Chronic diseases are the number one cause of death and disability in the U.S.—accounting for 70% of all deaths and more than 75% of the $2 trillion the US spent on health care during 2005.

Most of us know personally the devastation caused by chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease and diabetes. It’s overwhelming—but there is something everyone can do.

Take a look at this video produced by the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD)—pass it on to everyone you know—and VOTE.

As a member of the Advisory Board for PFCD, I want to make sure everyone “votes…like your health depends on it.”

The next President of the United States MUST make health reform a national priority. If not, the already staggering statistics will only get worse. Here’s the reality of what the new President will face:

- 133 million Americans – 45% of the population – have at least one chronic disease

- Chronic diseases are responsible for 7 out of every10 deaths in the U.S., killing more than 1.7 million Americans every year.

- People with chronic conditions are the most frequent users of health care in the U.S.: They account for 81% of hospital admissions; 91% of all prescriptions filled; and 76% of all physician visits.

- Health care coverage costs for people with a chronic condition average $6,032 annually – five times higher than for those without such a condition.

There is much the new administration can do to turn things around. Getting a handle on chronic disease – many of which are preventable – will be essential.

This entry was posted on Monday, November 3rd, 2008 at 10:37 am and is filed under Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.