New US Plan for Disease
Prevention 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 (糖尿病)。 The initiative highlights the costs 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 rising 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 designed 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 (巴氏试验)
for cervical (子宫颈的) cancer mammograms (乳房X线照片) for breast cancer, colonoscopies
(结肠镜检查), and prostate (前列腺的) checks. If such cancers were all
caught by early screening, the group estimates that the survival rate for cancer
would rise to 95 percent. 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.
C. They often result in unhealthy lifestyles.
D. They are largely preventable.