Chronic Disease: What Dallas Needs to Know

Forty nine percent of Americans suffer from one or more chronic diseases . However, although chronic disease is the number one expenditure for United State’s healthcare dollars, the general public is little aware about these crippling (and preventative) conditions. While encompassing the entire history and effect of chronic diseases would be inefficient, here you will find a thorough and fundamental breakdown of the nature of chronic disease and the importance of prevention.

Chronic diseases are ongoing, generally incurable illnesses or conditions, such as heart disease, asthma, cancer and diabetes. These diseases are often preventable, and frequently manageable through early detection, improved diet, exercise and treatment therapy. When faced with the option of paying for preventative care versus paying for a disease after detection, a majority of Americans would prefer to cover preventative care. But while this is obvious in theory, in practice little is being done to raise awareness of the importance of prevention.

From the 2008 Almanac of Chronic Disease:

Many chronic diseases are caused or exacerbated by poor nutrition, lack of exercise, smoking and other lifestyle choices. As a result of these factors, as well as a lack of emphasis on preventive care, incidence rates of chronic disease have increased substantially over the last two decades. Risk factors like obesity are also on the rise. Since 1980, obesity rates have increased 250 percent, now affecting 71 million Americans. This has tremendous implications for future generations; for example, it is predicted that 1 in 3 children born in 2000 will develop diabetes over the course of their lives, given current trends in overweight and obesity.

Not surprisingly, chronic diseases have become the leading cause of death and disability in the United States. Seven out of every 10 deaths are attributable to chronic disease, and illnesses like heart disease and cancer top the list of most common causes of death.

Out of the trillions of dollars the United States spends on healthcare, less than one percent goes to prevention. Considering the proven effect preventative care has on our most expensive diseases it is arguable that America could save tremendously long-term by shifting our healthcare investment short term.

On June 9th at from 7:30AM to 9:30AM a panel of Dallas area leaders will be discussing chronic disease as it affects our region in panel form. For more information on the impact of chronic disease, and for the chance to ask your questions on this vital subject, please join us at the upcoming Healthcare Hot Topics breakfast. For more details and to register please visit the Dallas Regional Chamber’s website.

i Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease. “Fighting Chronic Disease: The Commonsense Solution
for Comprehensive Health Reform”. Accessed May 26, 2009. <http://www.fightchronicdisease.org/pdfs/PFCD_ChronDisease_FactSheet_000.pdf>

ii Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease. The Almanac of Chronic Disease, 2008 Edition. “The Human Cost Today, Introduction”. Page 10.