Making The Most Of Your Health Care Dollars

I know statistics are boring--Please hang with me--I promise to be brief with them, OK? I've found that they can impact on our thinking...which can in turn impact our actions...and ultimately our health!

Here we go:
**Americans spend twice as much per person, on health care, as any other country--yet we still have some of the world's highest rates of heart disease, cancer, arthritis, diabetes, and mental illness. We should, by all rights, be the healthiest country in the world with this kind of spending! NOT the best use of our health care dollars. This fact alone is evidence enough that our current medical system is broken and in need of a complete overhaul--which, as we've been learning starts with each of us taking Ownership Of Our Health.

**Today in the US, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 2 men will get cancer. And that's after pouring more than $50 billion dollars over the past 30 years into fight against cancer. This research has resulted in a 13% increase in the incidence of cancer and a 7% increase in the overall death rate of cancer. Not quite the results one would expect after $50 billion dollars, huh? Are our health care dollars hard at work?? A more effective approach: Learning and incorporating SIMPLE & EFFECTIVE ways to minimize our cancer risk--of which there are plenty! I've addressed some of these in my past blogs--and will continue to do so.

**Over 100,000 people die from adverse reactions to drugs each year in the US, which means taking a prescription drug is the number 4 cause of death, after heart disease/stroke, cancer and diabetes. More current data is showing that it may be actually 2nd or 3rd in cause of death, instead of 4th. Bottom line? We need to take Ownership Of Our Health NOW and minimize the need for prescription meds as much as possible. Think of the impact that would have our health care dollars!

Let's end on a positive note, knowing that our frame of mind impacts our health as well! Did you know that not one American has died from vitamin use (or abuse) in the past ten years---yet 17,000 die from OTC (over the counter) pain killers? Obviously the quality of vitamins (nutritional supplements) makes a huge difference. I have some blogs referencing this---and again, more to come!

The world is becoming divided into health care professionals who prevent disease and promote wellness and health care professionals who treat sickness. Which category does your health care provider/professional(s) fall into? Are they advising you on health and long-term wellness? Do they fit into the category of 'healthy individuals'? Great food for thought---after all, we only get one body for this lifetime--no trade-in's! What a great common goal: making the most of our health care dollars--let's do it!

Blessings on your health--
Sana