by: Allen S. Weiss, MD, FACP, FACR, MBA
Lengthening Life Expectancy: Improving Health and Decreasing Health Care with the Blue Zones Project
Ben Franklin’s adage that “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” originally referred to fire safety but now is most applicable to our nation’s health. Keeping people healthy by encouraging wellness and healthy behaviors has many tangible benefits, including improved productivity, lower costs, increased happiness, and longer life expectancy. Eighty percent of Americans consume very little health care and, according to the World Health Organization, 80% of illnesses are self-induced. As 5% of the population consumes 50% of the nation’s health care resources, successfully decreasing the rate of self-induced illness by making the healthy choice the easy choice will have a profoundly positive effect on health care and the overall economy.
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