Read Part 2: What is it costing us? to learn more about the current state of our health with chronic disease.
Part 3: How did we get here?
1. Societal evolution.
Work - We are all striving for the American dream. Americans work very hard - many days with long hours - with little vacation days or time off. The focus on individual success inevitably results in isolation and loneliness.
Physical activity - We are increasingly more sedentary. Most jobs have become much more sedentary or limit access to physical activity. Working out 30 minutes a day is great, but it also matters what you do the other 23 hours. The Mayo Clinic says that extended sitting with no physical activity affects the average life span similar to obesity and smoking.
Food - Americans are increasingly eating a higher quantity of food, eating more food that is processed, and eating foods packed with higher calories. On the flip side, many, many Americans live in “food desserts” where access to healthy fresh fruit and veggies is severely limited.
Stress - Our world has become increasingly more and more stressful - there are thousands of things stimulating our brain each day. Stress is everywhere. However the ways we are choosing to cope, relax, and deal with stress are not the most helpful.
2. Healthcare systems.
Our healthcare system does one thing really well - acute illness and trauma. However, focusing on preventing chronic disease is not a strong point of this system (yet). The current system centers on reacting to illness and disease. Hospitals make money when people are sick, not when they stay healthy.
3. Advertisements by pharmaceutical and food companies.
These advertisements have a HUGE influence and affect on how we live our lives, are we even aware? Our culture and systems are widely influenced by these companies. It is fair to ask the question, is the heart of these companies to truly help and heal, or to make a profit?
4. Limited knowledge about lifestyle design.
Most information is gathered on TV or on social media. In an average household, there is very minimal education or knowledge surrounding how to build and live a holistically healthy lifestyle. How many advertisements have you seen that is aimed to demonstrate how much power each person has over their health and well being?
5. Dis-empowerment of patients.
Our current system has taken a lot of the autonomy and direction away from the patient (likely yourself). You are the expert of your life and reserve the right to speak into treatment plans. On the other side of the spectrum, many patients want a quick fix that allows them to keep living in their unhealthy lifestyle. Both sides are playing into our current crisis.
6. Dis-empowerment of nurses and clinicians.
Nurses and clinicians struggle with knowing what care a patient needs, but not being able to provide it. It's hard for them to feel like their hands are tied. In most health care settings there is little time to educate, coach, and be present with patients on the level that they need.
As you can see, there are many factors and forces at play in contributing to our current crisis.
Ready to read about what changes are happening? Read: The Revolution is here.
Content outline adapted from The Nurse Coach Collective
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