What's the cause of the health-care crisis? Look in the mirror

One of the emotional topics of discussion today is health care and Democrats and Republicans both have presented plans.

However, one of my mentors, Andrew Weil, M.D., believes that none of the plans will work because the fundamental problem with health care has not been addressed. In his recent book, "Why our Healthcare Matters," Dr. Weil puts forth a list of reasons why our current health care approach needs drastic revisions.

Health care is a vital issue and should not be dismissed. In some respects, the American medical system is the best in the world and is worth keeping. Overall, however, we are not doing a good job. We spend more than 16 percent of the gross domestic product on health care (more than any other industrialized nation) and stand just ahead of Croatia on a World Health Organization ranking of the world's health systems.

How is that possible? According to Dr. Weil, everyone in the health system - including patients - shares in the blame.

Quite simply, we spent too much money on disease maintenance and not enough on cure and prevention. In 2006, Americans spent over $280 billion dollars on medications alone ... almost the same amount spent by the rest of the world combined. In contrast, other industrialized nations keep their medical costs down by aggressively promoting healthy lifestyles.

Insurance companies bear major responsibility for the current health care crisis. The primary responsibility of an insurance company is to make a profit for the shareholders. There is little enthusiasm for prevention and health promotion.

Dr. Weil also believes that physicians also bear some of the responsibility. Although we work harder than physicians in other technological societies, our efforts have not made much of a dent in the health of our nation. Many chronic conditions like diabetes, arthritis and obesity are increasing despite technology and medications. As a group, physicians have not kept up with the changing picture of illness - less acute and more chronic. The sad realization is that the majority of chronic illnesses are correctable or curable by simple lifestyle changes...diet, stress reduction, sleep and exercise.

We are the biggest contributors to the current health care crisis. We, as a people, eat too much and too much of the wrong food, exercise too little, suffer too much stress and don't get enough sleep. In 2008, 63 percent of Americans were overweight or obese, 8 to 10 percent of the population has diabetes and prescription sales exceeded $291 billion with Lipitor, a cholesterol-lowering drug, leading the way. We develop illness at a younger age than our parents and our children are developing chronic illness even faster.

With the current approach to health care - treat illness and discount prevention - the existing health care approach (Democrat or Republican) is guaranteed to fail.

According to Dr. Weil, the only real solution is a complete retooling of the health care system so that it emphasizes prevention and health promotion rather than simply treating disease. I enthusiastically agree.

•Patrick B. Massey, M.D., Ph.D is medical director for complementary and alternative medicine for the Alexian Brothers Hospital Network.