Chronic Diseases, Essay Example

Chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes are a major cost in health care expenditures. What have you done to keep yourself healthy or to encourage others to stay or become healthy?

I agree. Chronic diseases do, indeed, have a negative impact on the cost of health care, and this is mainly because of many preventable chronic diseases that are related to obesity. I recently read on NCSL.org that each and every state in this country has at least a 20% obesity rate. The minimum amount of people obese in any state is 20%. That doesn’t include those who are classified as overweight but have not yet reached the lowest level of the obesity range. The study showed some states with as much as a 40% rate of obesity. And these statistics are just for the obese adults, so the total obesity rate in this country is much higher.

This is not anything to make fun of people about and nothing to joke about. It is an epidemic that not only hurts people physically but it hits us all in the pockets through the high cost of healthcare in this country.

Many chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes can be prevented with better health maintenance.

What I’ve done to help keep myself healthy is I have changed my eating habits. I’m not necessarily always on a diet, but I have changed my food choices. I have cut out junk foods, fried foods and fast foods (for the most part). Meaning I make the healthy choices at least six days a week and then I allow myself a cheat day. Also, I’m not an exercise fanatic but I have started walking three to four times a week, and I take the stairs whenever possible.  I also jog in place while watching my favorite TV shows. Every little bit helps.

And as a side note, not everyone with chronic diseases is overweight. I know a couple of people who have heart disease and diabetes by not taking care of themselves and eating healthy and exercising. Health maintenance really is for everyone.

Reference

NCSL.org. (2012). Prevalence of Self-Reported Obesity Among U.S. Adults http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/health/obesity-statistics-in-the-united-states.aspx