Cold And Flu Season Made More Dangerous By The Failing Health Care System

Jan 20
17:53

2011

Patrick Daniels

Patrick Daniels

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The unemployment rate is up and as a result the number of uninsured Americans is growing out of control. Year after year there are less people covered by health insurance and this means that there are more sick people walking around in our stores and in our schools.

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The unemployment rate is up and as a result the number of uninsured Americans is growing out of control. Year after year there are less people covered by health insurance and this means that there are more sick people walking around in our stores and in our schools. Essentially,Cold And Flu Season Made More Dangerous By The Failing Health Care System Articles while many people think that those living without health insurance in this country are not their responsibility the truth is that having these individuals walking around contaminating everyone they come in contact with is.

This is the time of the year when many contagious diseases are most prevalent. Colds, strep throat, sinus infections and flu are rampant during these months and can easily be transmitted at work, school and stores. Those who don't have health care will find themselves lingering with these ailments for a longer period of time, infecting more people, and run the risk of something as small as a cold turn into full fledge pneumonia. Those individuals are a health risk to the community.

Without the means to go to a doctor, their ailments linger longer than necessary. They find themselves going to work when they really need to be in bed resting but unfortunately the uninsured usually cannot afford to stay home and get the rest they need. If they have sick children, they are sent to school because they can't afford someone to stay with their children and now the children contaminate other children. The cycle continues with what appears to be no end in sight.

Individuals who don't have health care coverage aren't taking preventive measures to fight off any illness during the winter months. Vaccinations that could have prevented the flu aren't being utilized because they don't have the coverage. These illnesses can be passed around many times and can result in higher medical expenses for those with coverage as they may get ill more than once during the flu season.

This medical issue should be a concern for everyone. One can no longer let the uninsured fend for themselves as they do pose a health crisis for everyone. It will be interesting to see the health statistics of this winter and those that follow as unemployment continues to rise and puts more people in the position of not having any health insurance.