Why Health Prevention Saves Lives and Money

The Price Tag on Lack of Prevention

We have all heard it: “Live now. Worry later.” or “Carpe Diem” or even “You Only Live Once”. Though uttered with positive intentions, they are often misinterpreted and misapplied to other aspects of life. One such aspect is health, and more specifically, our personal lifestyle choices.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the top 5 leading causes of death in the U.S. from 2005-2019 are: heart diseases, cancer, chronic lower respiratory diseases, stroke, and unintentional injuries. Let’s talk numbers. Placing all these together yields about 1.6 million American deaths in 2019, accounting for 82% of the top 10 causes of death. Look closely, and it becomes clear that 3 of the 5 causes stems from cardiovascular problems, and all 5 causes are potentially preventable. With CDC’s calculations, 20-40% of each cause could be prevented. This amounts to over 528,000 premature deaths — half a million lives possibly prolonged by healthier and wiser choices.

Age-adjusted death rates for the 10 leading causes of death in 2019: United States

In addition to the obvious death toll, following the “worry later” mentality on health has its costs. Financial costs. Healthy living generally leads to much lower medical costs1. A 2017 study by Journal of the American Heart Association found that medical costs were approximately $5,000 more per year in people who least engage with heart-healthy habits compared with those who engage the most. This does not come as a surprise when we consider the typical hospital charge for a heart operation averaging $85,000 and the most common surgery, a coronary bypass, around $150,000.

This added financial burden is not only limited to cardiovascular health. Here are some general examples of how unhealthy living can cost more:

● According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, unhealthy people earn around 28% less than healthy people over their lifetime.

○ The average unhealthy 65-year-old with a high school degree has accumulated around 50% less money ($120,000 vs $230,000) than a healthy person of the same age and education.

● The University of Rutgers also found that unhealthy people (smokers and those who are overweight) pay 15-20% higher premiums for life insurance, compared to healthy people.

●  A study by The Rand Corporation found that obese individuals spend around 77% more on medications. In addition, Plus-Size clothing is estimated to cost 10-15% more than regular-size clothing. 

These additional charges not only put added stress on one’s pocket, but they can also harm an individual’s quality of life, work productivity, mental health, and overall life satisfaction.

How to Save Our Health and Money

We now know that living unhealthy does indeed cost us more — physically and financially. What can we do to potentially save ourselves and our earnings? We lower our risk factors through healthy living. Listed below are the ADA’s and CDC’s recommendations on how to do just that.

● Stop smoking. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States. Quitting improves health, enhances quality of life, and can add as much as 10 years to life expectancy3.

● Get active. It is recommended to get at least get 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of intense exercise per week. Regular exercise can help keep cognitive skills sharp, reduce the risk of depression and anxiety, improve sleep quality, and manage weight4. It also lowers the risk of general mortality by 33 percent.

● Eat better. A healthy diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts, while limiting red meats and sugar naturally lowers risk for serious health problems, manages weight, and promotes longer life expectancy5.

○ Comprehensive research from Harvard School of Public Health suggests that healthy foods only cost $1.50 more per day than the least healthy foods.

● Manage blood pressure and cholesterol. Hypertension and high cholesterol levels are strong risk factors for multiple cardiovascular diseases. Try to keep blood pressure below 120/80 mm Hg and total cholesterol below 200 mg/dL.

● Don’t miss health screenings and vaccinations. Health checkups are designed to detect early signs of life-threatening conditions such as cancer. Similarly, vaccinations are given to prevent contracting serious diseases such as polio, meningitis, and COVID.

Alternative medicine such as acupuncture can also serve as a cost-efficient way to prevent onset or further development of a wide variety of health issues such as arthritis, muscle pain, headaches, immune system problems, infertility, insomnia, anxiety, and depression. A study published in the National Institute of Health found that patients receiving acupuncture care report significantly less worries and low back pain even after 2 years. The researchers also deemed the procedure highly cost-effective. Furthermore, in a 2020 study, patients suffering from depression and anxiety who received acupuncture had lower medical expenditures within 1 year of the treatment compared to those who did not. The long-term positive effects of acupuncture on physical and psychological distress certainly calls for consideration as a form of cost-effective prevention.

Of course, these interventions do not completely eliminate the chance of acquiring any illness but instead lowers it, strengthening and preventing the body from getting worse if an individual does get ill. While leading a health-conscious lifestyle seems more expensive in the present, everyday prevention still beats spending hundreds to thousands of dollars on hospital charges. After all, it is easier to prevent than cure. And with a healthy mind, body, and wallet, we will be more able to live the one life we have to the fullest, longest, and with less worries about the future.