If you’ve been lamenting the cost of beef, milk, or cereal, you are not alone. The cost of everything continues to climb. And while most of us recognize that the cost of our health care is increasing in the form of higher deductibles or monthly paycheck deductions, we might not think about just how expensive illness is until the moment someone is actively ill. There are the costs of office visits to specialists, increased diagnostic testing, additional medications, and various therapies. People can and do go bankrupt from paying for their health care.
So if the idea of spending money on wellness to prevent or minimize the severity of illness sounds wasteful, it might not be when compared to all the costs associated with disease.
But where do you start if you are thinking about devoting more of your budget to your overall wellness? How much should you spend, and where should you spend it?
Build up your basics
Believe it or not, it is possible to enhance one’s wellness without spending a dime. Terri Paige, CEO and co-founder of Medical Transformation Center, says that improving your sleep and doing resistance exercises (such as squats or planks) are the low-hanging fruits of wellness that can make a big difference in your overall health and quality of life.
But if you have several hundred dollars to spend, Terri says, “I would tell them to clean up their diet. Spend that money on better quality food.” Buying more fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables and whole grains and spending less on ultra-processed food would be a great way to use one’s windfall on wellness.
Investing in therapies for better days
When a health issue is not too serious but is bothersome on a daily basis, investing in a solution can be what yields more comfortable days — a high return on investment. For example, annoying nasal congestion might be relieved by salt therapy, which can be found in an area salt room such as Bodhi Salt Center, where visits run from $35-$50.
For nagging aches and pains, massage therapy — or better yet, a massage routine — is an option. Dasha Grankina, co-founder and co-owner of Bodhi Salt, compares a one-time massage to a routine of massage as the difference between a crash diet and a healthy lifestyle. “One-time massage sessions can offer immediate relief, but regular sessions help your body and mind build lasting strength and flexibility,” she says. Massage, as a general rule, is going to run between $100-$125 per 60-minute session, although some businesses offer memberships with reduced rates. If a person begins a routine of regular monthly massage, they could end up spending $1,500-$2,000 per year.
Acupuncture is another increasingly popular wellness treatment that can reap benefits. Holly Macias of Louisville Family Acupuncture explains that acupuncture needles are hairlike solid needles, about 20 of which could fit into a regular blood draw needle, so there isn’t the type of discomfort experienced in an injection. “People are surprised by how relaxing acupuncture is,” she says. “Most of my patients take a nap while the needles are in.”
Older adults may find that acupuncture can become an important part of their wellness. “Acupuncture has been shown to relax the nervous system, and the more we are in that state, the more the body can do restorative processes,” Holly says. Her colleague, Alex, frequently works with veterans and older adults who are experiencing pain associated with inflammation and blood circulation. Acupuncture has also been shown to help regulate the endocrine system, which can be helpful for women who are going through the hormonal changes of peri- and post-menopause.
The cost associated with acupuncture can have a pretty wide range, but generally falls between $100-120 per session. Unlike massage, however, acupuncture, especially for pain, may need to be done twice a week for a while, and then gradually become a once-a-month visit. With that in mind, weekly sessions for a six month period would cost approximately $2,700.
Boosting your body’s healing and regeneration
Sometimes, people spend money on wellness because they can’t get answers or relief with traditional medicine. Maybe their labs are normal, but something just isn’t right. Some folks seek out additional diagnostic testing with the hope of figuring out the mystery. Medical Transformation Center, for example, offers a wide range of tests, including microbiome assessment and gut permeability measures.
Terri says other clients are interested in regenerative medicine, such as using peptides and technology to help their bodies do what they are supposed to. “We can couple peptide therapies with Emsculpt Neo, which uses targeted MRI technology,” she says. “These little fragments of protein are targeted and mimic what your body already makes. It’s just extra support to help your body do what it knows how to do.” Of course, when we’re talking about cutting-edge technology and compounding peptides, this is going to be more costly. Ensculpt Neo sessions are in the region of $700-$1,000 per treatment.
Of course, if we’re not feeling well, most of us are willing to do just about anything to alleviate discomfort and get back to enjoying our usual activities, and that may mean devoting more of our budget to our wellness.
By Carrie Vittitoe
P.S. Thinking of warmer places this winter that can help soothe your mind, body, and spirit? Check out this article to learn more.
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