Too often, it’s hard to make healthy choices because “changing your life” is so overwhelming. There are so many specific must-dos, it can seem impossible to do anything right at all. So we’re left between guilt over things we haven’t done enough, like exercise, and things we’ve done a little too much, like eating. Another day passes with no progress. How about stepping back from trying to make a massive overhaul and just do something manageable?
In this issue, Zach Hunt brings us a story of the amazing mental health benefits from even 10 minutes of activity, and Patty Seebeck offers ideas for simple healthy eating in spite of busy fall schedules.
In reporting on the Meatless Mondays movement, I became more aware than ever of how these little things can make a big difference. The evening I finished that story, we had a meatless dinner. It wasn’t Monday, and it wasn’t particularly planned, but it felt good to try. And best of all, it wasn’t even difficult — in fact, we didn’t miss meat at all.
This issue isn’t just about little things, however. There are big changes underway as the nation tackles health care reform. I think you’ll enjoy reading the perspective on the system offered by some prominent members of our local medical community.
Reforming the health care system inevitably means dealing with costs. What if we could save money, not to mention suffering, through preventing disease in the first place? Leah Sottile reports on a new program to reduce risk for heart attacks and strokes.
In our cover story, Mikayla Hunter profiles Inland Northwest medical pioneers. Here you’ll see how repairing a crooked screen door led to an amazing advance in spinal surgery. And in one of my all-time favorite InHealthNW stories, you’ll meet Forrest Bird and learn about his amazing career inventing the respirator. At 88, he’s still passionate about inventing and flying. Now there’s a role model for aging with vigor!
To your health!
