Men’s Health Awareness Week and National Health and Fitness Day

/0 Comments/in , /by

Men’s Health Awareness Week and National Health and Fitness Day

The past year has been hard for all of us.  Instead of the freshman 15, it has been said it is now the COVID 15.  People are either going to come out a hunk or a chunk.  If you are coming out a hunk, good for you!  If you are the latter, this month is all about health and fitness as well as men’s heath awareness.   It is about encouraging us to take the steps to improve our overall health.

In the past, you would assume these dedicated awareness dates only meant your physical health.  In today’s world and climate we are in, your mental health is also just as important.  Canada has always had some of the healthiest people worldwide, however, not all men are as healthy as they could be.  Statistics from the Men’s Awareness site show that 29% are obese, 82% do not meet physical activity guidelines, 76% do not eat health food and 35% do not get enough sleep.

Not having healthy habits can create issues that take a quick turn in your overall well being.  Not eating healthy, sleeping well or getting regular exercise can lead to obesity.  Obesity can cause high blood pressure and diabetes.  High blood pressure and diabetes can cause heart disease.  Heart disease can cause a heart attack.  You get the picture.  It’s a domino effect that can be controlled very easy just by eating well, not smoking and incorporating a little exercise into your life.  This will also reduce your stress levels and allow you to sleep better each night.

The weather is starting to get better which is perfect timing to get outside and moving, or better yet, trying out a new physical activity.  Exercise is one of the best things you can do for your body.  It is a powerful tool and not only improves your overall health, but also helps with your mental health.  Your body automatically releases good endorphins when you exercise.  This creates better mental clarity and just makes you feel good about yourself in general. 

If you’d like more information on some of the virtual activities that will be held, click here.  There are also endless resources with a great amount of valuable information on this site as well.  

If you are going to be starting a new activity or sport that you haven’t participated in before, read next week blog on how to prevent injuries!

 

Health Vantis

877-344-3544

www.healthvantis.ca

info@healthvantis.com

Private Costs of Waiting for Surgery

/0 Comments/in /by

Canadians know very well that oftentimes non-urgent medical care known as elective surgeries, requires waiting. Sometimes this waiting turns into months and years. We know that medical wait times can result in worsening of a condition, mental anguish and possibly more complex surgeries.

However, there are other costs, such as loss of productivity and therefore, in many cases, income. Fraser Institute did some work of what the numbers may look like, accounting for only those hours lost during the average work week. They estimated the value of time lost while waiting for treatment. According to the report released on April 13th, “the estimated cost of waiting for care in Canada for patients who were in the queue in 2020 was almost $2.8 billion—an average of about $2,254 for each of the estimated 1,224,198 Canadians waiting for treatment in 2020. “

This does not account for the cost of care provided by family members (and therefore, their productivity loss) or hired help. It also does not account for often prescribed pain killers that can be addictive. Or the state of mental health of someone waiting in pain.

When it comes to waiting, consider what that means for you and your family’s bottom line and mental health. You can have a new car or a new hip, if you choose to go the private route. Which one would you choose?

If you are wondering how much would it cost to have a private surgery, we are only a phone call away, toll free 877 344 3544.

Private Hip/Knee Replacement or a New Car? You Decide!

/0 Comments/in , /by

With wait times increasing due to the pandemic, more and more Canadians are taking a number and waiting. Even though hip and knee replacements are much needed surgeries, they are considered elective, or non-urgent. According to the provincial website in Nova Scotia a hip replacement is done for 90% of the people within 568 days. Add to that 219 days it takes to get a consult with an orthopedic surgeon. That is 2.15 years!

If you were to go the private route, the costs are to be considered, of course. In the US those vary depending on where you go, and start from about USD$26,000. There are options in Canada too, roughly the same price but in Canadian dollars.

When considering those costs, take into account how waiting affects you and your family. Are you able to wait longer? One of our private hip replacement clients provided this insight: “Consider what stage of life you are at and the preciousness of your mobility. I was concerned about getting it too soon and having to get another one in my 70s. Now that I have the new hip and the new lease on life, there is no doubt in my mind that I made the right decision. Let’s put it this way: I could have gotten a new car or a new hip. My new hip is 100 times more precious to me than a new car.”

If you would like to find out your private hip or knee replacement options give us a call at toll free 877 344 3544.

Private Hysterectomy Costs

/0 Comments/in , /by

In their last Waiting Your Turn report (2020), Fraser institute stated that the median wait time for GYN in Canada is 23.9 weeks. That is weeks waited from referral by GP to treatment (surgery). Each province fares a little bit different, but NB, NS, NL, AB, BC and QB all have wait times over 20 weeks.

Many Canadian women who are waiting experience pain. Some explore a private route, fed up and angry with how long it takes. Many are worried about how much it will cost and what it will involve.

We helped a few women get help faster. Each case is different because the indications for a private hysterectomy can be to various reasons. All required travel out of the country. The costs vary from USD $8,000 to about USD $12,000.

A private hysterectomy is a day surgery and requires a travel companion to pick you up and take you safely to a hotel room for recovery the same day. It is usually advised to stay about 5 days at the hotel, before flying home. Full recovery can take time, even if it is laparoscopic surgery. We advise taking a couple of weeks off work to allow your body to rest and heal.

If you would like to get more information about your private hysterectomy options, please give us a call toll-free at 877 344 3544. Please note that this surgery requires travel out of the country, and therefore, all COVID-19 protocols have to be followed.

Private Ankle Surgery

/0 Comments/in /by

Ability to walk without pain is something we all can take for granted. Until we get ourselves in a situation where walking starts to hurt and the pain is at your foot or ankle. Reasons are many – old and new injuries, natural wear and tear, or aging, and others.

In their latest report, Waiting Your Turn (2020), Fraser institute stated that the median wait time for Orthopedic surgery in Canada is 34.1 weeks. This time reflects weeks waited from Referral by GP to treatment. Each province fares a little bit different, but NB, NS, AB, BC, MB and QB all have wait times over 30 weeks, with NS, NB and AB having wait times over 50 weeks.

Humans are designed to move, and when movement causes pain, it creates all kinds of problems. After trying physiotherapy and other non-aggressive treatments, surgery may be recommended. Needless to say anyone waiting in pain would like to be seen by an orthopedic surgeon as soon as possible to resolve the issue. Waiting for weeks does not appeal to anyone.

Going the private route provides Canadians with surgical options in a timely manner. We work with medical facilities in the US and Canada that can accommodate private ankle and foot surgery in a timely manner. If you wish to find out about your private surgery options, please give us a call at toll-free 877 344 3544.