Unhealthy America

Unless you have been living under a rock for the last six months, you have been exposed on multiple occasions to various developments in the winding road that is the health care debate. Along that road has been fact, fiction, and a little bit of both combined. One of most common heard comments has been that "We have the greatest health care system in the world" "It might have flaws, but still saves lives and we don't have lines that last for months." Then the those are followed with something along the lines of why should be spend money, especially during these tough economic times, on a system that is fine. Alabama Senator Richard Shelby even said that Obama's plan is first step is dismantling the best health care system in the world.

However, are we really as healthy as we think? Do we really have the greatest health care in the world? For starters, the United States ranks 31st in life expectancy. That is equal with Kuwait and Chile; two countries that certainly don't seem to be mentioned in the same sentence too often with the United States. We rank in the 30s in the infant and maternal mortality (37th and 34th, respectively). There was a review not that long ago comparing Canada to the United States in 10 studies. Canada is often one of the most mentioned countries when health care comes up. The studies examined how the American and Canadian systems dealt with a variety of medical issues. The end results: America did better in two, Canada did better in five, and the other three resulted in similar results.

Need to more evidence? How about a recent study that looked at how well 19 developed countries succeeded in avoiding "preventable deaths"; deaths that could be cured or prevented. Our "great" health care system finished last. Minorities have a shorter life expectancy in America than poor countries in Southeast Asia and South America. There are several cases that are brought up on a weekly basis of individuals who are suffering unnecessarily. For example, there is the lady from Nebraska who has cancer and has to deal with their insurance company and being denied treatment and possibly putting their life at risk.

America does have shorter waits than most countries, but citizens of other countries get longer hospitals stays and more medication than here. That difference is mostly due to insurance companies kicking people out of hospitals once they view them as healthy enough. For instance, Americans take roughly 10% fewer drugs yet pay 118% percent more per pill. Doesn't add up to me. Is there something that is possibly causing they differences?

Well, it would go without saying that America doesn't rank especially high in healthy lifestyles. America suffers from obesity more than other countries. But, even that doesn't mean we are the worse in the world. Europe faces a higher disease burden and America smokes less and has generally a younger population. Additionally, life expectancy for Americans above age 65 is above average. Individuals who are 65 and older can expect to live longer than the average in industrialized countries. 65 years old? Something is coming to mind. Oh yes...Americans who are 65 and over have universal health care coverage known as Medicare. All of sudden things seem to be okay.

So, if those individuals who are 65 and older have universal health care and it seems to be working as they individuals' life expectancy has steadily increased over the years. Image all thd 40 or 50 year old with an illness that they cannot address probably and they are robbed of the opportunity to see their twilight years. Or the 10 year old little boy with cancer and his family cannot afford all the treatment he needs and he is robbed of the opportunity to graduate high school and go to college. I can go on and on. First and foremost is for individuals who can help themselves; do so. If you notice you are gaining weight to the point where it is a health issue; please address it. If you notice you are getting sick; address it before it gets worse to the point where you would need to go to the hospital. Preventive health is the best health care. But it goes without saying that things can be made a little bit better if we follow the lead of countries who the United States tends to look down on. How is it that less well off or less established countries as ourselves have better care and less deaths from a serious of things that can easily be prevented with care and the proper attention. So, the time has come to stop being "unhealthy America" and finally achieve the necessary change.