Category Archives: Discussions on Health

Living by the numbers

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Recently I started a personal experiment based on a simple question – what would happen if I started to track everything I could about my health including my diet, exercise, sleep and overall state of mind?  Could I use this information to guide myself towards a healthier lifestyle?  Could I draw insights that I could use to ultimately change my behaviour for the better?

The concept here is not particularly new.  People have been counting calories and fitness enthusiasts have been logging their exercise results for decades.  Never before, though, have so many devices existed that allow people to monitor themselves. Everything from fitness watches, wireless scales, blood pressure and heart rate monitors and even sophisticated sleep monitors – all of them now available at a reasonable cost to the average person.

So I’ve embarked on a personal challenge to track as much as I can about my health and activities. Here’s my experience so far:

  1. My GPS-enabled watch is easy and fun to use and gives me great insight into my runs.  The feedback I get from it motivates me to improve
  2. There is nothing like tracking what you eat to better understand your diet.  The feedback (assuming one tracks intake accurately and completely) is invaluable.  But I personally found that tracking my dietary intake became painful after a few weeks.  It takes a lot of time!
  3. Some data simply doesn’t change very much and measuring frequently isn’t all that useful.  My blood pressure, for instance, is relatively stable, so I likely won’t continue tracking this as closely.
  4. The ability to see all of the data in a more integrated way would be useful, but currently I haven’t come across an application that allows this holistic view. 
  5. Despite the significant advances in sophistication and ease of use of the underlying technology, self-monitoring is a lot of work because it produces a lot of disparate data. 

My conclusion on this personal experiment… periodic self-monitoring targeted at some specific end (for example, how much sodium did I ingest last week?) is useful. Constant self-monitoring – not so much!

Do you do any self-monitoring?  What has your experience been?

No Known Conditions

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I am a MedicAlert member and wear a bracelet that reads “No known medical condition”.   This isn’t an unusual inscription, but some people find it surprising.  Isn’t the MedicAlert ID and service only for people with ‘conditions’?

The short answer is no.  I use the MedicAlert service to speak for me when I can’t speak for myself. Emergency responders and emergency room physicians have told us that this information is useful because it allows them to quickly proceed with emergency treatment by ruling out any pre-existing conditions that need to be considered.

As well, I often walk and run alone and my MedicAlert bracelet serves as basic ID. I have the confidence of knowing that with a quick call to our 24/7 hotline, I will be identified and my family members will be contacted.

By the way, I do have ‘medical conditions’ (don’t we all have unique medical footprints?) — but mine are not essential to communicate in an emergency. This info is noted on my MedicAlert medical profile along with my family and physician contacts – which, by the way, I can access electronically and update anytime I need to. 

- Robert

Ask the Question

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How often should I update my MedicAlert medical profile?

It’s a common question that members ask me every week.  The simple answer is that you should update your profile whenever material changes occur.  What are material changes?  This isn’t always so easy to figure out on your own.  Essentially, these changes are often preceded by a healthcare visit – to a GP, clinic or pharmacy.

Get in the habit of asking at the end of your visit… “Does this change in information warrant a change on my MedicAlert profile?”  If you are unsure, we strongly encourage you to give us a call (1.800.668.1507) and take the opportunity to review your full profile, at least annually. However, for those living with complex and changing conditions / medications, a more regular check-in (even on a monthly basis) would be more appropriate.

Remember that your non-medical information – your personal contact details, your healthcare team (GP, specialist or other) and emergency contacts – are important to keep current as well.

Put us on speed dial!  Make updating your record part of your regular health and wellness routine and you will ensure that your MedicAlert membership will fully protect you when you need it the most.

- Robert

Caregiving: Prepare Now

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For decades now, we’ve been made to recognize that planning for retirement is best started at a young age. This planning usually centers on financial matters: RRSP’s, pension plans and annuities. That aside, most of us recognize the importance of these plans and often look to secure the support of a financial adviser to help in this process.

The dominant retirement issue of this generation is caregiving. Those of you who are actively caring for aging parents are likely already familiar with the issues: the time pressures, confusion around health conditions and the desire to be helpful but not intrusive.

Luckily, more and more resources are available every day to better prepare us for our job as caregivers. Recently we worked with Pat Irwin, founder of ElderCareCanada and expert in assisting adult children in caring for aging parents. She too agrees that the key to successful caregiving is being prepared.

“The role of caregiver can be incredibly stressful at first,” explains Pat Irwin. “In addition to being financially and physically draining, most people are caught off guard by how emotionally strenuous it is. Knowing what to expect and how to handle it, as well as being prepared and putting support in place for emergency situations, can help alleviate a lot of the stress.” If you’re looking for some helpful tips on being prepared for the role of a caregiver, you can find them here.

As well, visit Dr. Gordon Atherley’s Family Caregivers Unite internet radio show on VoiceAmerica. Over the years Dr. Atherley has amassed a stellar list of guests to examine the many issues associated with family caregiving.

Like most things in life, planning and preparation can make a world of difference. The resources available to us that support our role as caregivers have never been as plentiful and insightful. If you haven’t already, start acquainting yourself with them now.

- Robert

What’s in your wallet?

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Your MedicAlert wallet card – I hope!

Emergency responders often don’t have all the information they need to quickly and confidently treat their patients.

That’s why Canadian MedicAlert Foundation exists – no one else can easily direct your critical health information to those who need it, like we can.

All Canadians would benefit from tools that help them carry the critical details about their health wherever they went.  That’s why Canadian MedicAlert Foundation has partnered with Telus Health™ to allow Canadians to create and store an emergency medical profile online and print a wallet card, at no cost.

If you are new to managing your personal health information, I’d encourage you to set up the Emergency Profile for yourself and your family – capture as much information as you’d like. This is a good opportunity to see what it’s like to be in control of your own information and manage who has access to it.

And remember, that if you’re already as an existing MedicAlert member and have misplaced your MedicAlert wallet card or need to update your emergency contact/medical information, log in to your My MedicAlert account or call us toll free at 1.800.668.1507 and we’ll gladly help you out. After all, up-to-date information about your health is so critical when seconds count – it empowers emergency responders to customize their care for you, quickly and effectively, to help save your life.

-Robert