Santa Rosa County needs more 'Will Do' groups

Dear editor,

Health care is a major issue in the Milton and Pace area and people need to think about ways to take care of themselves and each other. We don’t need to wait for the federal government to totally take care of us.

The Aug. 16 Press Gazette article, “You put actions above words,” showed what Gulf Breeze women are doing for their community. The Milton and Pace area needs a similar “Will Do” group, where each member donates $250 each per year and then awards grants for needy, health care related issues. A Milton and Pace women’s group would supplement Impact 100 and encourage even more women to participate on a smaller scale. 

Perhaps more local dental businesses could follow Advanced Dental Concepts in Pace and give one day a year to help needy dental patients in the area. The grants could be offered to each business to help offset their cost.

If you can’t afford to go to the eye doctor, then you can buy reading glasses at the Dollar Tree for $1. Even though I can afford eye care, I still buy these glasses on occasion when I’m doing outside, work-related projects, like painting or construction type work, since it’s too easy to ruin my expensive pairs.  

Heart disease is the number one killer in Florida. Even though I have great health care, I recently had a Life Line Screening done at our local Milton Garden Club. This screening cost me $139 and checked my carotid artery, atrial fibrillation, abdominal aortic aneurysm, peripheral arterial disease, and osteoporosis. I, too, am predisposed to heart-related disease since both my parents died as a result of heart-attack, stroke and Alzheimer’s. 

This week, I lost a long-time friend to this disease, but we do have lifestyle options in addition to our routine medical treatments. I’ve been taking a statin drug for decades to lower my cholesterol. 

Three years ago I had a similar Life Screening health assessment done. I showed mild to moderate artery blockage. I decided to change my diet, after doing Google-related searches, to incorporate hot peppers, garlic, turmeric, and other spices. I periodically blend these powerful foods with a healthy fruit group or vegetable group. I pour the mix into plastic cups to freeze. Every day or two I move one cup to the refrigerator to thaw and eat. Additionally, I mix 1/3 cayenne pepper spice in with 2/3 turmeric spice and after thoroughly mixing, I sprinkle on foods daily. 

I just performed another Life Screening test series last month and now my results show all normal. If you can’t afford these tests, have no health care, or have a family history of heart disease, then you can change your diet as I did to protect your cardiovascular system or as in my case, reverse artery plaque buildup.

Together, people can improve their health and quality of life. Just take personal responsibility over your life, exercise daily, share healthy lifestyle information, and donate a little of your time and resources to help your neighbors. 

BILL CALFEE

Milton

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This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Santa Rosa County needs more 'Will Do' groups