Improving Health Care in America - Essay Example

Module Improving Health Care in America Health care is one of the most widely topics in the modern world. There are two sides of health care as to every other issue influencing Americans, the government’s side and the people’s side (Talbot and Verrinder 2). This is owing to the fact that the government and the people can play a key role in transforming health care in the US. However, it is important to note that the public can play the most significant role in improving health care by making positive lifestyle decisions such as maintaining a healthy diet and physical exercise (Bomar 601). It has been observed that an increasing number of Americans is struggling to make positive lifestyle choices and this has proven to be an uphill task owing to the lifestyle that is led by most citizens. This essay focuses on how we can improve health care in America by making positive lifestyle changes with regards to healthy eating, physical exercise and stress management. The American population is characterized by poor physical activity and poor feeding habits that are linked to negative health outcomes. Both adults and children can benefit immensely from interventions that are formulated to increase their physical activity levels and feeding habits (Talbot and Verrinder 2). Therefore, individuals can improve their health by adhering to the stipulations in these intervention programs that result into a positive behavior change. Such interventions fall into three categories of health promotion. These are secondary prevention, primary prevention and health promotion. Secondary promotion focuses towards helping people with chronic illnesses manage these conditions and avoid more damage by promoting a healthy diet and physical exercise. Primary promotion helps individuals that have risk factors for chronic diseases postpone and prevent their occurrence. Finally, health promotion helps all individuals maintain healthy eating habits and active lifestyles (Scriven and Garman 45). Individuals should practice the stipulations in the various categories of intervention as a way of promoting health. The significance of physical exercise and proper nutrition in minimizing that prevalence of disease and deaths from chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart complications, obesity and cancer has been clearly spelt out (Halvorson 17). Lack of physical activity and poor diet causes numerous deaths annually and are the main contributing factors to disabilities that are caused by osteoporosis, stroke, obesity and diabetes (Halvorson 15). Studies have revealed that most of the deaths in America could be attributed to sedentary lifestyles, poor diet and lack of physical activity. Maintaining a healthy diet is one of the most important lifestyle changes that Americans should make towards improving health care. They should take into account of all the foods that are important for the functioning of the body and mind. The foods that people consume impact on the brain that controls all the functions in the body. Nutrients that are found in healthy foods are absorbed into the body and serve various functions (Talbot and Verrinder 2). For instance, folic acid that is found in fresh foods such as peanuts, avocadoes and beans help to fight against birth defects such as anemia and stroke. Additionally, Omega 3 that is found is eggs and salmon eases the mind and protects brain cells. This means that feeding on health foods will lead to the development of a healthy brain thus reflecting to a physical health. To sum up, maintaining a healthy diet leads to maintenance of a healthy brain thus improve the health of individuals. Secondly, the human body needs specific nutrients to remain physically strong. The food pyramid that was introduced by the US department of Agriculture clearly stipulates the appropriate portions of various types of food that a person requires to be healthy. Americans should ensure that their diet corresponds to the portions that have been outlined in the food pyramid so as improve health care (Bomar 601). Consumption of an excess or little amount of certain foods in the food pyramid can leave the body physically unhealthy therefore Americans are advised to strictly keep up with the food pyramid. Americans should avoid consuming refined foods as they are unhealthy and deprive the body off the necessary nutrients. Thirdly, Americans should eat naturally healthy food s with no additives and ensure that they are mentally and physically active to ensure that they stay healthy. Being physically lazy and eating unhealthy foods can lead to serious health problems and increase the prevalence of chronic illnesses later in life (Scriven and Garman 37). Individuals suffering from autism are advised to avoid intake of snacks with high gluten levels as they can lead to excess brain stimulation. Diabetic individuals are advised to control their sugar levels. It is clear that most health complications are caused by an unhealthy diet that has a lot of refined foods and is low in fiber rather than fruits and vegetables and whole foods. Approximately 75 percent of Americans hardly eat fruit, 