Feb 9, 2009
Is the Economy Making You Sick?
by Jerry Jaker
Lots of words and emotions expressed about the condition of our sagging economy. Everyone I know has a story to tell about that. Doesn’t it make you sick?
No really, does it? Can the economy make you physically ill? Does the economy represent a threat to your physical and psychological well-being?
There appear to be data to suggest this may be true.
A recent article in the Boston Globe reported that at Massachusetts General Hospital patients frequently blame their out of control high blood pressure on the economy. The Chief of Outpatient Medicine at Boston Medical says at least half of the patients seen there are there in part due to financial turmoil as a key part of their physical condition.
Moreover, some psychiatric hospitals report a double-digit percent admission increase in December 2008 over December 2007.
Other individuals gain weight, cast aside gym memberships, eat poorly, engage in risky consumption, have anxiety episodes, and in some cases forego certain medical tests because they are avoiding the co-pay costs. This is not good for a person’s long-term health.
Our own Medical Director at MIPH, Neal Holtan M.D. MPH believes that the time is now to take action to reform our health care payment system rather use it as an excuse for inaction. Jonathan Gruber, writing in the New England Journal of Medicine on January 29, 2009, sums it up simply in the title of his article, ‘Universal Health Insurance Coverage or Economic Relief—A False Choice.’ Gruber points out that without universal coverage, there can be no equitable ways to cut health care costs. Perhaps some of the billions—or is it trillions? — doled out to banks and corporations should be used to reform our broken and inequitable health care system and free up money currently being spent for overhead and for desperate episodic health care by the less well to do instead for consumer items and necessities. Let’s face it, our current payment system does not serve us well and it’s in our self-interest to fix it. The economy will only benefit.”
Though he didn’t reference physical health per se, Senate Appropriations Chair U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) may be prophetic in saying, “If we fail to act, the situation will almost certainly worsen, and the American people will continue to pay a heavy price”.
To compound matters, being ill is expensive. Those who’ve been there, including yours truly, know it. For as has been said, “The crown of health is worn by all, but seen only by the sick and injured”.
This is a time for health promotion, risk behavior prevention, and very intentionally taking better care of ourselves.
What are the healthy ways in which you cope? What are the best home or workplace ideas you’ve seen? As we scan opportunities for environmental change strategies to improve our economy – and our health – I would argue a nickel of prevention is worth a dollar of cure.
Take good care out there.
- JJ
No really, does it? Can the economy make you physically ill? Does the economy represent a threat to your physical and psychological well-being?
There appear to be data to suggest this may be true.
A recent article in the Boston Globe reported that at Massachusetts General Hospital patients frequently blame their out of control high blood pressure on the economy. The Chief of Outpatient Medicine at Boston Medical says at least half of the patients seen there are there in part due to financial turmoil as a key part of their physical condition.
Moreover, some psychiatric hospitals report a double-digit percent admission increase in December 2008 over December 2007.
Other individuals gain weight, cast aside gym memberships, eat poorly, engage in risky consumption, have anxiety episodes, and in some cases forego certain medical tests because they are avoiding the co-pay costs. This is not good for a person’s long-term health.
Our own Medical Director at MIPH, Neal Holtan M.D. MPH believes that the time is now to take action to reform our health care payment system rather use it as an excuse for inaction. Jonathan Gruber, writing in the New England Journal of Medicine on January 29, 2009, sums it up simply in the title of his article, ‘Universal Health Insurance Coverage or Economic Relief—A False Choice.’ Gruber points out that without universal coverage, there can be no equitable ways to cut health care costs. Perhaps some of the billions—or is it trillions? — doled out to banks and corporations should be used to reform our broken and inequitable health care system and free up money currently being spent for overhead and for desperate episodic health care by the less well to do instead for consumer items and necessities. Let’s face it, our current payment system does not serve us well and it’s in our self-interest to fix it. The economy will only benefit.”
Though he didn’t reference physical health per se, Senate Appropriations Chair U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) may be prophetic in saying, “If we fail to act, the situation will almost certainly worsen, and the American people will continue to pay a heavy price”.
To compound matters, being ill is expensive. Those who’ve been there, including yours truly, know it. For as has been said, “The crown of health is worn by all, but seen only by the sick and injured”.
This is a time for health promotion, risk behavior prevention, and very intentionally taking better care of ourselves.
What are the healthy ways in which you cope? What are the best home or workplace ideas you’ve seen? As we scan opportunities for environmental change strategies to improve our economy – and our health – I would argue a nickel of prevention is worth a dollar of cure.
Take good care out there.
- JJ
Posted on February 9, 2009 - 10:47am by Jerry Jaker
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