Nationally Chronic

We live in a world where information is readily available. It is not like when I was growing up where if you thought of, or were asked a question, you had to ponder it incessantly until it was eventually discarded as you (at times aggravatingly) gave up as a result of not knowing.

An article in Forbes from November 2023, stated that as of February 2023, there were 1.13 billion websites in the world. 82% of these were deactivated which still means that approximately 200 million websites are currently active.

From a health and well being perspective, Digitalis shows The Healthcare SEO Trends for 2023 were as follows:

• 77% of people use search engines to begin their patient journey.

• 7% of all daily Google searches are health-related.

• 70,000 healthcare searches are performed every minute.

This data begs the question “Why are we, as a nation, so sick?” We have the information. We know what we all should be doing, and at the same time, not doing, to maintain a healthier lifestyle.

I am smart enough to know that I do not know what the answer is. I have read enough to know that there are multiple factors including socioeconomic status, accessibility to healthcare, education, and awareness, which all play roles.

There is also the psychological aspect. We know better, but… I am definitely guilty of this.

The CDC tells us that 6 in 10 adults in the US have a chronic disease, while 4 in 10 adults have 2 or more. The leading drivers of the nation’s $4.1 trillion health care costs are:

• Heart Disease

• Cancer

• Chronic Lung Disease

• Stroke

• Alzheimer’s Disease

• Diabetes

• Kidney Disease

The more I learn about healthcare statistics, costs, and other aspects of chronic disease, not limited to Kidney Disease, it feels like the less I know.

As someone with CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease) I am a part of the statistics. I try not to point fingers and be hypocritical. I am also doing my best, everyday, to be better. I understand that although I am a part of this great nation, I am an individual and it begins with me.

I have to be conscious of the choices I make; to be intentional about being healthier in all aspects.

My hope is that everyone who reads this adheres to this mindset (to the best of their ability) while encouraging others to do the same.

Please remember, I am not a medical professional, nor is any of this medical advice. I am just out here living A Kidney Life.