66 percent consume saturated fats while more than 50 percent do not eat enough vegetables (Halvorson 27). An unhealthy diet can lead into serious health problems such as diabetes, cancer and coronary heart diseases. Obesity is one of the most common consequences of a poor diet and lack of physical activity. Obesity cases have increased over the years across all ages and in all states. Obesity results into numerous health problems including coronary heart disease, type II diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, osteoporosis and various cancers. Owing to the fact that obesity is a risk factor for a number of chronic illnesses, the social and economic outcomes are overwhelming. Obesity is said to have been caused by the lifestyle that is being led by the American people. It can be observed that there is no cure for the condition and the best way to deal with it is through prevention efforts that should aim at helping individuals increase their physical activity level and minimize their calorie intake. Recent studies have shown that obesity cases are higher among children than among adults. There has been overwhelming evidence showing that breast feeding gives protection against the occurrence of obesity in adolescence and childhood (Halvorson 32). CDC campaigns for breastfeeding as an appropriate strategy in reducing the risks of becoming overweight among teenagers and children. Living an unhealthy lifestyle is common in the modern times owing to the ease in transportation and with an overwhelming number of television channels. People often drive cars to the visit their neighbors or even to the corner store. It is clear that most people are more likely to watch television rather than take part in physical exercise. Frequent physical activity is important in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Physically inactive individuals are at higher risk of developing heart complications than those who engage in regular physical exercise (Talbot and Verrinder 7). It has been observe that physical inactivity has serious health risks as compared to cigarette smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. Additionally, individuals with other risk factors for heart complications including hypertension and obesity can benefit immensely from physical exercise. Finally, it promotes independence among the older people and facilitates the quality of life among individuals across all ages. Americans are increasingly becoming aware of immense benefits accruing from physical exercise and how come up with ways to encourage individuals to take part in it. The first and most is integrating physical education in schools as a requirement (Bomar 601). This promotes fitness at an early age and reduces prevalence of obesity among children. Recent games have been incorporated with physical activity and this makes exercise fun and facilitates activity levels among the players. Fast food joints are promoting healthy options to the popular French fries. These changes can have positive results on overweight individuals thereby promoting health (Scriven and Garman 32). Americans should commit towards positive lifestyle changes such as taking part in active games and eating seeking alternatives to unhealthy foods such as French fries, burgers and pizza. To sum up, health is one of the widely discussed issues in America owing to the rise in the prevalence of chronic diseases and increased health care costs. The above discussion shows on how we can improve health care through positive lifestyle changes. Maintaining a healthy diet is one of the most important practices in promoting health. Secondly Americans are advised to engage in physical exercise as a way of promoting health as it helps acquire fitness and burn excess calories. Thirdly, Americans are advised to take part in activities that lead to an increase in the levels of physical activity. Fourthly, Americans are advised to facilitate breastfeeding as it minimizes the prevalence of obesity which is the leading factor of poor health in America. Fifthly, Americans are advised to increase their vegetable and fruit consumption as it minimizes the occurrence of a number of chronic illnesses. Finally Americans should minimize the amount of time they spend watching television and instead they should take part in physical activity. The best way individuals can promote health in America is by making healthy lifestyle choices in the above mentioned areas. Works Cited Bomar, Perri J. Promoting Health in Families: Applying Family Research and Theory to Nursing Practice. Elsevier Health Sciences, 2004. Print. Halvorson, George C. Health Care Will Not Reform Itself: A Users Guide to Refocusing and Reforming American Health Care. CRC Press, 2009. Print. Leddy, Susan. Health Promotion: Mobilizing Strengths to Enhance Health, Wellness, and Well- Being. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis. 200. Print. Scriven, Angela and Garman, Sebastian.Promoting Health: Global Perspectives. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. 2007. Print. Talbot, Lyn and Verrinder, Glenda. Promoting Health: The Primary Health Care Approach. Elsevier, 2009. Print. Read More