Health Care…or Sick Care?
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Health “Care” is a Misnomer!
Western medicine is based on sickness management and covering up symptoms such as pain. Most insurance companies pay for disease treatment. They do not pay for procedures to keep people healthy (Preventative care). Neither insurance nor governmental programs cover any costs for dietary counseling. Most Americans are mildly overweight and could benefit from intervention when the problem is mild. Years of poor diet can lead to diabetes, high blood pressure, or even heart attack. These result in expensive surgery, medications, and hospital stays.
Wellness Care vs. Medical Care
The Medical model of sickness care treats symptoms with medications, surgeries, or other procedures. Wellness care seeks to turn on the body’s natural ability to heal itself by removing interference with normal function.
Example – High Blood Pressure
What Causes High BP?
- Obesity and lack of exercise
- Nervous system interference
- Improper diet
- Unmanaged stress
- Smoking
- Other systemic problems like thyroid, kidney, and adrenal disease.
High BP is not caused by a lack of medication. Taking medication masks the symptoms but does not address the root cause of the problem!!!
Of the two options below, which option makes sense to you?
[half][pmc_box background_color=”#ffb4b4″ border_color=”#dddddd” text_color=”#222″ ]Diagnosis: Mild high blood pressure.
Sickness Care Approach: A prescription medication that in the short term will lower the blood pressure.
Side Effects: Nagging cough, fatigue, and leg cramps which can complicate the recovery process.
[/pmc_box][/half][half_last][pmc_box background_color=”#d0ffb4″ border_color=”#dddddd” text_color=”#222″ ]Diagnosis: Mild high blood pressure.
Wellness Care Approach: A regular exercise plan and nutritional counseling with a functional nutritionist. Regular chiropractic adjustments.
Side Effects: 30 pound weight loss, normal blood pressure.
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Leading Causes of Death in the U.S.
- Iatrogenic Disease – 740,000 Deaths
- Heart Disease – 709,000 Deaths
- Cancer – 551,000 Deaths
- Stroke – 441,000 Deaths
- Respiratory Disease – 123,000 Deaths
- Accidents – 93,000 Deaths
What is Iatrogenic Disease?
This is disease associated with receiving health care at a hospital, surgical related death, and adverse drug interactions.
[pmc_box background_color=”#ffffff” border_color=”#dddddd” text_color=”#222″ ] IMAGINE: The Health Care that is supposed to save you, can kill you![/pmc_box]
Consider Wellness Care
The Approach: Is to encourage the body’s own natural healing capabilities and is based on treating the body as a whole. It seeks to prevent the circumstances which weaken the body’s resistance making it vulnerable to attack/degeneration. Early detection of a disease is great but prevention is even better!
When the body is able to express it’s full healing potential, a higher level of health can be reached. This is expressed as excellent quality of life in mental, emotional, and physical health.
Health is not simply the absence of pain or even disease.
Proper nutrition, regular exercise, sufficient rest, and a nervous system free from interference create the best opportunity for true wellness.