Health: Absence of Disease?

The health care debate—Obamacare—rages on. Public option? Co-op? How do we address the rising costs of health care?

This essay in the New York Times, To Overhaul the System, ‘Health’ Needs Redefining suggests we start by redefining what we consider health.

In the past, relatively few were said to have abnormal blood pressure. Now a normal blood pressure is said to be below 120/80. This means that well over half the adult population of the United States is abnormal. The same is true for cholesterol. And although it involves a smaller portion of the population, narrower definitions of normal are expanding the number of people said to have diabetes and osteoporosis. So more and more of us are treated for these conditions.

The author, H. Gilbert Welch, M.D., argues that by making the definition of normal narrower, we are increasing health care costs. It’s a great business model, too bad it costs us so much money.

And, questions Mr. Welch, we really don’t know if our ability to uber-diagnose is indeed bringing better quality of life to the masses.

I certainly don’t think so. Where we have succeeded is in creating a mentality where no matter how you treat your body, our powerful medicine can “bail” you out. It’s a carte-blanche to eat whatever you want, weigh whatever you want, drink as much you want, and when you’re inevitably diagnosed with something, a pill, or some minor operation can get you back on track.

At some point, though, the bail outs don’t work. Maybe the medicine we have can allay symptoms and give the illusion of health, but someone is paying the bill. Or not paying it… but it’s going to come due.

What you can do is use some of the abundance of knowledge that’s out there and create your own health care system—and your own definition of health. Here’s a good place to start: your mouth. What are you putting into it that you shouldn’t be? Fixing this one action can and will have a profound impact on your health.