Americans Sicker Compared to Other Wealthy Nations Do Americans
Take Worse Care of Themselves? continued... “One example is the
high dependence that many of us have on automobiles ... which
may affect our level of physical activity,” she says. “There are
a range of factors that people may not think of as health-
related at first thought.” Another example: Easy access to guns
may result in high gun violence and murder rates, she says. It’s
not hopeless, Woolf says. “There is action that can be taken at
the individual, family, community, and national levels that can
address the various conditions.” For example, there are
recommendations about the importance of healthy food choices and
weight management that can help prevent obesity and diabetes.
Prevention Should Trump Treatment Many people think of America
as the place to be or go for cutting-edge medical care and
treatments such as robotic surgery. But there is more to health
care than technology, says Jacqueline Moline, MD. She is the
vice president of popula