Why Is the United States So Sick? The director of a massive new study says: “It’s almost everything.”

[Jordan]

In the wake of a startling report highlighting the United States’ poor health compared with other wealthy nations, the report’s director searches for answers.

Americans die younger and experience more injury and illness than people in other rich nations, despite spending almost twice as much per person on health care. That was the startling conclusion of a major report released earlier this year by the U.S. National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine.

It received widespread attention. The New York Times concluded: "It is now shockingly clear that poor health is a much broader and deeper problem than past studies have suggested."

What it revealed was the extent of the United States' large and growing "health disadvantage," which shows up as higher rates of disease and injury from birth to age 75 for men and women, rich and poor, across all races and ethnicities. The comparison countries—Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom—generally do much better, although the United Kingdom isn't far behind the United States.

The poorer outcomes in the United States are reflected in measures as varied as infant mortality, the rate of teen pregnancy, traffic fatalities, and heart disease. Even those with health insurance, high incomes, college educations, and healthy lifestyles appear to be sicker than their counterparts in other wealthy countries. The U.S. Council on Foreign Relations, a nonpartisan think tank, described the report as "a catalog of horrors."

Findings that prompted this reaction include the fact that the rate of premature births in the United States is the highest among the comparison countries and more closely resembles those of sub-Saharan Africa. Premature birth is the most frequent cause of infant death in the United States, and the cost to the health care system is estimated to top $26 billion a year.

As distressing as all this is, much less attention has been given to the obvious question:

Read More:

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/new_scientist/2013/07/health_in_the_u_s_and_other_rich_countries_we_pay_more_in_health_care_but.html

[zoebarry]

I'm not surprised at all.  The US and UK citizens eat the most processed and adulterated food in the world. They are also exposed daily to toxic chemicals in their homes, cars, offices, etc.  Add to that the stress of competition that exists, it's no wonder to me that everyone is sick. 

 

Another major factor is that humans are fighting their natural circadian rhythms with the extended work days.  There is definitely a link between exposure to light to our pupils after sundown and a messed up hormonal system.  And scientists are just starting to understand that hormones control EVERYTHING!!

[Julsey]

Interesting article, but it is wrong on at least one point, i.e., stating that the UK is like the US in having "less regulation, tax, and government services."  The National Health Service started around the end of WWII, and the taxes have been hideous to varying degrees, thus the reason so many wealthy Brits emigrated to places like the US.

 

Also, you can't really compare countries such as Switzerland, Sweden, Japan, and Austria, which have much smaller and more homogeneous populations, with a country such as the US, which has 330+ million people, and many, many, many immigrants who have come here from extremely poor countries (such as Africa and Latin America) where they do not know much about or have access to things like immunizations, pre-natal care, etc.  Even people who are raised here and get 'health' basics taught in school (or used to), and who have been bombarded for years with information on what is healthy and what isn't, don't take much ownership in the state of their health.  No, it's always much easier to blame your parents, the government, etc.

 

And that's my rant for today! 

[maladee]

I agree Jules.

 Everything is being politic-tazied (is that a word LOL) all over we have bad air ,bad water, bad soil, it just the UK and USA seem to be the biggest offenders in the health arena.

 

 The new world is very close and we will be sooo healthy  we will not be able to stand it LOL.

 

 This ends my rant too

[trottigy]

In fact - Luke 21:11 - and there will be great earthquakes, and in one place after another pestilences and food shortages; and there will be fearful sights and from heaven great signs"

 

This is really a global problem. The study only compared "selected" countries. If they were to all in ALL countries - the abrove prophecy would be even MORE clear. This world (not just the US) is SICK! and will soon get cured    Is 33:24

[Julsey]

In fact - Luke 21:11 - and there will be great earthquakes, and in one place after another pestilences and food shortages; and there will be fearful sights and from heaven great signs"

 

This is really a global problem. The study only compared "selected" countries. If they were to all in ALL countries - the abrove prophecy would be even MORE clear. This world (not just the US) is SICK! and will soon get cured    Is 33:24

Amen!  Come, Lord Jesus! 

[Julsey]

I agree Jules.

 Everything is being politic-tazied (is that a word LOL) all over we have bad air ,bad water, bad soil, it just the UK and USA seem to be the biggest offenders in the health arena.

 

 The new world is very close and we will be sooo healthy  we will not be able to stand it LOL.

 

 This ends my rant too

Yes, politicized is a word, lol.  Don't ask me if either of us is spelling it right, though!<g>

 

Oh, don't forget China...They are adopting our eating habits and starting to show signs of heart disease, diabetes, etc.  We used to export good things.  Now we export bad health.  Yeesh...

[Lin ASL Ebron]

Politics and greed are great distractions away from Jehovah's Kingdom.  Man really can't direct his own step.  (Psalm 127:1, 2) . . .Unless Jehovah himself builds the house, It is to no avail that its builders have worked hard on it. Unless Jehovah himself guards the city, It is to no avail that the guard has kept awake.  2 To no avail it is for YOU men that YOU are rising up early, That YOU are sitting down late, That YOU are eating food with pains. Just like this he gives sleep even to his beloved one.

 

No wonder their reports reveal abject results