Wellness on the Rise

Our “health care” system is failing and it’s no surprise why. Currently in the United States 95 cents of every health care dollar is being spent on treating illnesses or conditions after they occur. This means that LESS than 5 cents on every dollar is being spent on health education and prevention. This is staggering knowing that we are spending almost all of our health care costs on diseases and conditions that are completely preventable.

“Right now, some 75 percent of health care costs are accounted for by heart disease, diabetes, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and obesity. What these five diseases and conditions have in common is that they are largely preventable and even reversible by changes in nutrition, physical activity and lifestyle,” Said Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa.

Author, M.D. and Founder of Preventive Medicine Research Institute Dr. Dean Ornish agrees saying, “Studies have shown that changing lifestyle could prevent at least 90 percent of all heart disease. Thus, the disease that accounts for more premature deaths and costs Americans more than any other illness is almost completely preventable, and even reversible, simply by changing lifestyle.”

True prevention isn’t going to your doctor to have lab work done, mammograms, vaccines or taking any sort of medication. True prevention is about living a natural lifestyle, keeping your body moving correctly, exercising, eating healthy, managing your stress and breathing healthy.

As President Obama said in his speech to Congress earlier this year: “[It is time] to make the largest investment ever in preventive care, because that's one of the best ways to keep our people healthy and our costs under control.”