As a well-traveled, well-educated couple who spent most of their lives in New York City, Philip and Ruth Barash had witnessed and experienced much as they approached their golden years. A savvy New York couple, they'd learned to anticipate challenges.

Philip was a U.S. Army veteran who'd served in the Korean War and later became an attorney; Ruth's education and experience includes philosophy, art, real estate, public relations and executive-level civic work. But one problem they didn't foresee was navigating their own country's health-care system. In the most prominent city of the wealthiest nation on the planet, how bad could it be?

"Philip's health problems began in 1988 and steadily continued until his death in 2012," says Barash, who shares her health-care experiences in a new book, "For Better or Worse: Lurching from Crisis to Crisis in America's Medical Morass," (http://forbetterorworsebook.com/).

"We were in and out of doctors' offices, hospitals and emergency rooms a lot, and I was shocked by the lack of compassion we frequently encountered, as well as the number of health-care professionals who simply are not good diagnosticians."

Barash's cautionary tale traces her husband's long death through a medical journey fraught with mismanagement and excess, useless interventions and a sometimes complete disregard for pain - even when there was no hope of healing.

"The art of intuitive, compassionate health care is dying as doctors rely more on technology and are guided through an arbitrary template established by insurance company policies," she says.

Barash discusses some of the lessons she has learned while navigating overcrowded and dingy emergency room lobbies, callous staff and tech-absorbed doctors.

• Have an advocate! Through the years of Philip's health problems, we encountered extreme kindness, thoughtfulness and high intelligence; we were also confronted with arrogance, indifference and self-serving staff during some of the worst moments. As hard as it was for both of us, we always knew we had each other. If and when you find yourself requiring medical assistance, avoid going it alone; it will be exponentially more difficult, and your chance for survival will exponentially decrease.

• Ask what benefits a proposed treatment will have. We all like to think we have good doctors, and that if we're hospitalized, we'll be competently cared for. We also like to think Santa will bring us nice presents if we've been good children. Realize that invasive and expensive tests are often not necessary; in fact, they often make things worse. Be as skeptical about a procedure proposed by a doctor as you would by any salesman.

• Don't get sick! While this may seem like a facetious bit of advice, since we all succumb to illness at some point - it's actually a sincere sentiment. Do not take your health for granted; do not think "they" will invent a quick fix between now and the time you find yourself in need of serious medical attention. Unnecessary health risks such as smoking; illegal drug use; excessive alcohol intake; and a diet filled with sugar, salt and fat will take you sooner rather than later to the hellish journey known as the U.S. health-care system.

About Ruth Fenner Barash

Ruth Fenner Barash studied philosophy at City College of New York and did graduate work at the University of Chicago. In 1958, she met and married Philip Barash, a private practice attorney. She went on to work in public relations and real estate, served education and civic organizations at the executive level, and taught art in various media. Her long marriage was a "harmonious adventure" despite the couple's treacherous journey through the health-care system. Her husband died in 2012.

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa today made the following comment on the Obamacare open enrollment date shift for next year.

"Last night at 8:29, CMS put out a notice that it is shifting the start of open enrollment next year from October 1, 2014, to November 15, 2014.  That means that if premiums go through the roof in the first year of Obamacare, no one will know about it until after the election.   This is clearly a cynical political move by the Obama Administration to use extra-regulatory, by any means necessary tools to keep this program afloat and hide key information from voters.  The Obama Administration ought to answer for this shift.  The Administration is welcome to prove me wrong by committing to put out 2015 plan year premium rates by November 1, 2014."

To some extent, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but the things we consider beautiful usually share certain characteristics, with symmetry and vitality being chief among them, says CEO Bill Schultz.

"The human body is an excellent example," says Schultz, president of posture innovator AlignMed, www.alignmed.com, and recent recipient of a special Congressional Recognition certificate for his contributions. "The people we view as physically attractive are usually healthy and symmetrical in appearance. That's not a coincidence; postural symmetry and good health go hand in hand."

Good posture - holding the head, shoulders and trunk in perfect alignment - creates balance, which allows our many physiological systems to function optimally, Schultz says. When we habitually sit, stand or walk in a less than a fully aligned position, muscles stretch or contract to accommodate. This can result in chronic imbalances that can lead to pain. Studies dating back to the 19th century also suggest our posture affects mood, energy and self-confidence, all of which affect how attractive we appear to others.

"You don't see supermodels, A-list actors or the rest of the 'beautiful people' slouched over as they strut down the runway or red carpet," Schultz notes.

"Think about the importance of posture among the most challenging sports; for track runners, ballerinas and gymnasts, optimal posture is essential," says Schultz, who explores four ways in which posture is part of the beauty-health connection.

• It's not just sitting for hours on end that's bad for you; it's how one sits. The dangers of sitting have garnered plenty of attention in recent years, especially since we have become a society of sitters. Sitting for long periods comes with many health risks, including obesity and cardiovascular disease. But sitting with less than perfect posture - most frequently, sitting with the head and should in a forward position over a desk -- can cause significant neck pain, which involves muscles and nerves from the neck down. Proper posture can prevent neck and spinal damage.

• More than 116 million Americans, or a third of the population, suffer from chronic pain at some point in their lives. That's according to a recent report from the Institute of Medicine. Chronic pain means that a sufferer has anywhere from 30 to 60 days of lasting pain, and this massive problem is estimated to cost Americans $635 billion dollars. For many, treatment and/or prevention is out of reach, however, a reliable and easy way to prevent chronic pain is to maintain good posture.

• A strong, well-functioning core is crucial for training and optimal health. The bulk of a body's mass is located at and around one's core, including the trunk and pelvis region. Today's fitness fanatics firmly grasp the importance of a healthy core. Surprisingly, however, much of the health-conscious population today is muscle-centric and does not fully appreciate the importance of posture, even though proper posture facilitates core strengthening, especially while exercising.

• Using passive therapy to continuously improve posture. To feel and look your best, it's important to maintain good posture throughout the day, but that's difficult, especially for sedentary people. Neurologists at Rush University Medical Center say passive therapy can be even more effective than active therapy. Posture-enhancing apparel such as MyLign by AlignMed, worn by professional athletes including NBA player Dwight Howard, offer neurologic biofeedback that constantly remind the skeleton and muscles to self-correct. AlignMed founder Shultz says the shirts are not compression shirts, which squeeze the body and are primarily worn for aesthetics. "The shirts map muscles in the same way kinesio tape - used to reduce inflammation, relax muscles and enhance performance - assists world-class athletes," he says.

About Bill Schultz

Bill Schultz is the president and founder of AlignMed, the evidence-based apparel company that offers the Align Posture range of products (Postureshirt, MyLign and S3) used by many of today's top professional athletes, including Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard. Schultz recently received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for "outstanding and invaluable service" through AlignMed. The company is home of the breakthrough alignment/posture shirt that is designed to map the muscle of the wearer's torso and posterior region, which gently yet continually aligns the body. The shirts can be worn 24/7 and are appropriate for all manner of physical activity - or inactivity, including sleeping.

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa today made the following comment on President Obama's call for insurance companies to continue already cancelled plans for another year.

"For three years, the President has taken out his pencil and eraser and rewritten or delayed his law on the fly when it's not working. He's doing it again today. The insurance companies that sent four million cancellation notices did it to comply with his law. What will it take for the President to admit the law isn't working and at least call for a full delay?  The President should work with Congress on something bipartisan that would address health insurance problems without disrupting what does work in our health care system."