Urging Americans to take
responsibility for their health, Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy
Thompson on Tuesday launched a $15 million program to try to encourage
communities to do more to prevent chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer
and diabetes. The initiative highlights the cost of chronic
diseases—the leading causes of death in the United States—and outlines ways that
people can prevent them, including better diet and increased exercise.
"In the United States today, 7 of 10 deaths and the vast majority of
serious illness, disability and health care costs are caused by chronic
diseases," the Health and Human Services Department said in a
statement. The causes are often behavioral—smoking, poor eating
habits and a lack of exercise. "I am convinced that preventing
disease by promoting better health is a smart policy choice for our future,"
Thompson told a conference held to launch the initiative. "Our
current health care system is not structured to deal with the escalating costs
of treating diseases that are largely preventable through changes in our
lifestyle choices." Thompson said heart disease and strokes
will cost the country more than $351 billion in 2003. "These
leading causes of death for men and women are largely preventable, yet we as a
nation are not taking the steps necessary for US to lead healthier, longer
lives," he said. The $15 million is slated to go to communities
to promote prevention, pushing for changes as simple as building sidewalks to
encourage people to walk more. Daily exercise such as walking
can prevent and even reverse heart disease and diabetes, and prevent cancer and
strokes. The money will also go to community organizations,
clinics and nutritionists who are being encouraged to work together to educate
people at risk of diabetes about what they can do to prevent it and encourage
more cancer screening. The American Cancer Society estimates
that half of all cancers can be caught by screening, including Pap tests for
cervical cancer, mammograms for breast cancer, colonoscopies, and prostate
checks. If such cancers were all caught by early screening, the
group estimates that the survival rate for cancer would rise to 95
percent.
单选题
Which of the following is NOT true of chronic diseases in the US?
A. They account for 70% of all deaths.
B. They are responsible for most of the health care costs.