Breakfast with Herb & Mike

The Renaissance men of Strictly Business tackle the topic of community health with honest, personal reflection. Highlighting the growing focus on prevention, mental health and the everyday choices that help us take better care of ourselves and our communities, the journey of Breakfast with Herb and Mike continues…

Mike: Since the July issue of SB will focus on Community Health Needs I did some research.

What I found was, in your adult lifetime and mine, healthcare has shifted its emphasis. Providers are increasingly looking for causes and preventative measures rather than just prescribing medicines. Their goal is to improve overall health and wellness and to prevent illness in the first place. Much of what I read recommends a holistic approach – one that takes into account the whole person, including their mental as well as physical health. What do you remember about health care when you were growing up?

Herb: I go back to a time when my mother wouldn’t take us to the beach in the summertime for fear of polio. I had whooping cough and all the other childhood diseases. Doctors made house calls and I don’t ever remember talk of seeing a specialist for anything. As an adult, my generation was known for its excesses. We drank too much, smoked two— or sometimes three packs of cigarettes a day. Our diets were heavily dependent on processed foods and I didn’t know anyone who exercised.

Mike: Today we understand that diet and exercise are important when it comes to both physical and mental health. They are two issues I am working hard on now. Liz and I get up at six a.m. every day and walk with our new dog, Gunner. My goal has been 8,000 steps a day. I am hitting that mark consistently now and have just upped my goal to 10,000. One thing I have learned is that moving helps to change thought. If I start by putting one foot in front of the other, I can keep going. Getting started is the hardest part.

Herb: When I had my stroke three years ago, I withdrew for a while. Exercise was the last thing I wanted to think about, but with encouragement from my docs, I got moving again. I don’t move as well as I did before, but it has made a difference.

Mike: Today there is so much emphasis on a healthy diet. For the past couple of decades, I have seen a Physician’s Assistant who works in an Internal Medicine office. She knows my history and she knows me. She has taken the time to understand what I want out of life and we work together on how to get there. One thing that has really stuck with me is a comment she made, “If it comes in a box, it isn’t healthy.” What we eat plays a critical role in our quality of life.

Herb: About 15 years ago I was surprised to discover I was pre-diabetic. My mother had diabetes, but I hadn’t thought the disease would impact me. With education, changes in my diet and a determined effort, I was able to reverse the problem. I am fortunate to have two amazing doctors. I am alive today because of my cardiologist, and my primary care needs are met by my terrific GP.

Mike: I have a strong personal interest in how the health care system deals with mental health and addiction. We have a crisis in this country and it’s getting worse! Although the numbers of drug overdose deaths and death by suicide have leveled off, the trends are still alarming There aren’t enough care providers or facilities that can take in all the people who need help, especially in rural areas like the North Country. That means when people present, they need to be triaged and many are turned away. But the good news is by the end of next month our region will have a Crisis Center — located on the MHAB Life Skills Campus — that will be open 24 hours a day. That level of care will be a reality as MHAB continues to work to centralize services and make it easier for people to get help.

Herb: With the opening of the Crisis Center, your dream of providing transitional housing and services for people in recovery will take another step forward. The partnerships you have formed have been invaluable. Congratulations. Well done!!

Mike: Thanks Dad. Here is a final thought for our SB readers. We all spend a lot of time keeping our homes, our cars and, in my case, my golf clubs in good working order. We should spend at least as much time on self-care. Get up off the couch and go for a walk. Bring your dog if you have one, but no cell phone. Let’s get started.