It probably won’t be a scientific discovery that stops the crazy escalation of health care costs.

And it likely won’t be reforms to the way that insurance plans are structured, either. If we are ever really going to control health costs, it will almost certainly be with tools that already exist and are already known to us.

The trick is getting people to take better care of themselves and live healthier lives.

That’s why classes like the one being offered in Cumberland and York counties through the Southern Maine Agency on Aging are so important.

The workshop titled “Living Well for Better Health” is geared for seniors. It coaches people to make small but important changes in their diet and exercise habits that can keep them healthier.

This is designed to improve the quality of their lives, not cut their health costs, but the two go hand in hand.

Health education efforts that get people to quit smoking or lose weight help people feel better and live longer. They can also reduce the amount of money they spend on health services.

Not all disease is avoidable, but conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and some cancers can be prevented or controlled through the right lifestyle choices.

The Southern Maine Agency on Aging is doing the right thing by getting the message out to seniors. Other groups should do the same. While there is still a vigorous debate going on over how heath care should be financed, there is little dispute on one aspect: The cheapest medical treatment is avoiding health problems in the first place, and that’s why programs that help people make better choices are good investments.