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Surgeon General Releases Wellness Promotion Plan

The National Prevention Council Action Plan is the next step in implementing the National Prevention Strategy to tackle obesity, tobacco use, and chronic diseases.

  • Jun 14, 2012

U.S. Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin announced the release of the National Prevention Council Action Plan, described as the nation's first health and wellness road map, on June 13. It is the next step in implementing the National Prevention Strategy to tackle obesity, tobacco and drug use, excessive alcohol use, and chronic diseases, including asthma.

The council -- 17 federal departments and agencies, including Labor, DOT, Justice, HHS, EPA, Homeland Security, HUD, Agriculture, Defense, and Education -- was created by the Affordable Care Act to help move the nationh's health care focus from one based on sickness and disease to one based on prevention and wellness. The strategy was released last year.

"Currently, chronic diseases and conditions account for at least seven of every 10 deaths in our country, and many of these conditions are preventable," said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, a member of the council. "Our council's commitment to promoting health and preventing disease across each of our areas of responsibility is a commitment to helping Americans lead longer, healthier, and more productive lives."

All 17 agencies have agreed to increase tobacco-free environments and access to healthy, affordable foods. The plan lists more than 200 specific prevention and wellness actions federal agencies are already taking or plan to take.

"The National Prevention Council Action Plan is a road map to turning around the huge burden of chronic illness and health disparities that the nation and individual Americans currently bear," said Dr. Benjamin, who chairs the council. "I believe that prevention offers the greatest opportunity to improve the health of America's families, now and for decades to come."

Comments

Fri, Jun 22, 2012 Jeanine Broderick United States

I was highly disappointed that the National Prevention Council Action Plan: Implementing the National Prevention Strategy did not include taking advantage of the knowledge that exists regarding the impact of positive emotions on prevention across the board. I would be happy to participate in developing programs and recommendations to bring the advantages and known benefits of increased optimism and positivity to the country.
At least 12 different areas of scientific research have contributed to the growing body of information on the benefits of optimism and positivity.
A meta-analysis of 200 studies concluded that positivity and optimism reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by 50%.
Other known, scientifically proven benefits include:
• Improved immune system function
• Reduced risk of heart disease and stroke
• Reduced risk of Type II diabetes
• Reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease
• Reduced risk of depression
• Reduced incidence of illness
• Shorter duration when illness occurs
• Reduced inflammatory response to stress
• Reduced risk of cancer (including breast cancer) in cancers studied
• Increased longevity
• Lower blood pressure
• Less pain
• Improved sleep
• Greater resiliency and adaptability
• More likely to make good choices
• Increased creativity
• Increased success
• Increased productivity
• Increased optimism
• Improved relationships of all types
• Improved social support networks
• Becoming more likable
• Greater clarity of thinking; the mind sees more possibilities
• Increased ability to see the 'big picture'
I have developed classes that can teach anyone with the desire how to increase their level of optimism and positivity. It is not hard and not expensive to do.
The knowledge exists NOW. We have the ability to act on this knowledge NOW. Right now much of it exists in disparate fields. Gathering the information from these diverse fields of study is not commonly done. Positive psychologists tend to read studies published by other positive psychologists but not necessarily those by neuroscientists or quantum physicists. Each field has pieces of the puzzle. It is only my personal passion for this topic that has carried me from field to field, connecting the dots.
My passion for this subject has led me to connect the dots across scientific silos and the story the data provides in its entirety has the potential to make this world better for everyone.

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