America's Health - We Seem to be Headed in the Wrong Direction!

Happy New Year. I hope you have a healthy and prosperous New Year!

The end of 2019 will mark the conclusion of the first 20 years of the 21st century. Remember all of the excitement, commotion and worry about what was going to happen to all of our computers when going from the 20th century to the 21st century? Our computers survived and today are even better and more powerful.

I wish I could say the same about the health of the American population. The good news is that we have the most advanced medicine and hospitals in the world to care for us. The bad news is that American’s have become way too dependent on prescription medication and hospitals to care for many of our health issues. Issues that could have been better managed and more inexpensively resolved by becoming more physically active and eating more nutritiously.

Recent statistics:

Recent life expectancy data for 2017 (published in late 2018) shows that overall life expectancy decreased again for the second year in a row by one-tenth of a year from 78.7 years in 2016 to 78.6 years in 2017. The decrease was primarily due to the increase in death rates for the male population.

• The age specific death rates increased for age groups 25-34 and 35-44 but decreased for the age group 45-54.
• Contributing factors to the increase in death rates for the younger population was opioid use and suicide.
• Another contributing factor was the continued increase in obesity and its connection to lifestyle diseases which could result in death.

A recent U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics report shows several very interesting statistics about the American Worker.

• Approximately 10,000 workers each day turn 55-years old. This will happen each day for the next 5-years. That is more than 3 million workers each year.
• Fatalities have increased by 10% for the 55-64 age group. This will only get worse based on the information above. Slips and falls are the most common cause of the fatality for this age group.
• By 2022, there will be 17% more men and 33% more women working past age 65.
• Musculo-skeletal injuries continue to be the number one injury across all age groups.
• Numerous research studies show that maintaining strength or improving strength as one ages is achievable.

-When strength is improved, there is an increase in performance, functionality and safety.

-This leads to fewer injuries and claims.

IPCS’ own muscular strength database of over 500,000 industrial workers shows the following:

• The American worker’s upper body strength and lower body strength today is about 23% weaker compared to 10-years ago and weighs about 13 pounds more.
• Although the percentage of the new hire applicants who are obese (BMI>29) has leveled off at about 43%, there is a significant shift in each obese category to a higher obese category. For example, there is a higher percentage of workers today with a BMI of 50 or more compared to 10 years ago. Ironically, an obesity grouping with a BMI of 50 or more was not even discussed 10 years ago.

And one of the most serious and recent statistics aired on December 9, 2018 during the CBS 60-minute show on the topic “Phones/Tablets and Their Impact on Kids Brains”. This show reported on the initial findings of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. Some of the early findings are:

• The more time children are exposed to the electronic gadgets (screen time) the greater the probability of loneliness and depression.
• When children are exposed to electronic devices for 7-hours or more per day, there is a thinning of the gray matter in the brain (at this time no one knows what the implications of this is once a child becomes an adult). Do you really want to take that chance with your child?
• The average time an adolescent spends watching an electronic device is 4.5 hours a day.
• No one knows at this time what impact all of this screen time will have on both the physical and mental development of our youth today once they become adults. 

The recent stats don’t bode well for America’s health.

Is there a solution available to help correct/remedy these stats?  I believe there is a solution, however the above issues will not be resolved quickly nor in mass numbers. Each individual needs to make a decision that “I want to be healthier” and for that to happen the individual needs to take simple and realistic steps to become healthier.

On January 1, 2019, the Translational Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine published an article called “Exercise Is Medicine as a Vital Sign: Challenges and Opportunities”. The purpose of the article was to encourage all physicians to ask critical questions about the physical activity patterns for each patient because the research is so overwhelming that individuals who are physically active (regardless of gender, age or race) live longer, are healthier and have a better quality of life. Even more importantly, physical activity greatly assists individuals with managing lifestyle diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and others. In many cases it means fewer prescribed drugs or a lower dose prescribed drug.

I have stated many times before that we have known for years the impact physical activity has on our health. But as pointed out in the recent statistics, America seems to be headed in the wrong direction when it comes to health.

I am a strong believer in the importance of maintaining a strong, healthy muscle mass. In a recent publication in the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Health & Fitness Journal (January/February 2019), Dr. Kravitz wrote about “Developing a Lifelong Resistance Training Program”. In addition, Dr. Paul Terpeluk with the Cleveland Clinic has stated that muscular strength is the new vital sign of workplace health. To support Dr. Terpeluk’s position, here are just a few health benefits of a resistance training program:

-Improved Bone Density

-Improved Body Fat Percentage

-Improved Resting Metabolism

-Healthier Muscle Mass

-Better Blood Sugar Control

-Improved Blood Pressure

-Improved Blood Lipids

-Improved Mental Health

-Improved Muscle Function

?-Improved Joint Stability

-Reverse Age-Related Muscle Loss

Unfortunately, resistance training programs scare many people. People tend to assume resistance training programs require lifting heavy weights and having to go to a fitness center. Improving one’s strength can easily be accomplished in your own home, using body weight as resistance. Planks, push-ups, chair dips, wall squats and other basic exercises are considered resistance training and can improve strength. In addition, the use of resistance bands or light dumbbells can be used to improve strength as well.

So here is my simple challenge to the American worker.  For four weeks, three times a week, establish a home resistance training program that includes no more than 8-exercises - 3 for upper body, 3 for lower body and 2 for the core (you may need to reach out to a certified personal trainer to set up your program. For more information on this, please feel free to reach out to Vicki Church, [email protected]). If after four weeks, you do not feel stronger, more functional and have more energy, stop the program. But if you begin to realize the benefits of the resistance training program, continue and perhaps even expand what you’re doing. You will now be realizing the benefits of muscular strength and exercise as a new vital sign of your health. (Before beginning any exercise program for the first time, be sure to get medical clearance from your physician.)

Congratulations! The big winner is you and you will be off to a great start in 2019!

Don't have time at home... Try this office friendly workout!