Health Risks Of The United States Essay - 1102 Words

While many of the health risks that besiege Americans are fought by creating a vaccination or an antibiotic that can be administered to all who are infected, one of the greatest health risks facing America’s nation today is sadly an epidemic, not just of a physical nature but often times also with behavioral origins, and whose eradication has been one of the most difficult our nation faces. Obesity in the United States has increased with alarming rates over the last few decades, which has impacted our nation on several levels, including the financial burden from the continuing rise in healthcare costs and the diminishing quality of life – as well as the diminishing quantity of life – that many Americans face as obesity is comorbidly linked to a number of debilitating health conditions. According to data obtained from the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the CDC and other federal and state agencies have labored diligently on se veral fronts to reduce our country’s obesity problem, and the latest statistics indicate that certain populations are benefitting from their campaigns. The CDC’s fact sheet on obesity reports that in 1998 the medical costs associated with obesity cost Americans were estimated to be at least $78.5 billion annually; that figure nearly doubled in ten years to $147 billion annually in 2008. The fact sheet also cites that in 1998 18.3% of the overall adult population was reported as being obese; in 2008 that numberShow MoreRelatedHealth Risks Of The United States1524 Words   |  7 PagesAccording to the US Department of Health and Human Services unhealthy eating and physical inactivity are the leading causes of death in the United States. Every year, 300,000 to 600,000 deaths result from unhealthy eating and inactivity (CSPI). Health risk behaviors are the main contributors to the nation’s rising premature death rate in the last twenty-five years. Heath related di seases have begun to span across several generations and is no longer limited to adults. The rise in obesity and malnutritionRead MoreEffects Of Alcohol On The Health Risks Of The United States2237 Words   |  9 PagesIn the United States alone, 40 million adults are addicted to cigarettes (â€Å"Current Cigarette Smoking Among Adults in the United States†), 14 million are dependent on alcohol (â€Å"Drug Addiction Statistics – Alcoholism Statistics and Data Sources†), and 219 million people are overweight or obese (â€Å"Overweight and Obesity Statistics†). Worldwide, these statistics triple, double, and nonuple respectively. However, at least in the United States, cigarettes and alcohol are both regulated by age, so the numbersRead MoreRacial Skepticism Is The Idea That Race, As A Biological1394 Words   |  6 Pagesforms, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, and the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). In â€Å"When Socially Determined Categorie s Make Biological Realties: Understanding Black/White Health Disparities in the U.S.,† Jonathan Michael Kaplan disagrees with racial skepticism. He argues that racial groups, in the United States, have important biological distinctions from each other in such a way that race can be classified as a biological phenomenon. Kaplan reasons that the social implications of race, likeRead MoreChildhood Obesity Among Hispanic Children1729 Words   |  7 Pagesdecade (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2011). Although the rise in obesity cuts across all of age groups, both genders, and all cultural and racial groups; statistics have demonstrated that Hispanic children are more likely to become obese than White or Black children in the United States. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (2011), childhood obesity is more prevalent among Hispanic children than in other ethnic groups, and the United States problem has been steadilyRead MoreHypertension : Risk Factor For Cardiovascular Disease1560 Words   |  7 PagesHypertension: Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease Valerie Murguia #54531222 PH 1 Summer Session II 2016 Second Year Dr. Zuzana Bic I. Public Health Problem Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, has become a major risk factor for several types of heart disease across the globe. In the United States alone, nearly 70 million adults have been diagnosed with this condition [1]. Hypertension is a condition in which arterial walls experience extremeRead MoreMedical Marijuana Essay969 Words   |  4 Pages[October 20, 2012] Medicinal Marijuana use in the United States Although many individuals find medical marijuana illegal, and unnecessary, it is a natural herb used to help symptoms caused by chronic illnesses. Over three million Americans use medical marijuana. Medical marijuana is the most widely used drug used to treat chronic illnesses in seventeen states. The use of medical marijuana has been a controversial issue here in the United States. Although, there are healthcare professionals thatRead MoreChildhood Obesity Essay1717 Words   |  7 Pagesprimary contributors of childhood obesity based on statistics, obesity risks, and government plans that show childhood obesity is a dangerous rising problem in the United States. Statistics demonstrate childhood obesity is a rising problem in the United States. â€Å"A major example is that there is a prevalence of obesity of children aged to 6 to 11 increases from 6.5% in 1980 to 19.6% in 2009† (CDC Division of Adolescent and School Health). Not only is the percentage of obese children increasing but thereRead MoreAir Pollution1499 Words   |  6 Pagesmany fail to realize the threat that air pollution emissions pose to human health. As humans continue to buy gasoline for the excessive amount of cars that are driven on a daily basis, create waste from factories, using coal and biomass fuels to power their daily lives, they will continue to put their own health at risk. China, a developing country, continues to emit tons of indoor and outdoor air pollution. The United States, a developed country, continues to emit tons of outdoor air pollution. BothRead MoreOklahoma State Department Of Health1233 Words   |  5 Pagesare the third worst in the natio n, only being beat by Alabama and Mississippi. (Americas Health Rankings, Oklahoma State Data, 2014) In 2013, Oklahoma had a total of 9,703 deaths from cardiovascular disease. Heart disease accounts for 29.6% of all deaths in Oklahoma. Overall, out of every 100,000 people who die in Oklahoma, 252 of those people died from cardiovascular disease. (Oklahoma State Department of Health, â€Å"Vital Statistics†,2013) In comparison, in 2009, the latest year recorded, CaliforniaRead MoreU.s. Healthcare Systems Of The United States1185 Words   |  5 PagesU.S. Healthcare Systems The United States has a broad history of diversity and challenges that no other country has faced. One of those challenges has been providing healthcare for its citizens. Healthcare in the United States started out with many religious groups that wanted to help those in need. This form of care for the people of this country has grown to a healthcare system that accounts for 3.2 trillion dollars of the nation’s gross domestic products (CMS (2016). This staggering number has