from Lancet Public Health
Given that healthcare costs in this country
are almost double that of other developed
nations, researchers at the University of
Washington set out to understand how
much of these costs were because of
things within our control. The report in
The Lancet Public Health suggests
modifiable health risks, such as obesity,
high blood pressure and smoking were
linked to more than seven hundred billion
dollars in healthcare in one year. This
study adds to previous information about
which health conditions contribute to
healthcare costs in this country. Authors
suggest it is crucial to focus on preventing
and managing these key risks before they
turn into costly diseases, and so that more
people have the chance to live a long and
healthy life.