Behind the Scenes: The Healthcare Crisis

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease (primarily heart disease and stroke), cancer, and diabetes are among the most common, costly, and preventable of all health problems. They are considered preventable because they are tied to our lifestyle choices. Choices that we have the power to control.

Coach Collins, a renowned fitness consultant, offers her observations and insights into the plight to implement and sustain healthier lifestyle habits. An excerpt of a dialogue betwee
Coach Collins and a group of ladies at a women’s conference will help you relate to and understand those common struggles shared to live healthier.

“Each waking day our lives are filled with messages that cause us to think about and encourage us to live healthier. We see them on T.V., hear them on the radio, read them in the newspaper and our favorite magazines – they even pop up while we’re surfing the Internet. And there’s a reason why these messages are so prevalent. It’s because our neighborhoods, our communities, our cities, our states and our nation are saturated with diseases and illnesses that have our healthcare system in a financial bind,” Coach Collins stated. “The CDC states that the medical care costs of people with chronic diseases account for more than 75% of the nation’s $2 trillion medical care costs. Most of us see the direct impact as health insurance copays and out-of-pocket expenses continue to rise. And in many cases, choices and care are limited.”

As Coach Collins continued, a stream of applause reverberated throughout the room.

“So, how are you going to respond to these messages? You see them. You hear them. They’re everywhere,” Coach Collins paused. “Hopefully, you’ll respond by implementing change in your life. For months during President Obama’s campaign trail, we heard a message that resonated throughout this country. It was, ‘Yes we can!’ It was a statement of possibility, a statement of hope, a statement that caused us all to believe. Well, that statement doesn’t have to end with President Obama’s campaign. You can make it your own by saying ‘Yes I can!’ You can even add to it and say, ‘Yes, I can change and make better choices!’”

“Coach, even with the state of our nation – the dismal economy, the high unemployment rate, people struggling to put food on the table, maintain their health care coverage, and/or stay in their homes – there’s hope,” a lady shouted out.

“You’re right, there’s hope. With all of the changes that are underway, though, it’s critical that we do our part. And a good place to start is with our health and fitness.”

“Coach, I’m sure the healthcare system is out of control because of people like me. But, with your assistance earlier this year, I discovered that better lifestyle habits – eating less junk food, more fish and more exercise helped me to get off my high blood pressure medication. Now, I’m working on my high blood cholesterol and sugar levels.”

“That’s great Helen,” Coach Collins acknowledged. “I met Helen earlier this year at her church and she openly confessed to me how overwhelmed she was with work, family and ministry obligations; didn’t have time to exercise or prepare a home cooked meal; and survived on five hours of sleep.”

Helen nodded in agreement and continued to share her story with the conference attendees. “After my diagnosis of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high sugar levels, I had to reconcile two realities. There was the reality that I loved eating foods high in calories, fat, sugar, and sodium – foods that had been a part of my family tradition as far back as I can remember. Fried pork chops! Fried chicken! Meatloaf, pork ribs, and chitlins! German chocolate cake! Donuts! The other reality was that a lifetime of eating these foods along with physical inactivity had affected my overall health.”

“Well, it’s fine to talk about choices and the likes, but I think about people like my sister who has done everything right. She lived responsibly on a nice income and after working nearly twenty years for a company she was laid off last summer. Shortly thereafter she was diagnosed with bone cancer. She doesn’t have any insurance and has exhausted all of her savings on cancer medication and treatments. She still has cancer and unfortunately, we live in a county where there’s no medical assistance for the working class – middle income folks,” a lady shared.

“I never made the connection of my lifestyle habits and the healthcare crisis until recently. Now, I think about my father who recently had a massive heart attack that costs somebody – Medicare, insurance company, etc. – over $150,000. I think about the costs associated with my debilitating arthritis which primarily stems from my excess body weight. I think about my cousin’s stroke that caused paralysis on her left side. I think about my aunt’s leg amputation due to diabetes. I think more and more about how our unhealthy lifestyle habits were contributing factors that led to our health predicaments,” another lady commented.

“The bottom line is, we all have the power of choice and it’s our responsibility to implement it not only for ourselves, but for those in our lives, to include the neighborhoods, communities, states and nation that our unhealthy lifestyles will impact. According to the CDC, in 2008, the cost of heart disease and stroke in the U.S. is projected to be $448 billion; the direct and indirect costs of diabetes is $174 billion a year; cancer costs the nation an estimated $89 billion annually in direct medical costs.”

“Wow!! I can’t help but think about some of my food choices for lunch last week. On Monday, I had a bacon cheeseburger, chili cheese fries, and a cola. Enchiladas served with refried beans and Spanish rice with tortilla chips and salsa on Wednesday. Fried fish, fries, and coleslaw with hush puppies on Friday. All of which were separate and apart from my breakfast, snacks and dinner,” another lady confessed.

“It’s important that you gain a better understanding of why those food choices which contain a large volume of calories, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, and sodium can have monumental consequences,” Coach Collins said. “The best way we can help with curtailing the challenges of our healthcare system is by increasing our knowledge and taking the advice of the medical professionals. If we do our part by maintaining a healthy weight, practicing healthier eating habits, and engaging routine physical activity, we will see a reduction in chronic diseases and illnesses like heart disease and diabetes, and consequently better management of healthcare costs. Best of all, you’ll be able to elevate your statement from ‘Yes I can’ to ‘Yes I did.’”

This health and fitness dialogue is provided for your consideration only. It is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about your specific health and fitness needs.