Self-Medicating, Treating, Essential in Future as Health Costs Rise

The medical industry has and will continue to impact us all in every way possible. Many feel that it's a disgrace how health costs have become. It is sinful and disgraceful that it is almost impossible to receive the benefits of being and staying healthy without becoming poverty-stricken.

I work in the health care field as a physician assistant, and it is my duty to help individuals to sustain a healthier lifestyle along with helping any current ailments that may occur. But as time passes, this is becoming more challenging for the average consumer to obtain. The cost of wellness programs just does not seem to fit into the regular populations budget, and in addition most of these programs are being cut out of many organizations due to the lack of available funding that was provided.

To treat individuals during an ailing time is just as difficult today and worse tomorrow. This is secondary to the cost of medications, the strictness of health insurance companies as well as having frequent follow-up visits which also increase the amount of co-payments that many will endure in receiving the benefits from the proper treatment that may be needed.

I foresee the new population of self-treating and self-medicating in the near future. I already encounter so many that do this especially with the ease of having internet access. No longer does anyone have to see a physician to make a diagnosis, all they do is go on a computer that has accessibility to the new technical world, and type in their symptoms and within seconds they are given several different analysis of what they may be suffering from. After having a cyber physician make a diagnosis, they can obtain a treatment plan as well. And basically these treatments will include suggestions that may or will suit any budget.

All of this self-diagnosis along with self-medicating will in turn perpetuate more health problems. It is difficult enough to try and treat certain people when they are sitting in front of you with their symptoms I can't imagine how a computer based program is going to do the same without ascertaining a complete and thorough medical and personal history.

I blame politics, economy and health insurances. They should all be ashamed that our health and well-being is going to be relied on a virtual doctor that will medically treat our future generations. Health costs needs to be a number one priority, especially as we enter the aging of the baby boomer's which will have a significant impact on our health care industry.

We all need to have the availability to seek proper medical attention along with preventative medicine without worrying how it will affect what is in our pockets. Seeking medical advice and treatment plans on the internet or via another source such as friends and family to save money is only going to lead us all into a disastrous future in medicine.

Staying healthy is the only answer.