Life expectancy for Americans was beginning to decline even before the pandemic.It's critical National health barometer And a sign that all is not well in the United States
Much of the increase in preventable premature deaths is due to drug overdose, has increased five times over the past few decades. However, this discomfort is much more widespread and is primarily caused by growth. chronic disease.
The incidence of depression has reached the following levels: new high. obesity Obesity rates among adults have increased from 30% to 42% since the beginning of this century, and severe obesity has nearly doubled, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other serious health conditions.of return The emergence of vaccine-preventable diseases has been a concern since the 2010s. Sexually transmitted diseases are There was a sudden increase In the last 10 years. and, First time since 1937the infectious disease novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was one of the top three. cause of death in the country.
These health issues are alarming in and of themselves. They also have a devastating impact on our economy.Average lifespan increases by 1 year could boost economic output Increased by 4%. Meanwhile, health spending continues to soar as Americans' health deteriorates.as a country we spend $4.5 trillion annually for health, equivalent to 17% of GDP. Out-of-pocket medical costs have risen dramatically, straining workers' finances and pushing people into bankruptcy. All of this is accelerating the cycle of worsening workforce illness and economic decline.
Policymakers recognized the link between the economy and public health in the midst of the pandemic, providing federal relief programs such as cash assistance and paid sick leave aimed at keeping the nation's workforce and economy as healthy as possible. did. But as the coronavirus has been relatively contained, abandoning these efforts will put our country at greater risk. We need to revive a historic source of support for public health measures: the business case for a healthy workforce.
In 1842, Edwin Chadwick, in his ground-breaking Report on the Sanitary Condition of the Working Population of England, argued that investment in public health was important not only from a moral point of view but also for economic productivity. He claimed that. American public health pioneer C.-E.A. Winslow, in his 1909 op-ed in the Atlantic, wrote: Welfare measures for workers “We found it paid off.” And around that time, American philanthropist Wycliffe Rhodes oversaw the Rockefeller Sanitary Commission, which tackled hookworm disease as a controllable health problem and promoted economic productivity. .
Hookworm disease, which can cause anemia, fatigue, and stunted growth in children, became common in the South in the late 1800s and early 1900s due to lack of access to clean water and poor sanitation. It was a serious problem in the state. The condition was thought to be caused by a perpetual cycle of “laziness” (a stigma often attached today to symptoms of chronic illness, disability, and mental health problems) and poverty.Rose almost eradicated Eliminate hookworm disease, expand access to treatment and improve public health through education campaigns.
Similarly, during World War II, the U.S. government invested in public health efforts to control malaria transmission in the tropical and subtropical theaters. Vaccinate against smallpox, typhoid, and tetanus.Curbing sexually transmitted diseases that cost U.S. troops during World War I Over 7 million working days and over 10,000 preventable hospital discharges.
A well-functioning public health infrastructure like this makes it easier for working people to lead healthy lives.The results were dramatic, and in the last century Average human lifespan doubles In the world.
Despite the impression made by COVID-19, public health has historically been about much more than tracking disease outbreaks.It's about To prevent disease. Access to health care and insurance plays a key role, but often doctors and hospitals have an impact. Someone is already sick.Research shows that simple resources such as clean air and water, affordable healthy foodstable housing and a safe workplace are better predictors of health and longevity.
Programs that address basic needs during the pandemic (freezing evictions, expanding food assistance, mandating paid sick and family leave for small business employees) have increased housing stability and Suppressing the spread of new coronavirus infection and protected Americans mental health.Since then, housing affordability has plummeted; Half of America's renters Spend more than 30% of your income About rent and utility costs. In 2022, more than 40 million Americans will live in food-insecure households; health Problem of adult and The kids.
The United States is one of them high income countries only It still lacks universal paid sick leave and family medical leave, leaving many people forced to go to work sick or risk losing a day's pay. Interventions to improve workplace air quality are an important element of a healthy workplace that was highly valued by 19th century and even his 20th century medical reformers, but has been overlooked.
Pandemic-era measures were halted due to cost. But it is our current approach to health that is far more expensive and causes unnecessary suffering to American workers as the population's health declines.our $4.5 trillion in annual health spending In the United States, the vast majority go to treat people who are already sick.only Four% Support programs that keep the health of people and workers a priority. Our focus on treating people who are already sick still pays for some of our health care, even though we pay dramatically higher amounts than other countries. This accounts for many of the reasons. worst health indicator In the world.
Recasting public health as an economic imperative could help broaden support for the types of interventions that have been polarized during the pandemic, but have a long track record of improving well-being and productivity.
Celine Gounder (@Celine Grounder) is an infectious disease physician and epidemiologist who serves as senior public health researcher and editor-in-chief of KFF Health News. She is also a podcast host.infectious disease” Craig Spencer (@Craig_A_Spencer) is an emergency medicine physician and professor of public health at Brown University.
