As the nation wrestles with health care reform, doctors and health professionals have pinpointed important ways that individuals can help to reduce the national health care price tag. By taking better care of yourself, and by eliminating or moderating certain lifestyle choices, we can actually minimize health care expenses.
Here, we explore a few key ways that we can help to reduce the national health care cost. According to the CDC, excessive alcohol consumption is the third leading lifestyle-related cuase of death in the United States each year. As the medical director for Cinergy Health, Dr. Margaret Lewin explains, "Nearly a quarter of general hospital admissions in the country are either directly or indirectly related to alcoholism," said Lewin.
Another culprit to our health is salt. Excessive sodium consumption can lead to many health concerns, including hypertension, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases. Adults should only consume 2300 mg, or about a teaspoon, of salt each day, according to the Institute of Medicine. Cinergy Health expert Dr. Lewin explains that "Heart disease and strokes are the first and third leading causes of death in the United States" and that "…the total cost to health care to treat both these diseases is as high as $475 billion a year."
