Benefits
Live Longer
Want to live longer? Then consider these facts:
- U.S. government publications maintain that 70% of diseases are preventable.
- The former Surgeon General, C. Everett Koops, reported that preventable causes of death account for eight of the nine leading categories and for 980,000 deaths a year.
These statistics all point to one thing—your lifestyle choices have more impact on your health and longevity than anything else. You can read more about these public health issues in Healthy People 2010.
Lower Costs
If you take care of yourself, you can obviously help prevent health problems. But you can also save money by reducing the number of office visits and medications you need.
Self-care reduces the heavy costs of healthcare associated with disease. Well-documented lifetime medical costs, which average $225,000 per person, are clearly linked to health habits (Manning, 1991).
Taking care of yourself offers both you and the whole medical system great financial benefits, so invest in your individual health and the future of the health system!
Other Benefits
People who take care of their health also enjoy these benefits:
- Improved quality of life
- Reduced absenteeism
- Increased satisfaction with healthcare
- Time saved
