Desperate Times Call for Desperate “Terms” – How About “WELLNESS”?

A recent New York Times article (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/18/magazine/18FOB-onlanguage-t.html) explained the history of the term “wellness”, and the rise of its popularity in America. I assumed that it had been around forever. However, Dan Rather, in a “60 Minutes” episode in November or 1979 described the term as “a word that you don’t hear every day”. The segment went on to explore the “new” wellness health movement - in 1979! Prior to that time, preventive health care had few devotees. The medical field was almost exclusively dedicated to illness-oriented care.

Thirty years later, the use of the term “wellness” has become ubiquitous. Alternative and preventive approaches to good health are everywhere. Despite this, the majority of the population lives less well and we face a national health crisis that will demand even more from illness-oriented care. Research published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine (http://www.3percentchoice.com/americans-unhealthy-lifestyle-leading-cause-death) suggests that only 3% of Americans maintain a healthy lifestyle – defined as: not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, eating right (minimum of 5 fruits/ vegetables per day, and exercising at least 5 times per week for 30 minutes)

I have heard it said that the medical costs to keep a person alive in the final few days of life often exceed the amount spent on preventive care over an entire lifetime. Think about it. How much money do you spend on the basics of a healthy lifestyle: a nutritious diet, regular physical check-ups and health screenings, and activities that promote well-being, e.g. exercise and relaxation? Is it easy to believe that a serious illness, requiring a hospital stay, could quickly surpass your lifetime of wellness spending?

The investment in a better quality of life now, promises immediate and lasting rewards. The rewards come in the form of a happier, healthier, more productive, and longer life with a significantly reduced risk of sickness and disease. It’s money WELL spent!

Live WELL!

Michael