1: Health Threats
Reduce the major threats to the health and well-being of Americans Other Information:
Research indicates that a significant percentage of premature mortality and morbidity in the United States can be prevented
if individuals avoid certain high-risk behaviors, adopt a healthy lifestyle, and reduce exposure to major environmental risks
to health. The strategic objectives under this goal focus Department efforts on changing behaviors and reducing the risks
that are associated with the leading causes of premature mortality and morbidity (e.g., heart disease and stroke) in the United
States. The importance of this goal is evident from the health and economic consequences of the behaviors that are addressed.
A recent HHS report (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Prevention Makes Common ‘Cents’”. Washington, D.C.: U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, 2003.), found that, - Tobacco use is the single most preventable risk factor for
death and disease, contributing to more than 440,000 premature deaths annually in the United States from 1995-1999. - Recent
estimates indicated that more than 129 million U.S. adults are considered to be overweight or obese. Obesity is believed to
be associated with more chronic disorders and worse physical health-related quality of life than is smoking or problem drinking.
Estimates of the deaths of U.S. adults due to causes related to obesity range from 280,000 to 325,000 each year. - In 2000,
it was estimated that 17 million people – 6.2 percent of the population – had diabetes. Untreated or poorly treated diabetes
can result in death or significant disability, including heart disease and stroke, kidney failure, blindness, and lower limb
amputations. - Heart disease and stroke are the first and third leading causes of death in the United States, respectively,
in both men and women. The costs of cardiovascular disease have steadily increased past the -300 billion dollar mark over
the past three years. - Asthma is the 6th-ranking chronic condition among the general U.S. population in terms of prevalence
and the leading serious chronic illness of children in the U.S. Both the prevalence and costs of asthma have increased markedly
over the past decade and a half. Other examples include, - Alcohol abuse exacts a financial toll on the nation, costing over
-166 billion annually by some estimates.2 - Drug abuse, estimated to cost society over -100 billion per year, is linked to
other public health problems, such as suicide, homicide, motor-vehicle injury, sexually transmitted diseases, and HIV infection.
Objective(s):
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