The information presented here has
been reviewed by experts at the City of Detroit Department of Health
and Wellness. It is not a tool for self-diagnosis or substitute for
medical treatment. You should speak to your physician if you have
questions or concerns about this information or your medical condition.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), chronic diseases today account for 70% of American deaths and 75% of this country’s annual health care costs. It is important to know that most chronic conditions can be prevented through healthy lifestyles. This includes eating healthy, enjoying regular physical activity and seeing a health care provider on a regular basis for check-ups and screenings.
Thanks to improvements in technology and public health information, Americans are living longer, healthier lives. Many of the health behaviors people have are learned during childhood. For today’s youth, this means eating more fast- and junk-food and living a more sedentary (lack of physical activity) lifestyle. Likewise, many chronic conditions begin developing in our youth. The poor health behaviors of youth and the increase in life expectancy has brought an increase in the prevalence of chronic conditions for everyone ranging from children to the elderly.
Chronic conditions impose an enormous financial and societal burden on the United States. Unless we take steps now to deal effectively with chronic diseases, our nation is headed for a serious financial and quality of life crisis. Using preventive care reduces the likelihood of certain types of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and obesity related ailments. Thus, preventive healthcare is vital and effective in improving the quality of life