Every day patients come to doctors’ offices seeking remedies to the same problems associated with aging: weight gain around the waist, thinning hair, decrease in sexual activity, forgetfulness (did I switch off the stove after warming up the snack at night?) and so on.
Only among Americans, about 77% were born after 1939, and are now noticing signs of aging in the mirror, on the scales and at job placements.
Anti-aging medicine means such use of different kinds of therapy, with the help of which we can detect early, prevent, cure or stop the process of bodily dysfunctions and diseases associated with aging thereby making the quality of life better and prolonging it. Anti-aging medicine is the very new concept of public health service in new millennium.
The main causes of death have changed due to improvement in sanitary conditions and control of infectious diseases at the end of the 20th century. According to current statistics, cardiovascular diseases cause about 31.4% of all deaths, cancer is at 23.3%, and stroke is at 6.9% (statistical data based on US population). These types of disorders are known as “typical aging illnesses” and absorb 50% of American healthcare budget. About one hundred million of Americans currently receive treatment for age-related illnesses associated with aging.
All illnesses can really be divided into 4 categories: the first three are genetically inherited, infectious diseases and traumas – these take up about 10% of public healthcare budget. The rest 90% is spent on intensified treatment during last 2-3 years of life.
If we really intend to influence the development of public healthcare system in our country and all over the world, we must concentrate on prevention of age-related illnesses. Presently, U.S. government spends about 350 billion dollars (3.5% of GDP) on medical service of aging adults. During the next two decades this figure will double. In the next 40 years, Washington will spend on public health service 50% more than on national security. By the year 2075, experts have estimated that the medical healthcare expenses will reach 14.5% of GDP. According the insurance companies statistics, expenses for healthcare services of one American, older than 65, will be 10,000 dollars. However, widespread of anti-aging medicine will let many people to diagnose early and prevent age-related illnesses. Consequently, the cost of treatment will be lowered since illnesses will not be neglected by treated at the onset, if not even prevented altogether. Early diagnostic and treatment will make the population healthier.
