The long-term discussion about U.S. health care, who will provide it and who will pay for it, continues. There should be little debate, however, that the short and long-term demand for health care in the United States will increase steadily for years to come. A new study on chronic medical conditions that could lead to heart disease -- the leading killer of American adults -- underscores that. Indeed, the portrait of the nation's health limned by researchers is not pretty.
Almost half of U.S. adults have diagnosed or undiagnosed high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes, according to the study. About three percent of adults have all three conditions, and about 13 percent have two of the conditions. Most, but not all, individuals are aware of their personal health problems. About 15 percent of American citizens with one or more of the conditions are unaware of it, the study shows.
The increasing prevalence of the three conditions in the U.S. population is closely related to obesity, another troubling U.S. health trend. More than two-thirds of U.S. adults, according to the CDC, are now overweight or obese. The extra poundage can be lethal..
It increases the likelihood that an individual will have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes -- or some combination of the trio. That, in turn, makes it more likely that affected individuals will develop heart disease that could drastically affect their quality of life, their lifespan and the demands they place on the health care system.
The problem, to be fair, is as much a societal one as it is a medical one. Dependency on cars and community planning that limits, sidewalks, parks and playgrounds have reduced the opportunity for people of all ages to exercise. The availability of fast food makes it more difficult for those pressed for time to make healthy food choices. The result is as readily apparent as it is disastrous.
Reversing the current trend will be difficult, but it must be done. To do nothing or allow current trends to become even more entrenched in society is foolhardy. "If we continue on the same course, this problem will grow progressively worse," one expert says. If that occurs, the costs -- physical, societal and financial -- will be astronomical.
There's no easy way to reduce the national incidence of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. The latter, like many chronic conditions, is often irreversible. Still, attention to diet and regular physical activity can help improve health. Improved eating habits and adherence to an exercise routine that produces and maintains weight loss of even 10 pounds can lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease.
Prevention of conditions that lead to heart disease is a vital step in improving individual health. It is, as well, an important component in building a national health care delivery system that will not be overwhelmed by problems directly related to poor lifestyle choices.