Do you want universal health or universal health care? Think carefully. It is tempting to want universal health care but count the cost.
We like to think of health care as a fundamental human right (it is considered as such in Oregon where I reside), but…. I think we often overuse the phrase “human right.” After all, in the history of mankind, health care is a relatively new concept. Health and health span have been critical issues since the dawn of our existence.
What is the difference between health span and life span? The terms are not interchangeable. The latter seems to be the goal of western medicine—keep someone alive as long as possible. It doesn’t matter how much of life span is spent in the third or fourth age (the fourth age being the age of decline and decrepitude—the age that we consider one to be frail and “elderly.” Health span is the proactive approach to health—extending the productive years and one’s vitality.
Life span costs. (This is why, in part, there are disparities among education, race, and income.) It cost a lot—in the trillions of dollars annually.
Health span is much more affordable. To some degree, it is free. The cost of health span is in education, community planning, policies, and access to quality food, exercise/physical activity, mental wellness, etc.
Health span requires proactive action. It comes down to personal responsibility and personal choices. It also comes down to having access to the ability to make good health choices.
In my experience, western medicine cares relatively little about universal health. Let’s face it. If we are all healthy, the pharmaceutical companies, the increasingly privatized hospitals, and insurance companies are not profitable. If I want to take a drug (my physician is pushing statins on me for cholesterol), I can access it in hours. My pursuit of sleep apnea testing and treatment has spanned nearly a year (from a request for testing to scheduling to diagnosis to delivery of a CPAP device). Sleep is critical to health. The amount of disease and health issues that result from poor sleep is not something that western medicine stresses (there are some medical professions who do, but it is not the norm). The same can be said about diet and exercise.
I contend that universal health span should be a global priority. It must be a priority. It must be a priority in medical training. It must be a priority in public policy. It must be a focus in education (i.e., make Physical Education physical again).
Let’s get to the source of disease and not simply treat the symptoms! Let’s extend health and not just years of life.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!!