VIBRANT HEALTH
Health is the aspiration of everyone on the planet, whether they realize it or not. Regardless of origin, background, or personal beliefs, we all want to feel well and pursue the life we envision for ourselves. Vibrant health enables us. Poor health robs of us the energy, mobility, or stamina to live as we wish. It strains relationships and finances. It can also bring us inconvenience, pain, and potentially an early end to everything we have in the present and desire in the future. Without question, the quality of our health impacts every facet of our lives and deserves our utmost attention!
Stemming from advancements in modern medicine and improvements in sanitation, the 20th century saw the largest rise in life expectancy in recorded history. From 48 to 74 years for men, and from 51 to almost 80 years for women. In 2020, thanks to COVID 19, we experienced the first statistically significant decline in life expectancy since World War II. SARS-CoV-2 went from out of nowhere to the 3rd leading cause of death in the US behind heart disease and cancer. While it didn’t make it to the top spot, it certainly took the national headlines and changed the world. Almost 350,000 Americans perished from the disease. Even more died in 2021.
Age-adjusted death rates for the 10 leading casues of death in 2020: United States, 2019 and 2020
While our attentions were on COVID, which thankfully appears to be behind us for the most part, the real pandemic of preventable death and disease raged on. I am referring to chronic preventable diseases brought about by poor lifestyle choices. They represent 7 of the 9 remaining ‘top 10’ causes and account for nearly 58% of overall deaths. On top of the death number is the vast amount of money and resources spent annually in their care. One recent study put that number at over $730 billion dollars for 2016. Behind the money are the lives of real people left to struggle through the pain of illness that could have easily been prevented. So, while our life expectancy has increased, our overall quality of life, or health-span, has diminished significantly for so many. But why?
The human body is a miraculous machine designed to thrive and do amazing things with proper care, and most of us are fortunate to begin life with good health and minimal physical limitations. However, our self-serving fast-food culture and lack of effective health education leave many unprepared and on a path of quietly compounding metabolic disease. The very strength of our bodies works against us as our resilience to abuse, particularly in our youth, masks what is happening beneath the surface. By the time we realize that we’re no longer feeling the energy and vitality we may once have enjoyed, the effects of poor diet, lack of movement, proper hydration and rest have taken a toll. Many write this off as aging and do nothing, remaining stuck in bad habits built and ingrained over many years. And one day, you find yourself with a doctor delivering words you don’t want to hear. It is at this point, that you would give anything to go back and make the simple changes you could have made for a different outcome.
Let’s be clear. Life ends in death for everyone. We cannot avoid that. What we can do is increase our healthspan! This means to dramatically increase the portion of our lives where we feel great and maintain the physical capability to pursue whatever life we choose, unencumbered by limitations and constraints brought on by poor choices.