumococcal and shingles vaccinations.  

Multiple benefits

Taking care of your health benefits every part of your life — your body, your mind, your finances, and even your insurance premiums. When you're healthier, healthcare costs go down, insurance premiums may decrease, and that means more money in your pocket. Plus, with more energy and vitality, you’ll have more quality time to spend with the people you love. So, what small change are you making today to invest in your well-being?