Common Cold costs US economy 40 billion per year

[justint]

from health Canada

 

[tcsenter]

Common Cold costs US economy 40 billion per year

What is interesting is that, every one has their own "[insert issue here] costs the US [insert some wild figure here]" statistic. You know, like "Insurance fraud costs the US economy...blah blah" or "Medical mistakes costs the US economy..." or "Gun violence costs the US taxpayers..." or "HIV and AIDs costs the US economy..." and a thousand others.

If you take 30 or 40 of the most commonly cited ones, and them up, they exceed the combined economic output of the United States in US dollars. I did it a few years ago, I should have saved it.

 

[rh71]

Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup.

 

[brxndxn]

How the hell does it cost the economy anything?

People buy imported cough syrup and cough drops?

 

[prodigy]

http://www.yogitea.com/HealingFormulas/HealingFormulaTeas.asp?Tea_ID=HF22

Let that brew for 15-20 mins. It will taste nasty, but it works.

 

[XZeroII]

you mean the Common Cold helps the US economy by 40 billion/year?

 

[yowolabi]

Originally posted by: tcsenter

Common Cold costs US economy 40 billion per year

What is interesting is that, every one has their own "[insert issue here] costs the US [insert some wild figure here]" statistic. You know, like "Insurance fraud costs the US economy...blah blah" or "Medical mistakes costs the US economy..." or "Gun violence costs the US taxpayers..." or "HIV and AIDs costs the US economy..." and a thousand others.

If you take 30 or 40 of the most commonly cited ones, and them up, they exceed the combined economic output of the United States in US dollars. I did it a few years ago, I should have saved it.

Very good point. Researchers love their junk statistics though.

Edit: I heard someone claim that invading Iraq will cost 30 billion. And that's just the payoff to a neighboring country that isn't fighting. LOL!!! Those researchers...

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

Originally posted by: brxndxn
How the hell does it cost the economy anything?

People buy imported cough syrup and cough drops?

All these 'cost the economy X amount of dollars' reports are bogus. That money is going somewhere, and somebody's getting rich off of it. The only exception to this I can think of is the actual sick days, those can actual cause a financial impact with no one else benefitting, but I seriously doubt that's anywhere close to $40 billion.

 

[Spyro]

Originally posted by: rh71
Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup.

 

[StageLeft]

I hardly ever take sick days! I'm healthy like bull.

 

[Aves]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I hardly ever take sick days! I'm healthy like bull.

I had to take one a couple of weeks back and it pissed me off. :|

I hate to miss work for illness.

 

[Talon]

University of Michigan article
JAMA abstract