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U.S. Health-Care System Ranks as One of the Least-Efficient

  • September 30, 2016

In a study of 55 countries, Bloomberg reports that the U.S. health care system is the one of the most inefficient in the world, ranking an abysmal 50th place in life expectancy and related health care spending.

I’ve been saying for a long time that U.S. health care is one of the most expensive and worst performing. For the costs involved, you might assume Americans enjoy the best health care in the world, but this would be a mistaken assumption. Other reports have shown that the U.S. ranks last or near-last in all aspects of health care, from access and equity to efficiency.

Coupled with the fact that medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the U.S., you can’t help but wonder what’s happening here. Part of the problem is that many tests and treatments do more harm than good. And, once you’re hospitalized, the chances of getting sicker while you’re there from such things as infections or surgery mistakes, go up.

Since you can’t fix a problem this big all by yourself, the best thing to do is follow some basic tenets of optimal health so you can stay well and out of the doctor’s office: eat real foods composed of whole, unprocessed, ideally organic foods. Avoid sitting. Get plenty of non-exercise movement, as well as high-intensity exercise. Maintain a healthy gut with fermented foods, optimize your vitamin D levels and get plenty of high-quality sleep.