Taking Charge of Your Health
Good health may be the single most important gift we are given; a gift that we should be thankful for each and every day. Whether you are trying to improve your health, or simply want to maintain good health, the first (and perhaps most important) step involves taking charge of your own health. Why take charge of your own health? Because you owe it to yourself to live a healthy, long and happy life.
How to take charge
To truly take charge of your health you need to become educated in all matters of health so that you can make wise and healthy decisions. Besides adopting a healthy diet and lifestyle, it is also very important to consider our health care system here in America. After all, most of us will rely on the health care system when we become sick and need treatment. Is the current health care system working to keep you and your loved ones healthy?
Health care in America
Our current health care system may not be such a great defense against the epidemic diseases that we are facing today such as: cancer, heart disease, diabetes and chronic fatigue. Studies have shown that the incidences of cancer and diabetes have risen in recent years. 1 2 Conventional medical treatments, including prescription drugs, may be helpful in treating these diseases, but based the above statistics, they do not seem to be keeping a majority of the people healthy.
Is our current health care system really working to find the cures we need, or could our money be better spent when it comes to our health care and disease prevention? Perhaps we need a health care system that will focus more on prevention and less on treating symptoms. After all, ancient healers like Hippocrates believed that an ounce of prevention was worth a pound of cure.
Perhaps focusing more on the prevention disease would break up some of the monopolies in our health care system. Right now drug companies and health insurance companies are setting prices and calling the shots when it comes to health care in America. It is our opinion that the power belongs to the people instead of drug companies or large corporations.
Yes, it may be true that we have a greater life expectancy now days, but how is our quality of life? More people are sick, tired and overweight than ever before. What changes have taken place, causing diseases such as: cancer, diabetes and heart disease to increase in our modern day society? The bottom line is that these diseases can affect our quality of life. Life expectancy is only part of the picture when it comes to living a healthy, long and happy life.
Your health in the future
Your health in the future depends on your actions today. If you have become more educated in the ways of a healthy lifestyle and diet, then you are on your way to good health. This way you can rely more on yourself to stay healthy and prevent illness; at least until our health care system can address the root causes of some of these epidemic diseases.
T.J. Clark is striving to improve our current health care system by making our voices heard and taking action. There are several ways that you can take action. For example, the upcoming presidential election serves as one possible opportunity to get involved in health care reform. You may also wish to write a letter to your local congressman, proposing changes for our health care system. Enough letters or a large petition could be enough to make a change for the better.
It is our opinion that any true reform of America’s health care system will need to focus on the root cause of disease, while also emphasizing prevention. True health care reform will probably mean less money for drug companies, health insurance providers and doctors. However, everyone will be healthier as a result, and this is a cause that is truly worth working for.
Sources:
- Cancer Trends. Gary Null, PhD. http://www.garynull.com/Documents/erf/cancer_trends.htm
- Diabetes Trends Among U.S. Adults. Colorado State University. http://www.cpl.colostate.edu/diabetes.htm
