A short list of largely preventable maladies account for the lion's share of increases in health care bills over the past 20 years, according to a recent study. The "top 15" illnesses out of 370 account for a whopping 56 percent of the $200 billion jump in health-related spending from 1987-2000.

Of those 15 conditions, the following five diseases alone account for a third of the increase:

• Heart disease
• Pulmonary conditions
• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Mental disorders

Some liken the study to be a "road map" of sorts to reign in health costs, suggesting in some cases, those increased costs have ultimately saved dollars and provided better health care, particularly in regard to treating cataracts, depression, heart attacks and low-birthweight babies.

That said, the numbers, by themselves, are frightening: About 15 percent of this nation's gross national product (GNP) -- $1.6 trillion -- was spent on health care, a four percent climb from just 15 years ago. Health insurance costs have risen more than 12 percent annually over the past three years. Due to those increases, nearly 44 million Americans currently have no health coverage.

Authors of the study cited three reasons health care spending has increased:

1. More people suffer from disorders like diabetes and asthma
2. Some disease states are more costly to treat
3. The incidence of people being diagnosed with these popular illnesses has risen

Experts have argued through numerous studies that the investment Americans made on health care -- more than the citizens of any other industrialized nation -- hasn't made them any healthier. That's why more experts are seeing massive opportunities to improve the cost, effectiveness and value of health care.

One expert pointed to diabetes as a great example of a disease whose overall debt to the American health care crisis could be significantly lowered if patients followed established guidelines on exercise, diet and preventative measures. Another added that more emphasis on prevention and following a stricter "best practices" regimen would lessen cost increases and, generally, improve the health of Americans.

Instead of taking active approaches to prevent disease, most people believe health care is a "reactive" process in which people go to a doctor only when they're sick. That's regrettable, because most of the "top 15" illnesses could be prevented by taking simple and affordable measures.

Washington Post August 25, 2004

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

It's no surprise to me that the cost of health care on the conventional medicine side is skyrocketing. I find it encouraging, however, physicians are starting to understand that a stronger emphasis on prevention in the form of a diet and exercise program works far better to get to the real root of the problem than prescribing drugs that only "cure" symptoms. The backbone of my health care philosophy in my practice and on this Web site is a relatively simple one. Just as you are a unique individual in respect to anyone else, your body has a special biochemistry requiring both certain proportions and types of healthy carbohydrates, fats and proteins that differs from others. That's why "one-size-fits-all" diets that stress the eating regimen over the individual's physical needs almost never work. Modifying and optimizing your diet, based on your personal nutritional type, is a good start to fight and prevent disease. You can take that first step toward better health today by trying my free nutritional typing test. Once you've taken the test, you may want to learn more about my proven program that helps you prevent disease, optimize your health and live longer. If you do, consider my book Total Health Program. Related Articles: nutritional typing -- Your #1 Defense Against Toxic Metals 10 Profound Ways nutritional typing Will Help Your Health Japanese Doctor Finds Health With nutritional typing "I am Eating Healthy Organic Foods, So Why am I Still Feeling Miserable?" Finally, A Solid Answer! To Succeed at Any Diet, You Must Know Your nutritional type