Tapeworms, the Economy and Medical Reform by Gregory Hake
Posted on | March 2, 2010 | 1 Comment
Warren Buffett (AP)
Intrigued by the analogy, I asked a doctor-friend of mine about parasites and here is what she had to say:
Usually contracted by eating raw or undercooked foods, tapeworms have several rows of teeth that are used to attach to the intestines. Hijacking the digestive system, these parasites absorb (through their skin) food and vital nutrients from the host. Some tapeworms will grow upwards of 50 feet long and will have a girth as large as the intestine.
If symptoms are present, they may include nausea, appetite loss, weakness, abdominal pain, loose bowels, weight loss and malnutrition. One of the vital nutrients absorbed by tapeworms is B-12, a nutrient that helps red blood cells to develop.
Tapeworms have been known to multiply and spread to other bodily organs. When this happens, overall health may deteriorate rapidly. Tapeworms that are no longer restricted to intestines can cause considerable damage to the tissues and organs. Some of the symptoms observed when worms are present in sufficiently large numbers, are neurological issues such as double vision and tingling of the face, high fever, seizures, bacterial, and allergic reactions.Tapeworms zap resources and energy from the host which can make it difficult to eliminate these invaders. As a result, parasite elimination requires a cohesive plan. Generally, tapeworms are expelled in pieces. The entire worm must be expelled to prevent it from regrowing.
Concern #1: “If symptoms are present, they may include nausea, appetite loss, weakness, abdominal pain, loose bowels, weight loss and malnutrition.” There is no doubt in my mind that the people of our great nation are experiencing economic forms of these symptoms every day. There is a general malaise, disorientation, reduction in consumption and both wallets and access to credit have diminished considerably.
Concern #2: “Tapeworms have been known to multiply and spread to other bodily organs. When this happens, overall health may deteriorate rapidly. Tapeworms that are no longer restricted to intestines can cause considerable damage to the tissues and organs.” The “tapeworm” that is health care costs has spread to other parts of the economy. Ask any small business owner if there are reasonable, affordable ways to provide health care insurance. Look at the incredible statistics on productivity losses in the workforce due to the expensive and ineffective health care system. Consider for a moment the long list of projects that must be put aside at the national and local levels as health care costs consume increasing amounts of the budget.
Concern #3: “Tapeworms zap resources and energy from the host which can make it difficult to eliminate these invaders. As a result, parasite elimination requires a cohesive plan. Generally, tapeworms are expelled in pieces. The entire worm must be expelled to prevent it from regrowing.” Buffett said in his interview that between the two present options, he would support the Senate plan for health care reform. But, he said, he would really prefer a “Plan C” that would “really attack costs.” As in the body, this would require a cohesive, no holds barred plan.
There are many ways to “really attack costs.” One of my favorites involves a seismic shift in the way we view health care: a move from an emphasis on intervention to a system focused on prevention. This approach provides enormous leverage as it would take the legs out from under chronic disease in our country. Management of chronic disease is the central cost driver in our current health care system. Reduce that by any percentage and the savings will be staggering.
Combine this shift with the other plans for payment and delivery system reform in the current proposals and then you will have a proposal that aggressively attacks costs. If the medical costs in our economic body do continue to progress as Warren Buffett, the “Oracle of Omaha” predicts, the sooner we act, the better. Our nation’s health can only benefit from swift resolution.
Tags: Gregg Hake > gregory hake > health care reform > Prevention > preventive medicine > symptoms > tapeworm > warren buffett
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March 4th, 2010 @ 4:27 pm
Interesting analogy. The President said “everything that can be said, has been said (about reform)”. To my ear, the voices of prevention have not been loud enough in reform, nor captured well enough by the media.
Nor does “prevention” completely convey what natural health care has to offer.
Talking about reversing chronic disease rather than managing it requires examining the paradigm differences between conventional medicine and natural health care. This is not an easy discussion but one well worth having.
Drugs can kill the tapeworm, but will the doctor know how to expel the worm’s energetic signature, rebuild the organ systems, emotionally re-nourish the patient, and follow-up carefully for parasite return?
We need to get mainstream attention to the comprehensive offerings of natural health care, perhaps by discussing and showing how it regenerates and greens the economy.
I believe our country’s economic resilience truly depends on encouraging a conscious paradigm shift from one medical system into the other, especially at the primary care level.