Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Chronic Disease: The Facts
Five chronic diseases - heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes - cause 7 of every 10 (more than 1.7 million) deaths in the United States each year.
Chronic, disabling conditions cause major limitations in activity for more than one of every 10 Americans, or 25 million people.
Medical care for people with chronic diseases accounts for more than 75 percent of the $1.4 trillion we spend annually as a nation on medical care.
*All data are age adjusted to 2000 total U.S. population. (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Preventing Chronic Disease and Promoting Health
In addition to being among the most prevalent and costly health conditions, chronic diseases are also among the most preventable of all health problems.
$5.6 billion in heart disease costs could be saved if 10 percent of adults began a regular walking program.
Of the 50 million US adults with high blood pressure, 70 percent of them do not have their blood pressure under control.
Colorectal cancer screening can reduce the number of colon cancer deaths by at least 30 percent.
A mammogram every 1-2 years for women aged 40 years and older reduces the risk of death from breast cancer by about 16 percent.
Regular eye exams/timely treatment could prevent up to 90 percent of diabetes-related blindness. Regular foot examinations/patient education could prevent up to 85 percent of diabetes related amputations.
Tobacco use is the single most preventable U. S. cause of death.
Physical inactivity contributes to disease and disability, accounting for 22 percent of colon cancer, 18 percent of osteoporotic fractures, and 12 percent of diabetes and hypertension.
Policymakers can contribute to reducing the prevalence, health effects and costs of chronic disease by:
- Promoting health and wellness programs at schools, worksites, healthcare and community-based settings.
- Enacting policies that promote healthy choices and healthy environments.
- Ensuring access to a full range of quality health services.
- Supporting implementation of programs that focus on eliminating racial, ethnic, and socio-economic based health disparities.
- Supporting efforts to effectively educate the public about their health and prevention of chronic disease.
It is also important to ensure quality care for those with chronic conditions.
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