How Does Chronic Disease Affect Society

Seven in ten deaths in the United States, are attributable to chronic disease (“Leading Causes” 1). These diseases are not on account of bacteria or viruses, which could be treated with an appropriate prescription or vaccine. Chronic conditions are developed through unhealthy lifestyles and behaviors such as a lack of exercise, poor nutrition, poor sleeping habits, and substance use (e.g. tobacco). Consequently, seven in ten of every death can be prevented with changes in lifestyle. The CDC states that these conditions, “are among the most common, costly, and preventable of all health problems” (“Chronic Disease” 1). Although these conditions have clear and definite causes (knowing the exact reason and “cure” for them), they are becoming more prevalent rather than domesticated. According to Wu and Green, “Between 2000 and 2030 the number of Americans with chronic conditions will increase by 37 percent, an increase of 46 million people” (1). This increase comes with an increase in health care costs: the CDC reported that the U.S. spent three trillion dollars on health care in 2014 (“Health Expenditures” 1). 86% of these costs was associated with these conditions (“Prevention” 1). Despite there being a range of causes of why patients make these choices, one issue that may be less familiar to others is the lack of knowledge in preventative medicine among health care professionals. Current training standards are not adequately educating or equipping health care professionals

There is broad evidence that Americans often do not get the care they need even though the United States spends more money per person on health care than any other nation in the world. Preventive care is underutilized, resulting in higher spending on complex, advanced diseases. Patients with chronic diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes all too often do not receive proven and effective treatments such as drug therapies or self management services to help them more effectively manage their conditions.

United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Healthy People 2020 (2018) recognizes cardiovascular disease as one of the most widespread and costly health problems in the United States, accounting approximately $320 billion in health care expenditures and related expenses annually. Healthy People 2020 (HP2020) identifies prevention of cardiovascular disease as one of the priorities and includes an objective “to increase overall cardiovascular health and quality of life for US population." (HHS, Healthy People 2020, 2018)

Many people throughout the United States (US) have some form of chronic disease. Chronic diseases are conditions that are not passed from person to person (noncommunicable), have a long duration, are commonly slow in progression, and generally have no cure (World Health Organization (WHO), n.d.b). Currently, chronic diseases are the leading cause of disability and death in the US and about half of all adults have at least one chronic illness (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2016b). This means that nearly every person in the US will be affected by chronic conditions whether it be personally or through loved ones having these diseases. The most prevalent types of chronic

The health of the American people lags behind those from other developed countries. Federal public health agencies have a wide range of responsibilities and functions which includes public health research, funding, and oversight of direct healthcare providers. It has been a long time since changes have been made to the way the federal government structures its health care roles and programs outside of Medicare and Medicaid (Trust, 2013). With healthcare reform on the horizon now is the time to invest time and money in prevention, not medicine, making it a top priority to improve health and prevent disease. Funding efforts at all levels of the public health continuum need to focus on developing programs aimed at such leading initiatives

Chronic illnesses are a vicious cycle where one illness often leads to another. Think about people being obsese due to inactivity and eating habits. Which in turns into hypertension, diabetes and heart disease and obsesity if not monitored. Not one disease can come alone. African American men are 30% more likely to die from heart disease. 3.7 million (14.7%) of all African Americans aged 20 years or older have diabetes and or suffer from Hypertension. Stress is also a factor in heart disease and hypertension. Obesity is assumed to pose a risk for diabetes. On the other hand, blacks are less likely to report a number of conditions so the mortality rate is

According to Mason et al., chronic conditions are the number one cause of death in the United States (Mason et al., 2016 p. 275). These chronic illnesses include pulmonary disease, arthritis, kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurological disease, alcoholism, mental health disorders, gastroenterology conditions, lupus, liver disease, cancers, and many more. While some conditions have uncontrollable risk factors such as age, genetics, gender, and race, society has a large contribution to these poor health conditions as well. Tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use, physical and emotional stress, lack of exercise, sleep deprivation, and poor dietary choices all increase the chance of developing a chronic illness.

Heart disease, also known as cardiovascular disease (CVD), is the leading cause of death in the world (World Health Organization [WHO], 2016). A depressing number of Americans are diagnosed with heart disease every year at 11.5% (Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] 2016a). With 1 in every 4 deaths being from heart disease, the national age adjusted death rate of 167 and over half of the deaths are from men, we can see that heart disease is a serious problem (CDC, 2016b; CDC, 2016c). Oklahoma is no exception, with a CVD related death rate of 228.1 (CDC, 2016d). Community and individuals are dependent upon the demographics and qualities of that community to determine their health. Currently, Oklahoma faces a number of issues that affect overall health, including cardiovascular health of the entire state and the included communities. Therefore, this paper will analyze CVD statistics in Oklahoma, compare data and demographic features to Minnesota, and discuss lifestyle risks related to Healthy People 2020.

As our country advances in the medical field, the costs of American healthcare expenditures are drastically increasing and the number of people purchasing medical coverage is declining. The United States healthcare system in contrast to others is recognized to be the most expensive and as a result more than fifty million American citizens are left uninsured, given the low income rate (Garson 1). Those who, in fact, purchase coverage are not properly protected, therefore other individuals do not bother wasting their money and purchasing healthcare. As soon as individuals are in need of medical attention, they happen to struggle with the preexisting conditions they suffer from because they cannot afford the desired aid. It is safe to say

Chronic diseases are a tremendous burden on the health care system. The best way to reduce this

This research study analyzes the publically available data from California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) 2011–2012 dataset. CHIS is the largest and most comprehensive state-based health survey in the United States. It is a population-based telephone survey of California’s population. CHIS is conducted by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research (UCLA-CHPR) in collaboration with the California Department of Public Health, the Department of Health Care Services, First 5 California, The California Endowment, the National Cancer Institute, and Kaiser Permanente (UCLA-CHPR, 2013). CHIS data and results are used extensively by federal and State agencies, local public health agencies and organizations, advocacy and

There is evidence that Americans often do not get the care they need. This is alarming because the United States spends more money per person on health-care than any other nation in the world. Health care in the United State is not used as effectively as it should be used; this results in higher spending on complex and chronic diseases. Patients who suffer from hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes often do not receive the health care and effective treatments such as drug therapies or self management services to help them more effectively manage their conditions. People with these diseases need more than medicine; they need the treatment and health education to help them know and understand their disease and be able to live a more healthy lifestyle. This is true for insured,

In 2012, about 56 million people died worldwide (“The Top 10 Causes of Death”). Killing more than 1.7 million Americans every year, seven out of every ten deaths in the United States are caused by chronic disease (The Growing Crisis of Chronic Disease in the United States). This results in an economic impact of 75% of health care costs (About Chronic Diseases). According to the National Health Council, “Four of the five most expensive health conditions (based on total health care spending in a given year in the United States) are chronic conditions- heart disease, cancer, mental disorders, and pulmonary conditions.” At the rate that the American population is going, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, by 2020, about

As millions of Americans suffer from the preventable illness and chronic disease, more than 75% of nation’s health spending is on treating the chronically ill people. The website

Chronic diseases are long lasting circumstance with enduring effects. It is becoming increasingly common and are a priority for action in the global health sector. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, dispatch on 8 major aggregations of chronic disease. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, arthritis, back pain, diabetes, asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease and mental health conditions.