REAL HEALTH versus WEALTH (C)

C. Norman Shealy, M.D.,Ph.D.

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THIS IS WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO TODAY!!

Americans spend two to three times as much on disease care as do Europeans, but Americans are significantly less healthy! In a study of 9900 Americans, 6500 Brits and 17,000 mainland Europeans, ages 50 to 74, Americans had the highest prevalence of all in heart disease (18% higher) , cancer (11%) compared to Brits. The differences were less compared with Europe itself but still striking. The bottom third of individuals, according to economic status, played a significant role. Thus, for stroke the economic bottom third had 1.9 times as many strokes in the U.S; 2.08 times in England and 1.36 times in mainland Europe. Am J Public Health, 2009, 99:540.

Let’s face it—MEDICAL CARE HAS LITTLE OR NOTHING TO DO WITH THE INCIDENCE OF STROKE, HEART DISEASE OR CANCER.
HABITS, BEHAVIOR, DIET, EXERCISE are the critical factors!! No amount of medical care or attention can truly prevent DISEASE. SELF-CARE is the only answer. Playing one of my most frequent records:

Only 3% of Americans have the 4 ESSENTIAL health habits:

• No smoking About 78%
• BMI 18-24–0nly 33%
• Eat at least 5 servings of fruits & veggies daily–10%
• Exercise minimum of 30 minutes 5 days weekly–10%
• All 4–only 3%

Doubling the number of hospital beds and medical students, initiated in the 40’s because Congress could not pass a national disease care system, did less than nothing for our Health! Spending 2 to 3 times as much money as other countries has done nothing for our health. Whatever the outcome of the current debate over medical/disease care (WE DO NOT HAVE A HEALTHCARE SYSTEM!!), ALL THE MEDICAL CARE IN THE WORLD WILL NOT IMPROVE HEALTH.

At least 85% of disease is the result of HUMAN MISBEHAVIOR. If only everyone would adopt the 4 ESSENTIALS, within 10 years our medical expenses would decrease by 50% and within 25 years by at least 75%
Health is an inside job, just as is happiness. It begins with each individual accepting responsibility for CARING for SELF. Obesity is the number one cause of disease and of early death today. Smoking is number two. And the Medical System (treating all the avoidable diseases) is number three!? If you do not vigorously do the top 4 essential habits, WHEN? And Why Not? All the money in the world cannot create a medical system as good as SELF-CARE!

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