In 2006, the total cost of health care in the United States was 2.1 trillion dollars, which is more than the gross national product of China. Yes, we spend more on healthcare than China spends on everything. Weve all heard that the war in Iraq costs the U.S. taxpayers about $10 billion per month, which is $120 billion annually. That means we are spending close to 20 times more on health care than we are on the war in Iraq. In fact, we spend more on healthcare than the entire defense budget. A big chunk of our taxes go to health care spending, and were not even doing a very good job at it given that 47 million Americans are still uninsured. Heres the real kicker, 70 to 80% of health care dollars are spent treating chronic preventable illness. Yes, preventable. If we all chose to live a little healthier, basically, eat better and exercise more, we could save so much money as a nation that we could afford to invade another country, maybe Canada. The Obama - Biden administration is inheriting a lot of problems, including war and a financial crisis. As everyday citizens, its difficult to influence policies that will help remedy these situations. Not to mention that most of us (me included) would have no idea how to fix them anyway. However, every one of us has significant control over our own health, which is the largest drain on our economy. So, can you lower your taxes by going for a walk - probably. According to a talk I attended recently by Emanuel Ezekiel, the Director of the NIH Bioethics Department, approximately one third of most state taxes support healthcare. Not to mention the obvious burden on employers, which translates into reduced wages for employees. Sowhat can we do to lower our taxes? Live with greater attention to our personal health. If we choose to continue to ignore health issues, it may actually cost us significantly more. In 2011, Alabama will begin charging state workers who fall into the obese category an extra $25 for the health coverage. Since Alabama has one of the highest obesity rates in the country, with nearly 1 out of 3 folks packing on those kind of pounds, thats going to sting. I dont really agree with this approach and I think it will open up all kinds of legal challenges. However, the fact that one state is going down this road should be a wake-up call to us all. The bottom line is that our health care crisis is getting out of control, but is largely within our control. Politicians spend big chunks of their time trying to figure out how to deliver more care to our citizens. But wouldnt this attention be better spent trying to figure out how to stop so many people from getting sick in the first place? Maybe we should stop looking to the policy makers for answers and take our health into our own hands. Maybe its time for a little personal responsibility. We will always have illness. Even if we did everything right, some folks would still get sick. Thats just the nature of our biology. But it seems to me that an 80% reduction in illness, which is what a better diet and more exercise could do, and which translates into a savings of about 1.6 trillion dollars a year, is a no-brainer.
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About the Author:
Dr. Simon Evans holds a PhD in molecular biology with 15 years research and teaching experience in neuroscience and a current faculty position in the Psychiatry Department at the University of Michigan. He is a member of the Society for Neuroscience, the American Society for Nutrition and the Michigan Metabolomics and Obesity Center; with expertise in neurochemistry and nutrition. He is the author of dozens of scientific publications on stress, depression and brain function as well as the acclaimed book, BrainFit for Life, published in the Spring of 2008.
Dr. Evans also holds a national coaching license from the United States Soccer Federation and over two decades coaching experience, which enables him to help people find and use their full potential. Dr. Evans has merged his interests in brain function, health, and performance coaching into public seminars and workshops designed to educate audiences about brain health and motivate them to take action to achieve it. http://www.brainfitforlife.com