If you are a baby boomer, a senior, or a senior citizen, you can use the following tips to reduce both your costs of healthcare and your need for it.

When sick:

1. Learn your body. Get a baseline physical. Consult with your doctor to know what your body's weaknesses are.
2. Be an active patient. Think of your doctor as the coach--one who needs 110% from you. It is your job to get well, not your doctors job to heal you.
3. Become an expert. Always investigate anything your doctor tells you. If your doctor says you have heart disease, get at least five books on heart disease and study them.

To stay healthy:

1. Watch your diet. Keep it simple and basic. The low-fat fad will pass, because such diets do not work. What you need to do, instead, is stay away from foods that are highly processed (your body does not work well with them), deep-fried, or high in sugar. Bear in mind, most flour products are so over-refined, they are almost like sugar pills--and they will drive your insulin level sky-high.
2. Exercise regularly. This is where many people cut too many corners. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Go for walks after supper. Stay away from that television. Get some free exercise information plus excellent equipment to help you get in shape and stay in shape.
3. Sleep regularly. This means no weekend binges; your body takes a long time to adjust to schedule changes. The bi-annual "daylight wasting" clock change that takes place in much of the world is terrible in terms of health. But, it's not as bad as chronic late nights and sleep ins on weekends and holidays. Stick to your sleep schedule, and you will have more energy and better health. If sleep is a mystery to you, then maybe you should study a book about sleep.
4. Find a purpose. Many people die from spiritual emptiness--a common event within a year or so of retirement. Spirituality is not an automatic result of participating in religious activities--you must pursue this in its own right. One way is to volunteer some time to a charitable organization and become passionately involved. There are many other ways--seek, and you shall find. If you want to seek more quickly, you can find a book or two on spirituality to get you going.
5. Be happy. This doesn't happen accidentally; you need to work at it. Take care of the important things in your life. Identify your stressors, and reduce or eliminate them. Look for the good in others. Need a quick laugh? Sign up for the Mindconnection.com jokelist. Go see a funny movie; rent or buy a funny movie.
6. Get outside. Walk in a park; ride a bike. Just don't get too much sun--this ages your skin and can lead to a host of other problems.

If you do get sick, do two things:

1. Learn as much as you can about your illness--ask your doctor for resource information, 2. Get a second opinion. Compare the two, and find out why each doctor thinks as he / she does.

To your health!