This may be their way of recognizing and valuing that time in their history. These cultures usually prefer traditional approaches to healing rather than accepting each new procedure or medication that comes out. People with a predominantly present time orientation may be less likely to utilize preventive health measures. They reason that there is no point taking a pill for hypertension when they feel fine, especially if the pill is expensive and inconveniently causes unpleasant side effects. They do not look ahead in hope of preventing a stroke or heart attack, or they may feel they will deal with it when it happens.
Poverty often forces people into a present time orientation.
They are not likely to make plans for the future when they are concerned with surviving today. Middle-class white American culture tends to be future oriented . That is reflected in the medical system's stress on preventive medicine and enthusiasm for each new medical technique or drug. In contrast to past-oriented cultures, progress and change are highly valued. China is also shifting to a future orientation, as evidenced by the long-term plan to reduce the country's population by limiting family size.