There Are Two Kinds of People in the US - Those Who View Health As Static and Those Who Don't

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Introduction: We're Not #1

I believe Americans need a new way of thinkingLinks to an external site. about health. Look where our current perspectivesLinks to an external site. on the subject have gotten us - we are last among the world's 17 most industrializedLinks to an external site. nations in all the key indicatorsLinks to an external site. of health. It's hard to believe but true: we're last in life expectancyLinks to an external site.; we have the 

rates of

, infant mortality, low birth weightsLinks to an external site., heart disease, diabetes, chronicLinks to an external site. lung disease, homicide rates, teen pregnancy and sexually transmittedLinks to an external site. diseases.

The lead author of the InstituteLinks to an external site. of Medicine, NIH sponsoredLinks to an external site.study that revealed this situationLinks to an external site. remarked that "AmericansLinks to an external site. get sicker, die sooner and sustain more injuriesLinks to an external site. than people in all other high-income countries." (That's a quote from the report.) Then he added this coup de graceLinks to an external site.: "We were stunned by the propensity of findings all on the negative sideLinks to an external site. - the scope of the disadvantage covers all ages, from babiesLinks to an external site. to seniors, both sexes, all classes of society. If we fail to act, life spans will continue to shorten andchildrenLinks to an external site. will face greater rates of illnessLinks to an external site. than those in other nations."

Two Ways to Think of Health

I believe AmericansLinks to an external site. are overly passive about their health. Good health can only be attained and maintained by consciousLinks to an external site. deeds. These deeds require planning and disciple. Examples include exercising regularly and vigorously, dining in ways that nourish the body withoutLinks to an external site. causing problems and otherwise behaving in positive, active ways.

The level of health you will enjoy is clearly affectedLinks to an external site.by your lifestyle choices. Your health status depends to a greatLinks to an external site. extent on whether you invest in your well being or not. If you make little or no such investments, your health will depend on chance, genetics, the aging processLinks to an external site.and the timeliness of the quality of medical care you receive.

If, on the other hand, you do invest, if you seek, protect and defend an advanced state of well being, the nature of the health status you will have will be dramatically different - and better.

Therefore, we need to distinguish these two kinds of health situations - one passive, one active.

The Institute of Health report that places America last reflects that segment of America that is passive. If the quite small segment of the American population that practices active health were separated, if their health data were compiled and compared, I'm sure we would be #1.

For these and related reasons, I propose we view health in two different ways - by making a distinction between static health - which is how most view and approach their health, and earned health. The latter is what you get when you invest wisely in your own well being.

It's a way of life I call REAL wellness.

Health As Currently Perceived

The WHO definition of health is unrealistic (nobody, not even the most devout wellite, enjoys "complete physical, mental and social well-being," at least not every day). Most think of health in far less exalted ways. Most think they are well if they are not sick. This is pathetic. It equates with not needing immediate medical attention. For the vast majority, this is a "good enough" view of health. Thinking that way is a self-fulfilling prophesy. It means that not healthy is the best you can hope for. This is the static definition of health and it must be reformed and at least accompanied by another, comparison perspective for those Americans willing to do their part. That would be earned health.

I think we need ideas about health that remind people of a key fact, namely, that a passive situation is not as effective, desirable, protective or rewarding as a dynamic earned state of health. We should all be aware that static health, the default setting you get for just existing and doing nothing special to enhance health, can and must be reinforced and boosted.

Employing a term like earned health might remind people that health can be much more than non-illness. The term earned health can signal the availability of a richer level of well being. It can remind everyone that health at its best is more than a static condition. Health is a dynamic state; it gets better with effort, worse if ignored.

Earned health represents a higher health standard. Earned health is more ambitious and more consistent with a REAL wellness mindset and lifestyle than the current norm of health as non-sickness.

The Static/Earned Health Continuum

This continuum is another way of expressing Dr. John Travis' original, simple line drawing model of health along a continuum, with "premature death" on the far left side of his continuum) and an ever-changing dynamic of "high level wellness" at the other, right side extreme. The "0" in the middle represents a neutral point, which could be simple non-sickness.

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