Aug 13, 2010
I was reading an article sent to me by a colleague recently about the declining state of U.S. health care system (http://www.medpagetoday.com/PublicHealthPolicy/HealthPolicy/20837). We’re losing ground in quality of care measurements, in positive outcomes and both doctors and patient are increasingly unhappy. To add icing on the cake, the care is more expensive than ever!
Rarely is paying more for less satisfying. Occasionally, a well-prepared French haute-cuisine meal provides an exception to the rule, but generally speaking consumers like to receive more for less. With virtually everything but costs in health care trending downward, many are understandably leery of extending that same care to millions more people. Basic coverage is obviously important to have, but at a certain point we have to wake up and ask “can more of the same get us a different outcome?”
The answer is obviously no. But what alternatives do we have? In my view, prevention is the best medicine. Medical doctors are increasingly discovering the treatment and economic value of working with complementary and alternative therapies. New models are emerging for proving the effectiveness and verifying the safety of nutritional and dietary supplements, and enforcement of the regulations in place is slowly but surely catching up to the need.
Wellness and prevention is going mainstream. A friend of mine sent me a link to a Dr. Oz series on the matter of alternative medicine that you might find interesting: http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/ask-dr-oz-alternative-medicine-pt-1. Even the U.S. Army is jumping on the prevention/wellness bandwagon. They have devoted tons of resources to educating their personnel and their approach seems to be based in keeping things simple. Simple means accessible and when it comes to modifying lifestyle, the simpler the better. For a look at their efforts see: http://www.hooah4health.com/overview/wellness.htm.
Making healthy lifestyle choices is the key to minimizing the likelihood of ending up with a chronic disease. Given that the overwhelming majority of chronic disease are known to be cause by modifiable lifestyle choices, it seems clear to me that we can reverse the alarming health care trends we’re experiencing with little cost through education and common sense.
What do you think?
by Gregg Hake | CEO, Energetix
As a fitness professional I can say that I have seen over time the most amazing turn arounds in quality of life and overall health through nutrition education and an increase in phsical activity. Our sedentary lifestyles have created a devestating effect on all aspects of our lives, emotionally and mentally. We seem to be always in a hurry, resorting to fast foods, yet we are not really moving! Preventative health care is simple and cost effective,changing our approach is as easy as making a decision daily to move a little more and eat a little better, one day at a time.