Is Government Responsible for Our Health?
And what does that even mean? Four stories aim to explain.
Welcome back to your weekly dose of wisdom and wellness. I’m your host and publication editor, Robert Roy Britt. Below you’ll find several actionable stories by Wise & Well’s team of journalists, topical experts and practicing professionals. First this week…
… we did some deep diving into societal aspects of health and well-being. Specifically: healthcare, and the government’s role in taking care of its people, or at least giving its people a chance to be healthy and well. Very curious what you all think, so don’t be shy about weighing in on any or all of these four feature stories:
Americans: You Deserve Better
Canada isn’t known for meddling in the affairs of other nations, but this Canadian nurse is comparing her egg prices to ours, and her government’s broader public health, food and safety apparatus, and she’s worried about us. What a delightful, thought-provoking (and polite) rebuke of how we run things down here—all in the form of a sports analogy we Americans can relate to. Story by Andrea Romeo RN, BN
Why US Healthcare is So Costly, Yet So Bad
The United States spends more on healthcare than any other nation, yet our healthcare system is among the worst, based on health outcomes. Among the many factors: Hidden fees and fears of financial ruin force millions of people to avoid going to the doctor when they should, which eventually leads to an unhealthy population and lands more people in the ER, driving up costs. Meanwhile, politicians ignore Americans’ call for major reform. Story by Robert Roy Britt
How to Convince Your US Employer to Improve Your Health Plan AND Cut Your Costs
We Americans tend to think of ourselves as victims to the often deplorable state of healthcare and, in particular, company-sponsored health insurance plans that still cost a fortune for the typical employee. There’s a better way, and while it may seem far-fetched, this doctor explains how you and your colleagues can convince your employer to offer options that are cheaper for the company and more effective for you. Story by Stephen Schimpff, MD, MACP
And from across the pond…
The Unintended Consequences of the UK’s Worship of its Health System
The UK healthcare system is, by objective measures, better than the US. But now the UK system is crumbling, as the government admits, and as the writer experienced first hand. Still, Brits endure, and remain proud of their system. For now, anyway, even as politicians ponder a radical restructuring. Story by Niall Stewart
Here are some additional takes on the topic from the Wise & Well archives:
This week’s other feature stories:
I Took a Yale Course in the Science of Well-Being and it Totally Changed My Outlook
Psychologists and research scientists tell us that the pursuit of happiness is, on its own, a fool’s errand. But that there are many behaviors we can adopt that cultivate happiness. That’s exactly what this writer gleaned when she learned from a master, and then took on the four-week assignment of practicing kindness in her everyday life. Story by Dr. Jan Patterson
The Perks and Pitfalls of Walking Your Dog
You don’t have to be an Einstein to imagine that walking a dog is good for your health. But this writer shares the scientific proof anyway. Yet she’s also got some words of caution, based on her own bruises and the statistics on dog-walker accidents. Those of us in our 60s and beyond need to be particularly careful, she says. Now if you’ll excuse me, my dog is waiting impatiently to go for a walk. Story by Kathleen Murphy
Multifocal Lenses Cause Higher Risk of Falling
My bifocals are great when I’m just reading (through the lower half) or watching TV (through the upper half). But when I walk around, yikes, I miss things. Like curbs. I tried progressive lenses once (instead of a demarcation line, the near-far parts of the lens change gradually) and felt totally disoriented. Well, guess what? Research finds people like me really need to be careful. Story by Annie Foley
Pain is Inevitable. Here’s Why Suffering is Optional.
We all experience pain now and then, and some of us way more than others. This writer, who is in constant pain, reminds us that our relationship to pain goes beyond the pure and obvious physical aspects. He explains the “biopsychosocial” approach to therapies and other remedies that treat all aspects of chronic pain: physical, emotional and social. And yes, it can help significantly. Story by Randall H. Duckett
Surgery or Meds: What’s the Best Approach to Weight Loss?
The new weight loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro are revolutionizing… well… it’s hard to say just yet. They’re wildly popular for weight loss as well as emerging off-label uses, and they’re changing not just how people approach weight loss, but what they then don’t do instead, such as bariatric surgery. This doctor offers lots of important food for thought for anyone considering either. Story by Dr. Julian Barkan
The Horrible Effects of Alcohol on Your Digestive System and Liver
We get hounded regularly by health experts about the downsides of alcohol. But often we learn only that it’s bad for this, bad for that, causes an X-percent increased risk of whatever. This writer takes a detailed look at how booze does its damage on two specific parts of your insides — damage that you can’t see or and may not even feel until the situation is really, really bad. Story by Gillian May
What if the Main Theory of Cancer is Wrong?
The so-called War on Cancer boosted US research funding dramatically starting in 1971, and while many treatments have improved, causes and cures remain mysteriously elusive. Could it be that we have the wrong idea about what actually causes cancer? Some researchers think so. At most, 10% of cancers are related to genetics, evidence indicates, and a minority of experts say it may be zero. Rather, environmental and modifiable factors are to blame, they say, and those are triggers we can do something about. Story by Robert Roy Britt
I hope we’ve helped make your tomorrow a little better than today.
Cheers,
Rob