It's the official end of 2024 tonight at the stroke of midnight on the clock. With it goes all the good and bad of this year. Yesterday is memory. Today is present. Tomorrow is a promise. Community health has been a major concern for many years, and this year was no different. According to Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, this year has been a rollercoaster for public health, with historic firsts, unwelcome comebacks, and rays of hope. (https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2024/headlines-in-public-health-2024).
Additionally, according to the AJMC, the top population health news of 2024 included efforts to reduce out-of-pocket drug costs, new vaccine approvals, and treatment strategies for opioid use disorder (OUD). Other key stories delved into the implications of Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s nomination for HHS Secretary and the ongoing struggle with essential drug shortages across the country, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications and insulin. (https://www.ajmc.com/view/top-5-most-read-population-health-articles-of-2024).
Yet, thanks to decades of research, Americans are living longer. However, Chronic diseases still affect large swaths of the population and are unevenly distributed creating
health disparities. These chronic illness are common and costly, and many are preventable, according to the National Institutes of Health. Among the biggest remaining challenges are heart disease and stroke, diabetes, cancer, opioid addiction and infectious diseases. (https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/what-we-do/nih-turning-discovery-into-health/our-biggest-health-challenges).
As the population of America continues its march toward becoming more gray due to the baby boomers reaching 65 at an incredible rate of over 12,000 per day, senior health is especially becoming a more significant part of the healthcare situation and the nation's ability to pay for the costs associated with treating Medicare-age men and women. According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, seniors frequently don't monitor their health as seriously as they should. URMC has listed the top 10 health issues facing an aging population. (https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/senior-health/common-issues/top-ten).
Naturally, common sense would tell you to take care of yourself. Unfortunately, people are human. And, to further complicate matters, there now has been a couple of generations of society that have ignored practical health. With the advent of fast foods, processed foods, social media, and fake news, many people would simply just ignore their health and choose comfort instead. After all, it takes work to stay healthy. The temptation to over indulge in food or other harmful lifestyle activities is more than most people are willing to limit their exposure.
Additionally, some states are putting new laws on the books to impact the cost and treatment of health care. In Illinois for example, the current governor signed sweeping new legislation that provides for multiple mandates requiring steps for both patients and providers, effective January 1, 2025: https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-politics/new-illinois-laws-2025-impact-health-care-insurance-plans/3633774/
So how is the healthcare industry at large considering options for 2025? According to Deloitte, the top trends expected to impact their strategies for 2025 have created a favorable impact within the healthcare industry. Over the past two years, many US health care organizations have faced margin pressure, workforce shortages, and an industrywide push to adopt digital technologies. After several years of stabilizing their businesses, 2025 could mark a turnaround period for the health care sector, driven by innovation, resilience, and strategic growth.
In spite of everchanging demographics, new legislation at both the federal and state levels, and the increasing cost of care, the industry is feeling good about itself for the first time in a few years. What that means to consumers is still yet to be determined, but the overall outlook is positive. (https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/health-care/life-sciences-and-health-care-industry-outlooks/2025-us-health-care-executive-outlook.html).
In the new year, 2025 is poised to be a pivotal moment of transformative changes in medicine. Groundbreaking technological advancements will reshape healthcare, enhancing efficiency, and bringing new tools and products to market. Advances are being made in Artificial Intelligence (AI), wearable tech devices, sustainable organic food, holistic integrative health, genomic research and more.
But what does all this feedback from the medical community mean to you at the street level where you live? Here are some common sense health tips for the New Year - ways to improve your physical and mental health in 2025:
Make healthy choices: Commit to small changes to your daily habits, such as eating a healthy diet, being active, and avoiding harmful use of alcohol and tobacco.
Prioritize sleep: Focus on your sleep hygiene and get enough sleep. Your body needs rest to recover from daily stress.
Schedule a check-up: Schedule an annual check-up with your provider.
Set realistic goals: Set realistic goals and start small.
Fuel your body: Make sure you're giving your body the nutrition it needs to keep up with your workouts. Don't eat junk food.
Allow time to recover: Allow time to recover between workouts.
Be consistent: Consistency is key to staying fit and healthy.
Connect with others: Be social. Connect in person to support your mental health.
Don't overmedicate: Many people take maintenance medications, but too many individuals are over-medicated, taking too many drugs that may adversely affect their health.
Take your gut health seriously: Monitor your gut health to make sure you maintain good digestion.
And, what about your mental health? The New York Times published yesterday ten tips for practicing good mental health in 2025. There are some tried-and-true habits to help you feel sharp, alive and well in the coming year — and they’re easy to practice. This advice isn't meant to ensure you’ll be upbeat and performing at your best 24/7 (frankly, that just isn’t realistic). But the information can help you build resilience, find balance and prioritize the things that you hold most dear: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/30/well/mind/mental-brain-health-advice.html
At the end of the day, it is up to you to both monitor and maintain your health. If you are a caretaker, you also have the added responsibility of aiding someone who is dependant upon you to make sure their needs are fulfilled. Don't neglect your own personal health. It is critical to keep a healthy balance in your life in all areas. All the advice and information in the known world is not going to help you if you don't take advantage of it, using the material to provide a healthier lifestyle.
This website has significant resources to help you maintain your personal wellness, providing access to products and services that can help you maintain good health: https://www.careingdentalgroup.com/our-website. If you have questions, contact me for a conversation about how you can make positive changes for your health.
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