Why Preventive Health is Important!

It has been a tough year for the United States. The financial recessions set off tidal waves of crisis, one crashing into the next.  We have been faced with a recession which started with the collapse of the financial industry. That then led to the crumbling of the housing market, increasing unemployment, and creating larger than ever state deficits, leaving many states near bankruptcy.

Yet preventive efforts could have been taken for these crises. Now with Health Care Reform on the table, President Obama is stating there is a need to focus on preventive medicine. The U.S. has been relying on a health care system that is more focused on  band-aids for the already sick rather than care for the healthy.

Health Care is preventive care. Why is it that we invest and save for retirement, financial wellness, and prepare for future, but we do not take preventive measures to care for our health? Is health care not a wise preventive investment?

In a recent study conducted by Pricewaterhouse Coopers in conjunction with the World Economic Forum, it was reported that in the next “25 years, chronic disease will reduce the available labor supply, savings and investments, and will ultimately affect the capital markets.”

The report also stated  that chronic conditions, all of which are preventable, “have significant societal risk that threatens health care systems and economic sustainability.”  Through Pricewaterhouse Coopers' analysis of the effects of chronic disease in the workplace,  it was found that a productivity decrease cost as much as 400 percent more than the cost of treating the actual disease.

The losses are seen in the costs of disability expenses, unplanned absences, presenteeism, and increased accidents (including workman’s comp claims). All this affects the quality of work produced.

With Health Care Reform estimated to increase the cost of health insurance to businesses, it is becoming even more evident that we look to preventive care as a financial investment. Pricewaterhouse Coppers’ reported new evidence that workplace wellness program are effective at reducing chronic disease through preventive medicine.

You have car health care don't you? Think about it. It is easier and less expensive to maintain your car in good condition than it is to fix it when it breaks (if it is even fixable).You take your car to a mechanic for preventive maintenance (medicine) because you don't know how to put in that new air filter, correct?  So how does someone prevent getting hurt or sick if they don't know what preventive maintenance is.

This is where education comes in and preventive medicine starts! Companies need to implement wellness programs that provide education to their employees, and provide outlets for using preventive medicine to keep themselves healthy

Let's look at a common workplace injury such as carpel tunnel. As you are currently sitting at your computer typing, look at your hand position. Your wrists don't hurt if you keep them in that position for a few minutes, yet imagine typing for eight hours a day, or sitting hunched over at your desk for eight hours a day for the span of your career!

If your body is not given enough mobility and you received no education in how to stretch (maintain) your vehicle, it ends up breaking down, and is very expensive to fix. In turn your health care costs sky rocket. Ask anyone with a compressed median nerve (carpel tunnel syndrome) how much fun that had trying to heal it, and how much pain they felt! Preventive care is much easier!

How much less expensive is it to treat a stiff back with stretching (education), than it is to treat a bulging disc. Again this all takes know-how, and health care know-how starts with education!

With this new health care form, it is imperative that companies provide their employees with the tools (education) to maintain their health. This education in turn will maintain and increase the health of the company's bottom-line, by lowering health care costs. So health for each employee means health for entire corporate community!