Health Care Costs
Things You Can Do:
Step Up Physical Activity
The benefits of regular physical activity are many — we look better,
we feel better, and our overall health can improve. And that's
not all — by exercising regularly we can help control the rise
of health care costs for everyone. In fact, increasing regular
moderate physical activity among the more than 88 million inactive
Americans over the age of 15 years might reduce annual health care
costs by as much as $76.6 billion.
Being physically inactive significantly increases
the risk of developing many chronic diseases and conditions such
as heart disease, stroke, colon cancer, diabetes, obesity, arthritis,
and osteoporosis. Health care costs related to these conditions
total more than $600 billion nationally.
Fortunately, each of us has the power to impact our health and
health care costs by increasing our physical activity. Talk with
your doctor to find the best way to add physical activity to your
daily routine. Check with a local community center, senior center,
school or church for free or low-cost exercise classes and athletic
activities. By getting at least 30 minutes of moderate physical
exercise every day, you could improve your personal health while
helping control the rising cost of health care for everyone.
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