Lifestyle-related behaviors account for half of the ten leading causes of death in the United States. Everyone pays lip service to preventive health care, but as is often the case, the numbers—which in this case are not encouraging—reveal the true concerns of people. Only 5% of the $1.4 trillion spent on direct health care in the United States goes to preventive health measures and the promotion of general health. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson recently likened this “to waiting for your car to break down before you take it in for maintenance.” Many do it, but it certainly isn’t the best approach if you want to keep going—on the road or in life!

Over 2,000 years ago, Hippocrates recognized the importance of the physician-patient relationship to providing care in the best interest of patients. The Oath he composed became the basis for the development of Western medicine.

Medical facilities and health plans are not subject to such an oath or duties. They are instead based on a business model, which suggests that they choose the most cost-effective practices. Since PHS (Preventive health services) commendations are based on practices that bring more benefit than risk, such recommendations should, therefore, be generally more cost effective, at least in the long run.

Preventing chronic and/or often-incurable diseases such certainly is preferable to long-term clinical treatment, with its associated suffering, limitations, and costs.

As the old adage says, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”