Healthcare in America

So... I've been thinking (again)!  All this hype about national healthcare is unsettling to say the least. I know the upcoming election plays a huge role in what happens in our legislative, executive, and judicial systems.  I am glad for the laws that help Americans.  While I hate to pay them, I pay the taxes to help those who need help, and I depend on the system to do the best that it can to decide who needs the help most.  I believe in putting my money where my mouth is, so just to provide evidence I am not all about talk, I payed my state and federal government over 21% of my annual salary last year in income taxes, not to mention all the taxes I paid on the goods and services I purchased, not to mention all the SSI taxes.  NOT to mention all the money I pay each month to carry health insurance for my husband and myself.  So, I think if anyone has a right to complain, people who pay 21% of their income to taxes has a right to complain.  Come to think of it, I gave more to AL and the US than I did to God.  Shame on me!

But I am not here to complain.  I am here to scold myself on my part in the growing healthcare problems in our country.  Now, typically I have had great checkups in the past.  I don't smoke, drink, or do drugs.  I have very few risk factors, and my cholesterol is usually within a normal range.  But... (as Jesus so amicably put it to the rich young ruler in Mark 10:21) "One thing thou lackest..."  Yeah... always that one thing.  I am labeled as "acute morbidly obese!"  (BUT NOT FOR LONG!) 

In addition to a higher mortality rate, I am putting myself at risk for physical and emotional diseases such as cardiovascular risk factors like hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperinsulinemia and low levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, cardiac dysfunction, pulmonary problems, digestive diseases, and endocrine disorders as well as obstetric, orthopedic, and dermatologic complications, and cancer mortality.  Emotional risks include: depression, disrespect by others, prejudice by others, negative attitudes that others perceive me as weak-willed, ugly, awkward, self-indulgent, and anxiety.  

When deeply thinking about the healthcare crisis in this country, many of the risk factors that most Americans face are due to a direct correlation between their behaviors and the risk factors they exhibit.  Now, I can go on blaming the government and everything in between for the problems I have medically and emotionally, or I CAN TAKE CHARGE of my life.  Personally, I wouldn't care if I ever had to see a medical doctor or use the healthcare system again in my life (No offense, Michael Greene -  my sweet brother-in-law, who is a "real Dr!", according to my mother.)  

When I look at the problem with my morbidly obesity, I see another set of cause and effects.  I am a stress eater.  The more stressed I am, the more I shove things into my mouth.  In our country, we have driven ourselves to insanity trying to always have more than we can afford or pay for in this life.  I don't have the effect size statistically speaking, but I know from a qualitative perspective, stress from debt and work has definitely added to my health problems.  What in the world are we thinking! 

Each year I attempt to self-evaluate my life several times a year.  This is one of those times.  There are two things right now that if I can capture and get under control, the likelihood of my health improving greatly increases: (1) Reduction of my weight,  and (2) Reduction of my stressors! I encourage all Americans to stop a moment and complete a self-evaluation of your life.  I will never be able to truly control others' actions.  But I can control myself.  I am only one person.  It is doubtful I will have a huge impact on the upcoming elections.  It is most unlikely I will have an impact on the legislative, judicial, or executive branches of our government (although I do my part!).  But it is highly probable and likely the things I decide to do with my life have the greatest impact on my health and well-being. 

So... while I am not necessarily happy with the way things are in my country right now... I am more concerned with my own actions.  What about you?  Are you willing to take responsibility along with me on the problems we have brought on ourselves?  Or... Do you continue to place all the blame on others?  And will you like the rich young ruler go away sorrowfully?