Health Care Issues in the Us

Health Care Issues in the United States

Detra Smith

Dr. Cynthia Davis

HSA 500 Health Services Organization

October 23, 2011

Our health is affected by many of behaviors, socioeconomic status, and social structures. According to our textbook, smoking, drinking, exposure to violence, and infectious agents affect our health a great deal. (Williams/Torrens 2010). Excessive alcohol consumption can be associated to numerous complications such as cirrhosis of the liver, various cancers intestinal disorders, and brain function deterioration. The use of cigarettes has been linked to lung and oral cancers, heart disease. Over the last 40 years reduction in the use of tobacco products has been a national goal. Government policy has been directed toward reducing morbidity and mortality by intervening in people’s destructive behavior. This includes increasing taxes on tobacco products, providing public education and awareness of the harmful side effects, and restricting the production and distribution. (Williams/Torrens 2010) Our diets are also affecting our health. We as a nation are consuming meals that are high in fat, sodium, and sugar. “Healthy foods” cost more so families or individuals who are living paycheck to paycheck will buy the more processed foods and buy a fast food meal. Our sexual behaviors are leading to the spread of communicable diseases such as AIDS, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. There needs to be more emphasis on educating the public and making them aware of what and how these STDs are spread. Teaching abstinence is great but what about the ones that are already sexually active? You can’t exclude them and expect them to teach themselves about STDs.

The three stages of medical technologies are: the development, diffusion, and utilization of health care technology. The first phase is mostly research that leads to the development of a drug, treatment, medical device, a piece of medical equipment. The length of time it takes to do the...