| Have you watched Sicko already? It is very | | | | to make a complex point) "Please stop. I |
| worth doing so. | | | | don't want you to boo or cheer, simply to |
| | | | think on your own" |
| In order to help put the health problem we | | | | |
| are living in better perspective, let me | | | | Amazing words. |
| share now some of the insights and advice | | | | |
| that Bill Clinton gave us in San Francisco | | | | In the afternoon, after his speech, we spent |
| recently at the Healthetc event sponsored by | | | | some time talking with health providers and |
| California Pacific Medical Center and KCBS. | | | | attending some panels, such as the one put |
| | | | together by the Alzheimer's Association on |
| Some of the speech highlights: | | | | ways to prevent or delay Alzheimer's. |
| | | | |
| 1) Clinton's great overview of key | | | | We were surprised at the amount of education |
| comparative data: | | | | still needed to make the medical and health |
| | | | community incorporate science-based advice on |
| * 16 vs 10-11: % GDP spent on health care in | | | | lifelong learning and mental stimulation on |
| the US vs. other industrialized countries. | | | | top of "traditional" advice around nutrition |
| This percentage difference equals around $800 | | | | and physical exercise. The Alzheimer's |
| billion annually! | | | | Association is being one of the pioneers with |
| | | | their "Maintain Your Brain" campaign, |
| * 84 vs 100: % population with some form of | | | | suggesting a comprehensive set of health and |
| health insurance in the US vs. other | | | | wellness guidelines we should all follow: |
| countries | | | | |
| | | | 1) Stay mentally active: "Mentally |
| * 34 and 37: ranking of the US system as | | | | stimulating activities strengthen brain cells |
| measured by health outcomes and life | | | | and the connections between them, and may |
| expectancy, respectively | | | | even create new nerve cells." |
| | | | |
| * 34 vs 19: % health care costs spent on | | | | 2) Remain socially active: "Social activity |
| administration in the US vs. other countries | | | | not only makes physical and mental activity |
| | | | more enjoyable, it can reduce stress levels, |
| 2) President Clinton then outlined the 3 main | | | | which helps maintain healthy connections |
| problems with US Healthcare as follows, | | | | among brain cells" |
| empathizing that any serious, long-term | | | | |
| solution needs to address these 3 elements as | | | | 3) Stay physically active: "Physical exercise |
| a whole: | | | | is essential for maintaining good blood flow |
| | | | to the brain as well as to encourage new |
| * immoral unequal coverage, where a large | | | | brain cells. It also can significantly reduce |
| percentage of citizens lack access to quality | | | | the risk of heart attack, stroke and |
| care | | | | diabetes, and thereby protect against those |
| | | | risk factors for Alzheimer's and other |
| * inefficient system: we pay more for less, | | | | dementias." |
| as you could see in Sicko | | | | |
| | | | 4) Adopt a brain-healthy diet: "Research |
| * we still focus more on disease than on | | | | suggests that high cholesterol may contribute |
| health. But he is hopeful about an increasing | | | | to stroke and brain cell damage. A low fat, |
| focus on wellness, absolutely necessary to | | | | low cholesterol diet is advisable. And there |
| alleviate future cost pressures | | | | is growing evidence that a diet rich in dark |
| | | | vegetables and fruits, which contain |
| 3) Now, let's reflect on couple of | | | | antioxidants, may help protect brain cells." |
| (approximate) quotes with profound wisdom | | | | |
| | | | No doubt, Bill Clinton would agree with the |
| * "I am a testimonial for the best of | | | | importance of these guidelines to ensure Baby |
| American medicine. Given my heart problems, | | | | Boomers can age in a healthy way and prevent |
| it is a miracle I am here with you today. | | | | the health care system from being overwhelmed |
| These days I cannot stay more than 5 minutes | | | | with Alzheimer's related costs. |
| in a bad mood, because I remind myself how | | | | |
| fortunate I am simply to be alive" | | | | Let's watch with attention what the |
| | | | presidential candidates propose to deal with |
| * (when people were clapping and cheering to | | | | this situation. |
| easy "sound bites" while he was still trying | | | | |