Forbes reports that in 2013, the United States spent 3.8 trillion dollars on healthcare. Americans want to be healthy but the hard facts show that good health is not for sale. If you want to live a healthy lifestyle then take ownership of your health. If you choose to become and stay healthy, make a commitment of:
TIME: The true measure of the value you place on your health.
WORK: A healthy Iifestyle does have a to-do list.
MONEY: Investing in your health is investing in yourself.
According to data compiled by Marketdata Enterprises, a market research firm that specializes in tracking niche industries, Americans spend north of $60 billion annually to try to lose pounds but only manage to lose money. We have all heard about the tread mill magically transforming into a very expensive clothing rack. Products promising to help us lose weight without even trying are filling up the airwaves. Recently, Dr. Oz was called before the US Congress to explain why he is dedicating so much airtime on national television to publicize the outrageous claims of products that have not been properly tested for safety or effectiveness. Dr. Oz promised to consider what he publicizes more carefully in the future.
The Nielsen Company reports that in 2013, the sales of Over The Counter (OTC) products was 33.1 billion dollars. These products contain drugs that don’t require a prescription from your doctor. So everything from acne remedies to Zinc supplements qualifies as an OTC product. Generally, these products intend to treat the acute symptoms of a chronic medical condition. Consumer spending for OTC products has more than doubled since 2003. Unfortunately, money alone cannot buy good health. Products may relieve symptoms but products will not make you healthy. A reasonable plan designed to gently balance your lifestyle will help you become and stay healthy.
How much does lifestyle contribute to suffering with a chronic medical condition? How often are the choices we make responsible for the flare ups that make getting through the day difficult? The most common of the chronic diseases are Type 2 Diabetes, High Cholesterol and High Blood Pressure. These chronic long term medical conditions can lead to medical emergencies like stroke and heart attack. Recently the major cause of these diseases has been identified as a disease. Now being overweight is legally considered a disease condition in the United States.
Science has shown that these conditions are directly related to lifestyle choices. Living according to lifestyle choices that do not promote good health causes conditions that are dangerous. Since the cure is changing your way of living, drugs are designed to manage these conditions. Unless you make different choices, you will need the drugs for the rest of your life. All drugs have physical and financial side effects. Each pill you take adds to the cost of healthcare as the drug diminishes the quality of your life while theoretically extending your life.
Perhaps the approach we are taking to healthcare is the basic problem. Ancient cultures also created healthcare systems. These systems of medicine are based on prevention. The basic premise of these ancient systems was focused on maintaining good health. Staying healthy was recognized as easier and less expensive than treating a disease.
The modern healthcare system doesn’t become involved in your healthcare until you become sick. The modern medical system is not concerned with healthy people working to stay healthy. There are very few medical insurance benefits that encourage a healthy lifestyle.
No one wants to be sick. We really do want to be healthy, but many have not been taught the skills to become and stay healthy. Typically, in the United States, neither schools nor families teach children how to be healthy.
There are licensed health professionals who can help you to learn the skills you need to become and stay healthy. As a licensed acupuncturist, I am trained in a holistic system of medicine. My training focused on gently balancing a patient’s lifestyle. In this system, the prevention of disease is considered the highest form of medicine. I specialize in gently balancing physical, mental and emotional imbalance.
