Who Wins The Healthiest Countries Contest?

Who Wins The Healthiest Countries Contest?

Recently two world studies were released concerning the healthiest countries in the world. Whenever I see these studies, I always go immediately to see where the United States ranks. To my sorry, the US is falling on the charts for every study I have seen in the last three years.

The United States spends over $2.7 trillion annually on health care. That amount is over ten times the $256 billion that was spent in 1980. If we are spending more money as a country on health care, why are we going down on the world charts?

I am writing this article not to be negative but to instill a drive in everyone that preventive medicine is very important to practice for yourself and your loved ones. If we learn simple basic skills on how to take better care of ourselves, it may help our United States rise up again on the charts.

The Bloomberg Rankings created health scores and health-risk scores for countries with populations of at least 1 million. The scores found that the United States came in at number 33.

The top 10 countries for the Healthiest Countries were:

1. Singapore
2. Italy
3. Australia
4. Switzerland
5. Japan
6. Israel
7. Spain
8. Netherlands
9. Sweden
10.Germany
33. United States

Cuba, Kuwait, Chile, Costa Rica, and Slovenia are just a few countries that rated better than us. We were number 33 and Bosnia was number 34.

Source: Bloomberg.com

 Another study, the Global Burden of Disease study, also found the United States at number 33. The top ten healthiest countries for this study are as follows:

Male Healthy Life Expectancy	Female Healthy Life Expectancy
1. Japan	1. Japan
2. Singapore	2. South Korea
3. Switzerland	3. Spain
4. Spain	4. Singapore
5. Italy	5. Taiwan
6. Australia	6. Switzerland
7. Canada	7. Andorra
8. Andorra	8. Italy
9. Israel	9. Australia
10. South Korea	10. France

I did a little research to find out just who the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) group was. I found the original Global Burden of Disease Study
was commissioned by the World Bank in 1991 to provide an assessment of the burden of 107 diseases and injuries, ten selected risk factors for the world and eight major regions. The GBD group has generated numerous national studies which the results have been used by governments and non-governments worldwide to inform priorities for research, development, policies and funding. In 2000, the World Health Organization began publishing the GBD updates for the world and 14 regions. I could not find if the World Bank is still funding the project and if not, who is.

We need to come together as individuals and as a country, and start working harder on trying to keep ourselves healthier. It is my opinion that our healthcare system is now a sick care system. It needs help.

Four simple preventive skills everyone can start with:

1. Get plenty of good sleep. Not just cat naps, but at least 8 to 9 hours sleep. The immune system repairs itself when you are in a deep sleep.

2. Drink plenty of water. We need to be hydrated at all times for our blood stream and hormones to work well. We can not live healthy as a dehydrated person.

3. Keep your hands clean. Wherever you go where there are a lot of people, like the markets, doctor’s office, pumping gas, etc., always try to wash your hands. Germs are everywhere but especially where there are lots of other hands.

4. Get some fresh air daily. We should not live as hermits or in caves. Sunshine and fresh air are needed by the pineal gland in order to help the immune system receive the hormones needed.

Let’s make it a new hobby to keep healthy this year.

images courtesy of: www.fitsugar.com and www.healthfiend.com

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