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According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), the
United States spends more per capita than any other country on health, and the
rate of spending is increasing.
In 2003, national health care expenditures in the U.S. totaled more than $1.7
trillion, a 7.7 percent increase, compared with 9.3 percent in 2002 and 8.5
percent in 2001 (CDC).
According the to American Institute for Preventive Medicine (AIPM), 50% of
corporate profits now go toward healthcare costs versus only 7% three decades
ago.
It is estimated that each year, over $33 billion in medical costs and $9
billion in lost productivity are due to heart disease, cancer, stroke and
diabetes and are attributable to lifestyle choices such as diet and exercise
(CDC).
In 2006, the cost of heart disease and stroke in the U.S. is projected to be
$403 billion; including healthcare expenditures and lost productivity from death and disability (CDC).
The direct medical costs associated with smoking total more than $75 billion
per year. In addition, smoking costs an estimated $80 billion per year in lost
productivity (CDC).
Almost one-third of U.S. healthcare costs, or $300 billion each year, are for
older adults. Healthcare spending will increase by 25% between 2000 and 2030
simply because a larger percentage of the population is older than 65 (CDC).
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According to U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, for every 100
workers in this country:
27 have cardiovascular disease
24 have high blood pressure
50 or more have high cholesterol
26 are overweight by 20% or more
10 are heavy drinkers
59 dont get adequate exercise
44 suffer from stress
Heart disease and strokethe principal components of cardiovascular
diseaseare the first and third leading causes of death in the U.S., accounting
for nearly 40% of all deaths (CDC).
About 90% of middle-aged Americans will develop high blood pressure in their
lifetime, and nearly 70% of those who have it now do not have it under control
(CDC).
In 2000, more than 105 million people were told that they had high total
blood cholesterol levels (200 mg/dL or higher) (CDC).
About 30% of U.S. adults are obese 30 or more pounds over a healthy weight.
That's up from 23% in the late 1980s and 15% in the late 1970s (USATODAY.com).
In the last 10 years, obesity rates have increased by more than 60% among
adults. Approximately 60 million adults are obese (CDC).
About 70 million Americans (almost one-fourth of the total population) have
some form of cardiovascular disease, which is responsible for more than six
million hospitalizations each year (CDC).
Heart disease is the leading cause of death, cancer is the second leading
cause of death, stroke is the third leading cause of death and chronic lower
respiratory diseases (CLRD) is the fourth leading cause of death (CDC).
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According to the Healthy Lifestyles and Prevention (HeLP) America Act of
2004, only two percent of annual healthcare spending in the U.S. goes toward
the prevention of chronic disease.
The U.S. Census Bureau predicts that the U.S. population is going to grow by
50 million between 2000 and 2020, and those people will need primary care.
The most frequently diagnosed cancer sites in males are prostate, followed by
lung and bronchus, and colon and rectum (CDC).
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among females (CDC).
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In the June 2003 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, it was
documented that only 55% of recommended preventive care is administered, and
only 52% of recommended screening is performed.
According to HeLP, 38.2% of all deaths in 2000 were due to just a few
avoidable factors: tobacco use; poor nutrition and physical inactivity; and
alcohol consumption.
Despite the proven benefits of physical activity, more than 50% of American
adults do not get enough physical activity to provide health benefits (CDC).
Unhealthy diet and physical inactivity play an important role in many chronic
diseases and conditions, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart
disease, stroke, breast cancer, colon cancer, gallbladder disease and arthritis
(CDC).
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