Sick Fees

It costs to be sick. It costs us all. The problem is that it really is extensive to be sick. As the health care debate rises the news isn't good for things that make us unwell. Whether its age related or lack of exercise or even preventable if we don't smoke or avoid second hand smoke. Sickness cost and the costs are ballooning. CBS News and many news organizations across the pond are reporting on the cost associated with Alzheimer to all of us with this "seventh (7th) leading cause of death."

While the recent news stories have focused on the cost associated with health issues our concern is with the living costs. We're dying every day. The costs to US are the loss of lives. That's the real costs. While US News & World Report focuses on financial costs associated with obesity thanks to the research from our very own George Washington University.

"For those who are overweight, the main cost drivers are direct medical costs – 66% for women and 80% for men. Conversely, while direct medical cost is the primary driver of costs for obese men, only one-third of the overall costs for obese women are medical costs." - (Heavy Burden Report)

The same researchers from George Washington told us that early man (though they don't say how early) ate like apes, monkeys and pigs. According to that research that diet was probably better than our current diet.

"...suggests that early humans consumed large, hard foods such as seeds and nuts and occasionally used high bite forces to do so. "

While this research told us what they ate, it does not say how health this seed nut diet was. It lead to us but if you're like we are we're always looking for the better. We think that (without any source of attribution) that the hard foods may have been more for dental care as well as need. Seeds and nuts don't require refrigeration that soft foods would might require. In our humble opinion.

Prior GW research found that:

"Various public agencies and private corporations have introduced measures that seek to provide financial incentives to those who reduce their weight, and to levy penalties on those who do not. Companies such as Safeway that run their own insurance programs grant up to 20 percent reductions in premiums as “bonuses” to employees who meet certain health standards, which include [4] having what is considered a healthy BMI. Alabama penalizes obese state workers through increased health insurance premiums, and North Carolina does it through moving obese employees to health care plans that cover less of their costs." - Journal of Health Communication (Oct Nov 2009)

The University researchers aren't just pointing to the problem they also offer twenty-four (24) solutions to the problem since 2009. What GW University said back in 2009 was:

"Obesity—The Facts Are Now In—Now What to Do - Currently, there is no clear consensus on a obesity prevention framework, despite the Institute of Medicine convening workshops to develop a systems approach that explicitly takes into account the social contexts in which decisions are made and the multiple interacting determinants of policy and community action." (Page 2) (PDF)

The twenty-four (24) items haven't been done. That's the sadness of their suggestions and their research. They know what to do and know how to have it done - it just hasn't been. For us the good news is - it's not our fault. You should, rather we should, exercise more and eat better. It's difficult to eat healthy in the desert or stranded at sea. Unless we've stocked up its nearly impossible and very unlikely. Thank goodness their suggestions are pointed to other causes rather than at us.

One thing that we can do (for men) - is detection - the key to prevention. However when it comes to prostate cancer this is especially so.

"Prostate cancer affects one in every six men at some point in their lives. Aside from skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer found in men. However, with almost nine out of 10 prostate cancers found in the early stages, the survival rate after five years is nearly 100 percent!" - Maryland Gazette

If we can only get men to undergo the invasive procedure that can lead to prostate cancer (PC) detection they'll be one less common cancer to worry about.

"The average age of diagnosis is 69, but men as young as 30 or 40 can also have prostate cancer. "The other major risk factors are race and family history," says Oh. "African-American men are at increased risk, as are men who have a first-degree relative with prostate cancer." Some studies suggest that diets high in animal fat also up your risk, while diets high in vegetables can cut your risk. If you fall into a high-risk category, it’s recommended that you start prostate cancer screening in your 40s. "For everyone else, it’s recommended you start discussing screening by age 50, with annual screenings thereafter." - NY Daily News

We could always return to eating like "apes, monkeys and pigs" and we MIGHT NOT have to worry about the big "PC" - men! It's something to think about before its too late. Otherwise it'll cost ya! Actually it'll cost us all.