Dr. Tanelian's Weblog

Tribute to a Great Man

May we all remember the sincerity and humility of Tim Russert. Let me say, he represented, “Patronization is Not the Road to Success.” Truly, we have all benefited from his candor. Tim Russert lived his life with integrity; he “walked the walk to talk the talk.”

Rather than telling him and he accepting and understanding the truth about obesity, hypertension and heart disease I believe he fell into the conventional medical belief system that provides false hopes of living a “poor” lifestyle and getting away with it because the “experts” will save the day with their “magic” pills, “potions” and “procedures”. He fell into “car repair” complacency that conveniently treats LIFE as an inanimate object, which can be as easily replaced as a carburetor.

Tim Russert, I believe would like his life to carry on benefiting many future generations and this can be best accomplished by everyone acknowledging the value of PREVENTION of disease before it prematurely shortens one’s lifetime.

As Thomas Edison (1847-1931) so aptly phrased it, “The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest her or his patients in the care of the human frame, in a proper diet, and on the cause and prevention of disease.”

May this message resonate during everyone’s’ lifetime.

Darrell L. Tanelian, M.D., Ph.D.

Our Nation’s Number One Concern – HEALTH CARE

Every hour we are bombarded with the cost of gasoline on the news. It seems that our main focus or concern is the price of oil per barrel. Yes, this is a concern, but what should be our #1 concern is HEALTH CARE. This seems to have taken a back seat, been swept under the carpet, or just simply ignored.

The US uses 20.8 million barrels of oil per day (2007 CIA Factbook), which is about 1 trillion dollars per year or $8.98 per day for each American. In 2007, the US spent 2.3 trillion dollars or $20.90 dollars per day for each American on healthcare and this is projected to increase to 4.2 trllion dollars (6.9%/yr) or $30.28 dollars per day for each American by 2016 (US Govt. Accounting Office). Remember, these are average costs and the cost of health care actually increases, as we get older. HEALTH CARE EXPENDITURE AND THE HEALTH OF OUR NATION ARE OUR #1 CONCERNS!

Why are these real and relevant facts not told to us by our politicians and reported on the news? Are we expected to live our lives in Disneyland until the economic reality of healthcare (SICK CARE) hits us on the head? The fact is that our nations #1 concern should be HEALTH CARE and in order to correct our ailing economy and provide a future for our children we must become healthy. The fact is that the ONLY way to correct our ailing population and economy is to have healthy people and the ONLY way to achieve this is by PREVENTION OF DISEASE AND LEADING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE.

This idea is not new, rather it has been promoted for thousands of years, yet we continue to ignore it and sweep it under the carpet. Rome did not heed the words of Pliny the Elder (23 AD – 79 AD) who insisted that the health of the Roman Empire depended upon the health and fitness of its people; who if healthy, would always be ready and prepared to defend their country. Unfortunately, his advice was not heeded and the Roman people became obese and unfit, leading to their demise by the mercenary armies they hired. Franklin D. Roosevelt reiterated the words of Pliny the Elder in 1940 when he said, “The total defense which this nation seeks involves a great deal more than building airplanes, ships, guns and bombs. We cannot be a strong nation unless we are a healthy nation.”

THESE STATEMENTS ARE MORE TRUE TODAY THAN EVER?

Darrell L. Tanelian, M.D., Ph.D.