How do we move forward after COVID?
Health is wealth, well at least for most people. COVID-19 was responsible for our most recent pandemic that had seemingly stopped the world. Aside from staying home and figuring out what to do with this new found free time, many of us have suffered from this virus either firsthand or through loved ones. COVID-19 has affected the world in many ways including an abnormal spike in the number of death rates as a result of the virus. There has been a production of vaccinations to help prevent the spread of the virus through several companies each with their own respective side-effects. Despite these efforts, those who have had and recovered from COVID-19 still have some issues they may have to face. COVID-19 has increased risks in health that demand a solution that is lasting.
It is no secret that the United States ranks much higher than many countries when it comes to heart diseases due to obesity, poor diet, and physical inactivity. Data shows that the death rate from heart disease had about a 7.5% increase during the pandemic when comparing the year’s death rate from 2019 to 2020. It is true that correlation does not equal causation, however after further research it has been discovered that “Even a mild infection with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) may increase your risk of a heart attack, stroke, or heart failure up to a year after you recover from the infection, as reported in the July 2022 Heart Letter” (Corliss). This discovery further supports the threat COVID-19 has to the causes of death due to diseases of the heart.
Although it is important to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and its variants, it would also be wise to implement healthy habits amongst Americans. Through CDC data there is a clear indicator that there was a somewhat steady decline in death rates in relation to disease of the heart until COVID-19 which may indicate a steady improvement in medicine. The question remains, how do we encourage people to take care of themselves beyond the vaccine? It is clear that COVID-19 has a greater negative impact on the overall health of Americans, but considering the long term effects it is important for Americans to have healthy habits.
Finding a solution to this problem has proven difficult. There must be more than one method to solve this type of problem. One method I would suggest to improve overall American health is to educate and raise awareness, this can be done through schools and health literacy programs. Awareness campaigns may also prove to be effective, similar to those to raise awareness with drinking and driving. Another method I would suggest and would argue is the most important is access to either free or affordable healthcare. This is a vital step in improving American health because access to healthcare would help with preventative care and treatment for known health issues. Some ways we have implemented to improve health choices is the sugar tax as seen in Boulder, Colorado. This is an extra tax placed on sugar sweetened beverages to discourage the consumption of them. One not so obvious solution would be geared towards mental health. Oftentimes, it is our mental health that affects our eating habits. True enough these solutions will not stop a pandemic, however these are ways to improve overall health which in turn will create more resilient citizens.
COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on the entire world in so many ways. When looking into the data provided by the CDC it is clear that COVID-19 has had a lingering effect. Health is not something that should be taken lightly when we have seen what a pandemic can do to people not only during the event, but in the long run as well. If Americans focus on health issues already at hand, such as those of the heart and many others, they will be better able to prevent worse case scenarios when it comes to unforeseen events like this. Free healthcare will probably put the U.S. into further debt, but what could be more important than the wellbeing of its citizens? Easier said than done, however let us not forget that health is wealth.
