COVID Isn't Going Away — And That's a Wake-Up Call
COVID, as we're seeing with the new variants, is likely going to be around for a long time as a perennial sprout — something that may flare in certain areas and communities. It has also shown us that our health systems have their priorities in the wrong places. The more we can learn from the pandemic about how to re-prioritize health and disease prevention, the less likely those flare-ups will be.
An Ounce of Prevention
Governments around the world have been rightfully worried about a pandemic like this for years, and when we actually faced COVID, we largely failed when it came to containment and prevention. The old adage — an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure — applies to our healthcare system now more than ever.
Reactive Medicine vs. Preventive Medicine
Our healthcare system has been more reactive than preventive. For example, if you're diagnosed with diabetes, a doctor will often prescribe insulin rather than, years beforehand, checking your blood sugar regularly enough to catch and treat any warning signs with diet, exercise, supplements, and even medication.
What Prevention Actually Requires
Embracing a narrative of prevention can save more than money and suffering — it can save lives. That also means each of us learning more about our own health and well-being, so we can better recognize when we need help and put ourselves in the best possible position for good health.
Protecting the Most Vulnerable
Unfortunately, when a pandemic like COVID sweeps through, those living with chronic health conditions are most at risk. That reality shines a bright light on how much we need to retool our health system — not just to respond better to any future pandemic, but to help people find a genuine safety net of prevention.