Our Medical System Needs a Cure–And You Can Help
David Hauser
Acquiring $1-15m EBITDA companies | $250m+ in Exits | YPO | Grasshopper | Chargify | Vanilla |
The following is adapted from Unstoppable.
The numbers around chronic disease in the US provide a clear—but alarming—narrative about the current health of Americans. According to recent research, approximately 45 percent of all Americans have a chronic disease, and the number continues to grow. More than two-thirds of all deaths are caused by heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or diabetes. In fact, chronic diseases are to blame for 70 percent of deaths in the US.
In a nation with some of the best healthcare in the world, how does this happen? How did we find ourselves in this mess? And, instead of resigning yourself to a broken system, what practical steps can you take to get better care?
The Break-and-Fix Model of Medicine
The answer is simple: our entire medical system is built around sickness, not health. Most people only go to the doctor when something is wrong. When disaster strikes, we have some of the best care in the world to fix what’s broken. But when it comes to long-term health and wellness, there’s little education or support for patients. This “break-and-fix” mentality is very different from one that’s focused on improving and maintaining.
In other words, we’re really great at solving short-term problems, but not anywhere near as efficient at managing long-term care and patient outcomes. The illness that can’t be solved by giving someone a pill each day goes wildly mismanaged as patients are sent off with very little guidance or follow-up regarding chronic conditions.
The overarching goal of modern medicine today, as I see it, is to manage symptoms at a reasonable and productive level so people don’t complain, and feel better in the short-term, especially as people get older. Instead of examining the symptoms, we mask and manage them.
Rarely do doctors discuss diet, nutrition, and the underlying cause of chronic disease to improve patient outcomes. And how could they? With an ever-increasing roster of patients, the most they can do is have a quick conversation and send people off with a prescription.
Take Control of Your Health
The trouble is, people still need answers. People want a better way. They don’t want to succumb to chronic disease and become a burden on family and friends—they want to lead better, more fulfilling lives instead of fearing for the future.
That’s why, after years of research, and my own very bumpy journey to health and wellness, I’ve made the following conclusion: we must take our health into our own hands.
Let me ask you a question—if you had a complicated year with your finances, and it was tax season, would you want an amazing accountant who could help put you in the best financial position possible? Or would you want one that’s just…okay? You’d obviously want the one who’s amazing. So, why is it, when it comes to medical care, we don’t apply the same reasoning? Why is it that, instead of looking for medical treatment that gets us closer to optimal health and wellness, we settle for just “okay”?
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about why this is. To find an answer, I looked back to how I managed my own health in my twenties. Instead of seeking optimal medical care, I accepted the bare minimum my doctors could give, which consisted of an annual physical and a blood panel, and usually, that was it. If there was nothing glaring in the reports that came back, I usually didn’t think about it again for another year.
Be Proactive and Ask Questions
For some reason, we usually just accept what doctors tell us without pushing back, even if things seem wrong. Throughout my research into health and wellness over the last few years, I’ve decided this is wrong. We need to take responsibility for our bodies, and put ourselves in the driver’s seat when it comes to our medical care.
You can and should question your doctor. Ask for more information about diagnoses. Ask for more testing. Ask for the latest kinds of testing. Ask for monitoring for anything you have concerns about, even if the doctor doesn’t initiate the conversation. Ask for advice.
It’s your health and you’re paying for it, after all. A good doctor will understand why you’re doing it, and they will empower you with the right information. And if they don’t, you can always find a new one. I’ve done it plenty of times.
So, build your team, and I say “team” because it’s likely that all your needs won’t be found in a single provider. It’ll require you to do research and find the different specialists for what you’re testing and questions you have. But in taking ownership of your journey and doing the extra work to find the right people, you’ll position yourself to get the most out of the brilliant minds around you, and evolve in a way that very few people can.
For more advice on taking control of your health, you can find Unstoppable on Amazon.
David Hauser is a serial entrepreneur who launched several companies before he began high school. David spent his youth working more than one hundred hours a week, until he realized the toll it was taking on his mind, body, and life. After failing to see results from conventional wisdom, he decided to do what he does best: innovate. His unique journey to wellness has helped him realize his life’s purpose of empowering others to optimize their own lives by reclaiming their health. As David continues to evolve, he receives tremendous support from his partner, Dawn, and their three inspiring children.