Blog-Wa, the Dog-Wa Blog

The White House Council of Economic Advisers says healthcare spending, which currently accounts for about 18 percent of the country’s economic output, could reach 34 percent by 2040 if the current rate of cost growth continues.

We all know that aging baby boomers are placing a tremendous demand on our healthcare system which will only increase over the coming decades.  So both costs and demand for healthcare are on a trajectory to crisis.

It is clear that kind of growth rate is unsustainable.

On a positive note, healthcare providers who have long fought fundamental change to the American healthcare system have now committed to contain soaring healthcare costs in the next decade.  We don’t know what kind of real cost control we will see, but at least there is a growing consensus that something has to be done.

So everyone agrees that the cost of healthcare in America is the single largest driver of unsustainable long-term spending.  And cutting the growth rate of healthcare costs is incredibly important not just for the American people but for the American economy.

That is why it is so disturbing to see this article from Reuters, which reports that the number of middle-aged and older Americans who eat right, exercise, and keep their weight down has declined substantially in the past two decades.  The study suggests that we can expect to see more diabetes, heart disease, and other severe and life-threatening diseases as a result of the changed behavior in Americans between the ages of 40 and 74.

So how can we all do our part to address these problems now?

Each of us, as individuals, can commit to a few simple changes in our lifestyle that have a dramatic impact on our overall health, longevity, and quality of life.

The basics include exercise, reducing or quitting smoking, controlling daily intake of alcohol, getting our fruits and veggies, and maintaining a healthy weight.  The key is to set realistic goals, both short-term and long-term.  Commit to your goals, fully and faithfully.  And don’t beat yourself up if you fall short of your goals.  That only sets you up to get discouraged and quit pursuing your goals altogether.

Here’s something very simple:  commit to walking your dog as part of your health routine.  Walks are an excellent time to bond with your dog, to commune with nature, and to get to know your neighbors.  The exercise you get will benefit you and your dog.  It’s a very small step.

But imagine if all of the dog guardians in the United States committed to extended walks with their dogs at least 12 times a month.  The impact on the health of Americans and their dogs would improve measurably.  Think healthier hearts, less obesity, fewer cases of diabetes, higher quality of life.  That wouldn’t just be good for you and your dog.  It would also contribute positively to reducing the demand for healthcare all across the nation.

Who woulda thunk it – making time for regular dog walks is one we can help to get the economy of the United States back on the right path.

(Oh, and then there’s that pesky issue of getting all of your daily servings of fruits and vegetables.  That can be a little tricky for dog owners, but it isn’t a worry for your dog.  You just do that with Dog-Wa, right?)

Update of June 2, 2009:  Here’s an interesting tidbit about incorporating walking into running, and how the two can work together.