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This time of year, many Americans ponder possible resolutions for self- improvement. Many of the most popular New Year\u2019s resolutions continue to focus on health: losing weight, managing stress, giving up bad habits, eating right, and exercising more. One resolution that may be less common \u2013 but of crucial importance now and year-round \u2013 is a simple one: follow your doctor\u2019s orders.<\/p>\n
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\u201cFailure to follow prescribed health regimens, or poor medication adherence, is a growing public health concern, made all the more critical as the number of Americans affected by at least one chronic condition requiring medication therapy is expected to grow from 133 to 157 million by 2020,\u201d said Sally Greenberg, Executive Director of the National Consumers League (NCL), the nation\u2019s oldest consumer organization.<\/p>\n
According to Greenberg, nearly three out of four Americans report that they do not always take their medication as directed, a problem that causes more than one-third of medicine-related hospitalizations, nearly 125,000 deaths in the United States each year, and adds $290 billion in avoidable costs to the health care system annually.<\/p>\n
Poor medication adherence has become an issue of such concern that NCL has launched\u00a0Script Your Future<\/em>, a national campaign designed to help patients take back their futures by helping them understand the importance of\u00a0taking your medicine as directed<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 and following through with it.\u00a0Script Your Future<\/em>\u00a0offers free tools for consumers to manage their medicines and sample questions to help start a conversation with their doctor, pharmacist, or nurse about their medicines.<\/p>\n So, still looking for a new year\u2019s resolution? Here are three easy steps you can take today to get started down the path towards better adherence and healthier living:<\/p>\n \u201cThe consequences of nonadherence are too great to be ignored,\u201d said NCL\u2019s Vice President for Health Policy Rebecca Burkholder. \u201cThere are simple steps everyone can take to make adherence a part of their resolutions for a healthy 2012.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0Additional\u00a0Script Your Future<\/em>\u00a0tools include free text message reminders, sample questions for patients to ask health care practitioners, medication lists, condition management sheets, and fact sheets on common chronic conditions.\u00a0 All of these materials can be found on the campaign Web site,\u00a0www.ScriptYourFuture.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n