Health With a Capital H

The adverse consequences associated with poor Health are well chronicled, from overweight and obesity to diabetes and arthritis. The Nation’s economic downturn hasn’t helped the situation at all. In fact, according to data from an American Heart Association poll, nearly 60 percent of those surveyed admitted that the economy has adversely affected their ability to take care of their Health. Over a third of respondents reported skipping their preventive care appointments, not taking medications as prescribed, or foregoing dental visits, while a quarter of those surveyed reported that they had canceled gym memberships within the past 6 months.