Promoting Health/Preventing Disease

 

Americans spend more money on health care than any other people in the world. We have some of the world's most sophisticated medical technology and many well-trained doctors. Yet millions of Americans suffer disabilities and die prematurely of causes that are partially or totally preventable.

What are these causes of disability and pre­mature death? According to a report issued by the Department of Health and Human Services, the major health hazard in our society is our life style. The most harmful components of that life style are:

• use of tobacco

• excessive use of alcohol

• lack of exercise

• improper diet

• non-use of car safety belts

Together, these risk factors, which are prevent­able, contribute heavily to cancer, coronary heart disease, stroke, and unintended injuries— all leading causes of death and disability.

 

Individual Health Habits

 

The very large role that personal behavior plays in determining health was shown in a study of some California residents. Over a period of five and one-half years, researchers studied the health habits of nearly 7,000 people in Alameda County, California. The results of the study clearly show that individual health habits influ­ence not only the amount of illness a person experiences, but also how long he or she lives. The specific habits associated with good health and longer survival are:

1.not smoking cigarettes

2. drinking alcohol in moderation (no more than two drinks a day), if at all

3. eating breakfast

4. not eating between meals

5. maintaining normal weight

6. sleeping seven or eight hours each day

7. exercising at least moderately

While there may be no surprises in this list, their impact on well-being is remarkable. The study found, for instance, that a 45-year-old man following six or seven of these habits lived an average of 11 years longer than did men of the same age who followed three habits or less. For women, the life expectancy difference was 7 years. In addition, men in their mid-fifties who followed six or seven habits were in about the same physical condition as men 20 years younger who followed only three or less.

The study also showed that personal health habits had a far greater impact on health than did income level, gender, or age. Detailed in­formation about the impact of these personal habits on health will be found throughout this textbook.