Kathleen Grassi: Lifestyle choices are critical

Re “Ebola’s lesson? Get real on public health” (Perspective, Oct. 22) expressed an accurate summary of the current status of Ebola without minimizing the seriousness of this disease and its global ramifications.

Local relevance was brought into focus through your recognition of the varied ways in which public health intersects with our daily lives and our obligation to take responsibility as well as action. In the close relationship between public health and individual health, our wallets are impacted significantly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that over $2 trillion are spent annually in the U.S. on health care. A significant portion of these costs, roughly 75 percent, are related to chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity and overweight. The burden of disease and its costs can be prevented or mitigated by lifestyle choices.

I urge Merced County residents to join me in these commitments: Choose healthy foods and beverages. Be physically active. Don’t smoke. Stay current on recommended immunizations for yourself and your family. Buckle up. Become an established patient at a health care provider to obtain regular physical examinations. Most importantly, consider how we together can improve the fabric of our communities, so that all of us have options to promote health.

Thank you, Merced Sun-Star, for your clear messages in support of public health in our community.

This story was originally published November 1, 2014 at 10:06 AM with the headline "Kathleen Grassi: Lifestyle choices are critical."