The latest published data on annual deaths in the U.S. in 2014 stated that there were 2,626,418 deaths. Heart disease was listed as the number one cause at over 500,000 and cancer number two at over 350,000.
Considering the fact that 22% of Americans still smoke and that 70% are overweight and that obesity is the number one cause of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer, it is amazing that the total deaths are that low! On the other hand, the CDC ignores what may be the actual final nail in the coffin, the medical system itself!
In 2000, a landmark article by Dr Barbara Stanfield, MD, MPH, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA, July 26, 2000—Vol 284, No. 4), “Is US Health Really the Best in the World?”, Stanfield included the following statistics from her research about iatrogenic deaths, i.e., deaths caused by medical treatments. (Note: these numbers do not include out-patient iatrogenic deaths):
- 12,000 deaths/year from unnecessary surgery in hospitals
- 7,000 deaths/year from medication errors in hospitals
- 20,000 deaths/year from other errors in hospitals
- 80,000 deaths/year from nosocomial infections in hospitals
- 106,000 deaths/year from non-error, adverse effects of medications in hospitals.
Combining these five groups gives us a total of 225,000 in-patient deaths. The 225,000 number does not include out-patient deaths or disabilities.
Interestingly, an even more landmark book, DEATH BY MEDICINE, claimed the total medically-induced deaths was more likely at least 750,000.
In Dr. Peter Goetzsche’s powerful 2013 book “Deadly Medicines and Organized Crime: How Big Pharma has Corrupted Healthcare”, he emphasized that the death certificate relies on assigning an International Classification of Disease (ICD) code to the cause of death. As a result, causes of death not associated with an ICD code (including many iatrogenic disorders), such as human and system factors, are not captured.
Dr. John James, in “A New, Evidence-based Estimate of Patient Harms Associated with Hospital Care”. (Journal of Patient Safety: September 2013 – Volume 9 – Issue 3 – p 122–128) estimates that the true number of premature deaths associated with preventable harm to patients was estimated at more than 400,000 per year. Serious (but non-lethal) harm seems to be 10- to 20-fold more common than lethal harm.
Now if these statistics are not enough to make you want to avoid illness and Premature Death, then you have wasted your time. If you do have common sense, here are the ESSENTIAL habits:
- Body mass index 18-24
- No smoking
- Minimum of 5 serving of fruits and veggies every day
- Exercise 30 minutes 5 days a week
- Sleep 7 to 8 hours every night
Are you ready to be healthy?
Norman Shealy, M.D., Ph.D. is the father of holistic medicine. He recommends autogenic focus (the basis of the Biogenics System) as part of your overall commitment to self-health. Register to download your FREE autogenic focus MP3 now.