Updated: Dec 30, 2020
Our medical system is more about telling people they are okay than it is about being healthy. With even a vague understanding of health and wellness research, it’s obvious that the most important components to maintaining health are diet, sleep, exercise, good relationships, and a calm mind. Our medical system does very little to teach, encourage, and empower people to take control of their physical and mental health. All of the important health decisions have been placed on the individual in a society that often encourages an unhealthy lifestyle. Currently, large company profits dominate the narrative including pharmaceuticals, surgical centers, insurance companies, medical equipment sales, and even shoe companies. Our current system says 'I’ll fix you if something is wrong but until then you’re on your own.' And by fix, they mean you’ll feel better for the next few months or years but once you build up tolerance to the medication or your surgical device wears down and have to come back to be fixed again. A study from a group at StonyBrook University reported that between 70-90% of cancer is preventable with lifestyle choices. The CDC reports that 80% of heart disease and strokes are preventable. People who reported exercising a lot vs exercising a little lived an average of 15 years longer. As chronic disease continues to increase by the millions of cases each year, quality of life declines for the 45% of Americans with a chronic disease. Society and our current medical system are so focused on care for situations of a health crisis.. When in reality, in these situations most of the damage done cannot be repaired with the medicine we currently have. Address the problem before it happens; not just to live longer, but to have energy and feel good doing the things you love to do.
