Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 244 BOCNEWS.com APRIL 2017 "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." — I Corinthians 10:31 In America today, we are beset by controversy and turmoil which seems unprecedented. This is espe- cially true in regards to the "repeal and replace" of Obamacare. I have yet to see any consensus and no one seems to really come up with a plan that does not draw quick objections or second guessing. In times like these we need to stop and just think about the state of our own individual health. We need to consider what can I do to maintain my own health, or take care of any chronic or even unrecognized health conditions. I would like to just suggest some things you can do to maintain your health even in these tempestuous days we are living in. First of all, we need to recognize the fact that the person who needs to make the most crucial deci- sions about your health and about maintaining your health is not your doctor. That means each one of us needs to take responsibility for our health even though we must work with our health care provider. First of all you need to find a doctor you can trust, communicate with, and talk with. Have a discussion with your doctor about the topic of health mainte- nance. You have to be humble and listen to what you doctor is telling you. You may have to stop doing things you are doing or adopt some new habits. For an example, if you need to quit smoking--do it, and that does not mean "cut down". Smoking is a deadly habit and even a few cigarettes daily are harmful. If you need to lose weight, you need to do it! This may mean learning to exercise even if you have never liked to do so. You may also need to change your eating habits. There are other habits you may need to change such as decreasing your alcohol use, or taking certain medication, or taking medications correctly. You may need to learn to cope with stress or depression and if you need special counseling for this, don't be too proud to submit to this. There are certain conditions that need close mon- itoring. For an example-high blood pressure. Remember you can't feel it, but it can be dead- ly. So work with your doctor to control it. This may require some lifestyle changes and tak- ing medication as you need to. If you have diabetes, fre- quently you can't feel it either. Failure to control diabetes can be disastrous, and cause much preventable suffering. High blood pressure and diabetes together are major causes of chronic disease, and premature death related to heart attacks, stroke, blindness, kidney fail- ure, and loss of limbs. Working with your doctor and just being compliant and taking care of yourself can enhance your quality of life. Do you often put off or fail to get certain needed check- ups? Avoid doing that. Believe me your doctor has a list of things that need to be checked. This includes pap smears and mam- mograms for women to allow for early detection of cervical and breast cancer. Men may need a pros- tate examination especially if having difficulty with urination. Both men and women at the correct time may need stool testing or an internal examination which is a colonoscopy to screen for colon cancer. Your doctor can tell you the time of needed testing or the type of testing. In addition to these screen- ing tests another type of care to obtain is needed immunizations. This includes the shots that children need, but adults also need certain immunizations. There are too many immunizations to mention here but believe me your doctor will know what you need. Other checkups you may need include an annual eye exam, although it may need to be done more frequently depending on your state of health. At times serious eye conditions such as glaucoma can be detected so don't skip this if your doctor reminds you it is needed. You can also benefit from an annual dental examination to prevent loss of teeth. Think for a moment about medications. It is important to know all of the medications you are taking. This means you need to know the doses, the names, the proper administra- tion and the time you are to take them. Make a list of these things if needed. You may also need to know when to call your doctor if you are having side effects or allergies. Be careful taking over-the-coun- ter medications as these may not always be safe. Talk with your doctor about every pill that passes your lips! Other things to consider is getting proper rest, and proper exercise these are as important as all of the things we have discussed above. They can have a huge impact on your health. Being sedentary can be deadly, and so can getting inadequate rest. I trust from reading this article you can see there are many things to consider in health care. Those who do not have insurance and are not able to just talk to a doctor are in a risky situation. Hopefully our country can help all of us to have health care If you do have insurance, be grateful and please work with your doctor to stay healthy, to prevent illness, to manage chronic health condition, and to detect serious conditions early. Do not forget the spiritual impact of prayer, attending church, and Bible study in also staying healthy. Going to church and doing the other spiritual activities can help you to live lon- ger and better. May God bless you in your walk with Him and help you to live longer and better. Take Care ofYour Health-Now! Dr. Conner By Byron E. Conner, M.D. HEALTH 1. J.J. HAIRSTON - YOU DESERVE IT 2. WILLIAM MCDOWELL - SOUNDS OF REVIVAL PT 2 3. THE WILLIAMS SINGERS - IN REAL TIME 4. JACI VALASQUEZ - TRUST 5. SELAH - UNBREAKABLE 6. ERIC WADDELL - THE CHURCH SOUND 7. KARI JOBE - THE GARDEN 8. MERCY ME - LIFER 9. HOLLYN - ONE WAY CONVERSATIONS 10 DARLENE ZSCHECH - HERE I AM SEND ME You have to be humble and listen to what you doctor is telling you. You may have to stop doing things you are doing or adopt some new habits. For an example, if you need to quit smoking--do it, and that does not mean 'cut down'.