If you live in Japan you're probably
feeling pretty good. The quality of health there is ranked number one in
the world If you live in the U.S. it's a different story, and not one
to feel good about.
America's health score ranks close to the
bottom. Where the nation soars to the top is in money spent on health
care—billions of dollars more than any other country.
Readers of the global study will
naturally want to know the secret of Japan's success. The spoiler is
that no one knows exactly. Some experts go as far as to say that it's a
combination of factors, but that's about as certain as it gets.
Being someone who's interested health
care trends throughout the world Russ Gerber wanted to learn more
myself, so he decided to take his own informal survey.
While in Tokyo on business recently Russ
asked several Japanese acquaintances about their health care practices
and lifestyles to see if he could get some hint as to what's behind the
extraordinary ranking.
With one exception their responses were
all over the map. They credited everything from strict dietary
practices, to the safety net people feel having strong family and social
support in their lives, to being part of a culture that stays close to
tradition and is selective about what it accepts of Western values and
medicine.
But there was a common response that took me by surprise.
They were all quite matter of fact about
the superior health ranking. It was puzzling to them that such a routine
lifestyle as theirs would be viewed by anyone as extraordinary. The
consensus was that good health is normal, not exceptional, so what's the
big deal?
It may be this: that by contrast the rest of us struggle to think of health as normal.
Sound minds and bodies aren't talked
about a lot in the U.S. One reason is the medicalization of society,
according to Dr. Arthur J. Barsky, professor of psychiatry at Harvard
Medical School. In his book 'Worried Sick' he says: "We seem unable to
enjoy our good health, to translate it into feelings of well-being and
physical security. Rather, there is a sense of disease in the air."
If all the talk about ailments, being at
risk, fear and danger were just that — talk — it might be stretching it
to say this is a serious matter. The fact is that excessive fear and a
preoccupation with ill health is not inconsequential. Chronic worrying
is unhealthy.
What we're seeing today in the U.S. is a
pervasive pattern of shorter lives and poorer health, reports a panel of
experts convened by The National Research Council. That pattern is not
what anyone wants to call normal, but are we starting to think that it
is?
Some of Russ's acquaintances in Japan
brought up the point that spiritual pursuits were a normal part of their
otherwise busy lives, and shouldn't be marginalized as a contributing
factor. One person he spoke with was the CEO of an international
company, another was a strategic planner, and another was an active mom.
Their schedules were full, but they said they routinely devoted part of
their day to prayer and spiritual study. They strive to be kind and
forgiving, calm and patient. One woman spoke candidly about rebelling
against the fear of illness and how the symptoms of illness had quickly diminished and her health was restored as a result.
To someone listening in who lives in the
U.S., the conversation with this group might have been noteworthy more
for what was missing than for what was said. They weren't captivated by a
disease model of life. Instead, they quite naturally embraced health
and spirituality and seemed at peace about it all.
Just how much that group's viewpoint is
typical of Japanese society Russ Gerber can't say. What he saw happening
in their lives suggests that it feels good to live a life free from an
ailment-and-anxiety state of mind, as if aliments and anxiety were
unavoidable mindsets. Take it from them, they're not. Far from it.
So, their secret? It's not one, really. A
healthy state of mind is not only good for mind and body, it should be
normal for body, it should be normal for both.
Healthy life expectancy is the number of
years that a person can expect to live in good health. It takes into
account number of deaths as well as years of health lost to disability.
The United States tied Norway for 29th place in male healthy life expectancy and tied Estonia for 33rdplace in highest female healthy life expectancy.
Japan is the healthiest nation for men
and women, a title it was first given by same study in 1990. For men,
Singapore, Switzerland, and Spain ranked second, third, and fourth.
South Korea, Spain, and Singapore ranked highest for women.
Highest Male Healthy Life Expectancy:
- Japan
- Singapore
- Switzerland
- Spain
- Italy
- Australia
- Canada
- Andorra
- Israel
- South Korea
Highest Female Healthy Life Expectancy:
- Japan
- South Korea
- Spain
- Singapore
- Taiwan
- Switzerland
- Andorra
- Italy
- Australia
- France
Source : spot55.com
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