Greatest holiday gift is good health

Many people wish for more than presents on Christmas. This day can bring us hope for the future and a sense of joy that has nothing to do with gifts, decorations or a big meal.

If we take a minute today to think about it, we can find much that brings us joy. And when these thoughts are applied to our health, there are glad tidings that bring cheer, even in times of uncertainty and change.

Medical care is better than it was in our parents' generation. Physicians still care deeply about their patients and now have more tools to keep us healthy. With the help of new technology, we are able to diagnose problems early enough to effectively treat conditions that used to be fatal: heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and many cancers.

Skin cancer, colon cancer and breast cancer can often be completely cured if caught early by painless and readily available screening. Surgeries that used to require large incisions and days in the hospital are now performed with techniques that result in a tiny scar and home the same day.

New medications treat previously crippling diseases such as asthma, arthritis and bacterial infections. AIDS is no longer a death sentence; it has turned into a chronic disease that can be managed with medication.

Our community is more health-conscious than ever. Supermarkets have healthy food options in every department. Everyone knows that we should be exercising regularly, and some of us are even doing it. Less than 15 percent of California residents still smoke cigarettes.

Complementary health modalities are more popular than ever, and people can avail themselves of safe alternatives such as acupuncture, osteopathy and homeopathy. The general public has ready access to medical information through the Internet and is more sophisticated about health care, procedures and medications than at any other time in history. This has allowed us to develop collaborative relationships with medical providers, empowering everyone toward better health.

Some providers are using the Internet to increase quality of care. If prescriptions and appointment needs can be filled through e-mail, and if patient education is readily available through personalized Web pages, it leaves more time for quality face-to-face interactions with physicians. In our community, Kaiser Permanente has been proactive in taking advantage of digital communication between patients and physicians. Their work may be setting precedents for networking within a comprehensive, universal health-care system of the future.

The current health-care crisis in Sonoma County has raised our awareness and has brought the community together as we work on solutions. The successful effort to support Palm Drive Hospital in Sebastopol is one shining example. We are no longer denying the reality of an inadequate health-care system or the cost of complex and confusing insurance plans. We are beginning to explore our options.

We can all look around our Christmas gatherings and see medical miracles to be thankful for. My friends who are surviving breast cancer because of new therapies, a teenager who survived a skateboarding head injury this year thanks to the skill of his neurosurgeon, a friend who lives well with AIDS and another who was able to run three miles before dinner because he can self-manage his asthma are just a few examples in my personal circle. I'm sure you can find some medical miracles of your own on this day of hope.

And what about Christmas wishes for the coming year? Certainly, good health for you and your loved ones is at the top of the list. Let's also wish for further improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases and cancers. Pray that the dedicated and talented individuals currently working on solutions to our local health-care crisis have both the wisdom and foresight to create a system that meets our community's needs.

And in the spirit of this season of hope, let's take good care of one another so that 2008 can be a healthy year of joy and glad tidings.

Dr. Stacey Kerr is a longtime Sonoma County family physician. Her columns are not intended as a substitute for hands-on medical advice or treatment. Consult your health-care provider before adhering to any recommendations in this column. E-mail comments to drkerr@the-doctors-inn.com.