Questioning the Cost of Healthcare

With rising healthcare costs and cuts in services and coverage, it is no wonder that many Americans are taking an at-home DIY-based approach to healthcare. Whether it's an at-home COVID test or pay-to-order continuous blood glucose monitors, many Americans are spending their money on their health priorities.  Home kits are available for genetic snips, food allergies, STDs, and more.  There are convenient apps to track and monitor symptoms, telemedicine visits, and an endless supply of quality scientific information online.  

Why does one of the richest and most industrialized countries in the world, have the highest health care costs?  The answer is not that straight forward and the trend has emerged over decades.

Why are we paying more for healthcare and getting less service and more illnesses?  

The post-pandemic cost of healthcare is astronomical and unbelievable at best. Consumer data estimates that each person spends $13,500-$22,000 on health care each year. That adds up to about 4.3 trillion dollars spent annually.  This represents about 17% of the Gross Domestic Product. In other words, almost 20% of all monies spent in the United States are spent on medical care. This number has been steadily increasing and skyrocketed in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In comparison, in the 1960s, only about 7% of the GDP was spent on healthcare.  

Why does your insurance premium increase in cost and decrease in coverage?  

The numbers just don’t add up.  Despite having one of the most expensive health care systems in the world, the US still lags behind other nations in access to and affordability of care.

Some theorize one of the reasons healthcare has increased is the aging population.  From 2012-2024 the population of Americans over 65 has moved from 14% to 17%.  More aging people means more need for healthcare.  

Others suggest that more people are using the emergency room instead of an outpatient clinic or doctor’s office.  Over 30% of the spending is caused by hospitalization.  Still, other factors include wasteful methods, rising drug costs, profit-driven healthcare centers, different types of medical practices and specialties, and higher insurance premiums. 

Dedication and Prevention 

Prevention is key. So many of our most troubling health issues in America (diabetes and heart disease) can be prevented and managed with diet and lifestyle choices. Although there are genetic components, diabetes is truly a lifestyle disease that is worsened by the SAD (Standard American Diet) and lack of exercise or movement in everyday life. About ¼ of the adult population of the United States reports that they do not meet guidelines for exercise. Heart disease results from chronically poor lifestyle choices over decades of your life.  

Preventing diabetes and heart disease is achievable with a healthy diet and lifestyle. The internet is full of quick-fix diets and workout plans which may be great for a short time. The key is developing healthy habits as a lifestyle and priority for your life. Dedication to your physical and mental health is a way of life that seems to be lacking in the collective American psyche.  

Dedication to your health takes a mindset shift. In America, we often give our health care responsibility to our doctors. Many people avoid their own sovereignty and accountability and look to their doctor and prescriptions as an easy fix to every ache and pain. This attitude and reliance on the healthcare system has contributed to our rising healthcare costs.

Traditional healthcare is now being called “sick-care” to more accurately describe the trend in the insurance based health system in the United States. 

Inflammation: The root cause of symptoms and diseases 

All diseases have an inflammatory component. Symptoms and disease are either caused by or cause inflammation.  Understanding your body’s natural inflammatory system is a foundational principle to preventing and managing symptoms. 

Here are a few examples: When you hit your thumb with a hammer, an inflammatory process begins. Your thumb gets extra blood flow which creates throbbing sensations and a bright red and purple color. Your thumb is now swollen due to the inflammatory process.  Your cells will hold extra water in that area to create new skin cells and flush away inflammatory molecules. Over the next few days, your thumb will go back to “normal” function and receive less blood flow and less fluid retention as the inflammatory process comes to an end.

When you have chronic sinusitis, you have chronic inflammation in your mucus membranes. This can be caused, or worsened, by your diet, seasonal allergies, or toxic exposures. Your sinuses may get so swollen that bacteria is trapped in the tissues and create a sinus infection. Your responsibility is to determine what is causing the swollen sinuses and reduce your exposure to that trigger so that your mucus membranes don’t stay in an inflammatory process.  

Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or Crohn’s disease start with inflammation and spiral into chaotic confusion as your immune cells mistakenly attack your health cells and groups of tissues.  

Anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle

Regulating inflammation may be the key to preventing, managing, and treating symptoms.  

Here are the basics to creating an anti-inflammatory lifestyle.  

Eat a whole foods diet. Processed foods are not whole foods. They do not contain the fiber, vitamins, antioxidants and other nutrients that whole foods have. Instead of drinking apple juice, eat an apple. Instead of eating potato chips, eat a baked potato. That way you avoid trans-fats, and preservatives and over-eating. If you can’t think of the “whole foods” version of a food, then most likely it is a processed food and you can minimize or avoid it altogether.

Eat a low-sugar and low-carbohydrate diet.  

Americans eat far too many processed foods that can be laden with added preservatives or sweeteners. Curb your sweet tooth by intentionally avoiding sugar for several days, or do an elimination diet like Whole30.  High sugar and carbohydrate foods cause inflammation due to insulin spikes and blood sugar crashes.

Drink clean water and electrolytes as needed.  Tap water is not safe nor clean.  The EPA only test for 90 contaminants while most tap water contains up to 400 chemicals, organisms, or metals. Use a water filter and drink at least 64 ounces of water per day.  Add in no-sugar electrolytes to increase minerals if you aren’t eating enough vegetables.                                                                                 

Go to sleep

Studies show that lack of sleep increases the chance of all diseases.  Create a sleep routine and rituals. A recent study showed that having a sleep schedule decreases your risk of heart symptoms and diseases by 25%. According to the study, the hours of sleep were less important than the consistent schedule.  Practice good sleep hygiene and prioritize sleep over recreation and “burning the midnight oil.” Getting adequate sleep allows your body to detoxify.  When you are operating on less sleep than you need, you are creating more inflammation because of excess stress chemicals needed to keep you awake.  

Breathe fresh air

Whether it's a walk in the park or using an air filter in your house, the quality of the air you breathe is directly correlated to your inflammation. The air you breathe doesn’t just affect your lungs and sinuses. That oxygen becomes systemic and enters your bloodstream. If the air you breathe is heavy with cleaning chemicals, mold, pesticides, or manufactured scents, your liver and body will need extra energy to detoxify those molecules out of your body. While in your body, those molecules cause free radical damage which results in local (think of skin wrinkles) and systemic inflammation. 

Move your body 

One in 4 adults reports living a sedentary lifestyle. Our muscles and frame are not designed for long periods of sitting and this results in tight muscles and connective tissues. Along with discomfort, we are more prone to injury which results in more inflammation. Additionally, movement lubricates our joints and helps to pump our blood and lymphatic fluid through our body. Moving lymph fluid and blood is vital for resolving inflammation and preventing additional inflammation. 

Healthy Home Pharmacy 

Stock your home with proven remedies and medically studied nutrients. For colds and flu support, check out this blog. Make small changes, like replacing your petroleum-based (Vaseline) topical skin care with natural alternatives like Emuaid. Reduce allergy symptoms with nutrient support and lifestyle changes. And address chronic and short-term pain with nature’s strongest anti-inflammatory support, curcumin extract from the turmeric root. Each of these blogs explains how nutrients reduce inflammation and decrease symptoms without a prescription.  

Conclusion 

If you want to spend less money on being sick, then devote more time to creating wellness. Your habits end up being the prevention or the solutions for your health challenges. Take accountability for your body and your health and wellness. 

If you want more information about how to increase your accountability and practice health prevention, schedule a consult with me, Carly Neubert BA, NC.