Sicko and Bill Clinton on Health and Wellness Trends

Have you watched Sicko already? It is very worth doing so.

In order to help put the health problem we are living in better perspective, let me share now some of the insights and advice that Bill Clinton gave us in San Francisco recently at the Healthetc event sponsored by California Pacific Medical Center and KCBS.

Some of the speech highlights:

1) Clinton's great overview of key comparative data:

* 16 vs 10-11: % GDP spent on health care in the US vs. other industrialized countries. This percentage difference equals around $800 billion annually!

* 84 vs 100: % population with some form of health insurance in the US vs. other countries

* 34 and 37: ranking of the US system as measured by health outcomes and life expectancy, respectively

* 34 vs 19: % health care costs spent on administration in the US vs. other countries

2) President Clinton then outlined the 3 main problems with US Healthcare as follows, empathizing that any serious, long-term solution needs to address these 3 elements as a whole:

* immoral unequal coverage, where a large percentage of citizens lack access to quality care

* inefficient system: we pay more for less, as you could see in Sicko

* we still focus more on disease than on health. But he is hopeful about an increasing focus on wellness, absolutely necessary to alleviate future cost pressures

3) Now, let's reflect on couple of (approximate) quotes with profound wisdom

* "I am a testimonial for the best of American medicine. Given my heart problems, it is a miracle I am here with you today. These days I cannot stay more than 5 minutes in a bad mood, because I remind myself how fortunate I am simply to be alive"

* (when people were clapping and cheering to easy "sound bites" while he was still trying to make a complex point) "Please stop. I don't want you to boo or cheer, simply to think on your own"

Amazing words.

In the afternoon, after his speech, we spent some time talking with health providers and attending some panels, such as the one put together by the Alzheimer's Association on ways to prevent or delay Alzheimer's.

We were surprised at the amount of education still needed to make the medical and health community incorporate science-based advice on lifelong learning and mental stimulation on top of "traditional" advice around nutrition and physical exercise. The Alzheimer's Association is being one of the pioneers with their "Maintain Your Brain" campaign, suggesting a comprehensive set of health and wellness guidelines we should all follow:

1) Stay mentally active: "Mentally stimulating activities strengthen brain cells and the connections between them, and may even create new nerve cells."

2) Remain socially active: "Social activity not only makes physical and mental activity more enjoyable, it can reduce stress levels, which helps maintain healthy connections among brain cells"

3) Stay physically active: "Physical exercise is essential for maintaining good blood flow to the brain as well as to encourage new brain cells. It also can significantly reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and diabetes, and thereby protect against those risk factors for Alzheimer's and other dementias."

4) Adopt a brain-healthy diet: "Research suggests that high cholesterol may contribute to stroke and brain cell damage. A low fat, low cholesterol diet is advisable. And there is growing evidence that a diet rich in dark vegetables and fruits, which contain antioxidants, may help protect brain cells."

No doubt, Bill Clinton would agree with the importance of these guidelines to ensure Baby Boomers can age in a healthy way and prevent the health care system from being overwhelmed with Alzheimer's related costs.

Let's watch with attention what the presidential candidates propose to deal with this situation.

Copyright (c) 2007 SharpBrains

Alvaro Fernandez is the CEO and Co-Founder of SharpBrains, which provides the latest science-based information for Brain Health and Brain Fitness, and has been recognized by Scientific American Mind, CBS, Forbes, and more. Alvaro holds MA in Education and MBA from Stanford University, and teaches The Science of Brain Health at UC-Berkeley Lifelong Learning Institute. Learn more at http://www.sharpbrains.com/hottopics.Creating Business Cards
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College Accreditation: Is Your College Accredited By A Legitimate Accreditor?

So who accredits the accreditors?

One thing you need to know is that not all accreditation associations are legitimate. It is not uncommon to see a diploma mill creating its own accrediting authority and then granting itself Accreditation. This is an important issue to look at before you settle for the claim that your college is accredited.

How do you know whether a college or university is accredited by a legitimate authority? You should be able to tell that very easily because in the United States, there are two organizations that accredit the accreditors. These are:

The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) which is a voluntary nongovernmental organization.

The United States department of Education

Over 70 accrediting associations in the United States are recognized by either CHEA or the U.S Department of Education. Sometimes the college or university may be recognized by both.

Established in 1976 CHEA was established through the efforts of a group of college and university presidents and it is accountable to its member institutions of higher learning. It also acts as a clearinghouse on accreditation for the higher education institutions.

For Canadian accreditation, all the schools are regulated by provincial governments as well as some agencies that perform this function for professional programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. If a college or university is a member of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, then it is assumed that the institution is providing acceptable and credible education

So before you assume a college or university has the right accreditation, confirm with the respective accrediting authorities.

Rose Musyoka is the editor of http://www.distance-learning-college-guide.com where you find information and advice on distance learning colleges, accredited online online degrees and online courses. Learn more about what college accreditation is and why it is important to your education at http://www.distance-learning-college-guide.com/college-accreditation.htmlDedicated Hosting Providers
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