Problems with the current health care system
The current conventional healthcare system is designed to treat illness and injury, not to achieve wellness. As a result, people usually do not seek medical advice or attention until after they are sick. By that time, prevention is out of the question and the focus shifts to treatment of symptoms and damage control.
This foundational assumption by the healthcare industry and individuals has led to a number of problems.
Costs: The conventional healthcare system is not sustainable in terms of costs. In 2009, healthcare spending in the United States rose an estimated 4.0 percent to 2.5 trillion dollars, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, National Health Expenditure data. Along with this increase, private insurance costs rose 3.3 percent in the same year, and healthcare costs are expected to double by 2019. Employers carry a significant burden of the cost of healthcare and in a typical U.S. company, 15 percent of employees accrue 78 percent of medical expenses. Individuals, families, businesses, and governments simply cannot continue to pay the increasing costs of conventional healthcare.
Rising epidemic of chronic illnesses: In June, 2011 the National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council cited that even with the excessive costs for healthcare, the U.S. still ranks below many countries in life expectancy, infant mortality, and many other indicators of healthy life. Predictions of up to 60% of adults will be obese by 2020. There are increasing numbers of individuals diagnosed with mild depression and anxiety, chronic back pain and type II diabetes.
Most of our nation’s pressing health problems can be prevented. Eating healthfully and engaging in regular physical activity, avoiding tobacco, excessive alcohol use, and other drug abuse, using seat belts, and receiving preventive services and vaccinations are just a few of the ways people can stay healthy.
Unsatisfactory results: Sick people want to be well. The foundational assumption of conventional healthcare—that it should treat disease and injury—cannot effectively support this desire because the system’s enormous resources are not engaged until a person is sick or injured. By that time, unfortunately, wellness is elusive. This is because it is more difficult and more costly to cure disease than to prevent it.
Take Action
The desire to adopt a ProHealth approach and lifestyle is growing. It is correct for almost everybody. How about you? Only you can tell for sure. If you belong to the growing group of people who would prefer to preserve your health instead of treat disease, you owe it to yourself to find out more about what ProHealth Lab has to offer.