Read Part 1: What are we facing? to learn more about the current state of our health with chronic disease.
Part 2: What is it costing us?
Chronic illness may be costing us more than you are aware.
1. Human suffering.
Hundreds of millions people suffer from and live with chronic illness. Many chronic diseases can be prevented, treated, and reversed. How are these illnesses affecting individuals?
- General suffering: living with chronic diseases ultimately means not living at optimum wellness, leading to general fatigue, decreased immunity, general aches and pains, and just overall suffering.
- Physically: most of these illnesses lead to some type of physical disability or limitation (such as a decrease in ability to exercise, range of motion, ability to work, or ability to do daily living tasks), but can ultimately result in death.
- Mentally and Emotionally: Alongside the physical issues easily come anxiety, depression, loneliness, and stress.
- Socially: Relationships with friends, families, and helpers can be stressed and strained.
- Financially: our healthcare system is ridiculously expensive and chronic disease is the top spender. Not only is it expensive for treatments and medications, but often physical limitations can result in decreased income. Sadly, medical expenses are the number one cause of bankruptcy in the US. (From the Health Sciences Institute)
2. Financial burden.
90% of the nations $4.1 trillion in annual healthcare expenditures are for chronic and mental health conditions. (From the CDC)
Compared to other countries, we spend a higher amount on healthcare - while also having higher rates of chronic disease.
3. Healthcare demand.
With hundreds of millions of people living with chronic illnesses, this increases the demand on our healthcare system. (It's estimated about 80% of doctor and hospital visits are for chronic illnesses.) The strain put on the system by increased visits trickles down to the workers in the healthcare system. The inevitable result is doctors and nurses who don't have enough time to spend with their patient that is needed, opting for a quick fix with medication instead of getting to the cause, fatigue/burnout/loss of compassion in healthcare staff, and increased medical errors.
I'm sure you could come up with even more ways chronic illness is costing us. The point is to recognize that the costs are significant and that there is a need for urgent change.
Continue to Part 3: How did we get to this state?
Content outline adapted from The Nurse Coach Collective
Comments