The World Cancer Research Fund reports that healthier lifestyles and diet could prevent up to 2.8 million cases of cancer each year. Inactivity is contributing to poor health and higher mortality for those who are obese, suffering from diabetes or on the brink of racking up those high glucose numbers. If more people walked just 20 to 30 minutes a day, or followed a routine exercise regimen, they can lose or maintain a healthy weight and avoid illnesses. Stopping smoking can help to reduce cancers of the lung.
On another front, lack of health insurance leads to 45,000 deaths annually, according to the American Public Health Association. Each year, thousands of people fail to go to a doctor when they are ill or fail to fill a prescription due to the high costs of healthcare. In some cases, faililng to get that prescription could result in catastrophic infections or mortality from heart-releated or diabetes complications.
Prevention and wellness education is becoming more important, but the price of health insurance is still a deterrent to those who are just above the poverty line. The working class poor without health insurance are often in worse shape healthwise than those on Medicaid. While the U.S. has taken a stab at health care coverage for all, there are many that still won't be able to afford it, even when it becomes mandatory in 2014. We should start thinking now about how to fix that problem, instead of watiting until it happens.
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