Living a long healthy life doesn’t just mean hoping your health stays good for as long as possible. It also means taking steps to make sure that it does. Many people believe that the future of their health is written in their genes and that there’s nothing they can do about it. While it’s true that some diseases and proclivities to illness can be passed down genetically from parent to child, what’s far more important is how you live your life and how you take care of yourself.

The Center For Disease Control (CDC) has compiled a list of the top health concerns for Americans today. Many of these problems can be partially or completely prevented if you take the steps needed to safeguard your health.

In the United States we are facing the following top health problems:

1. Heart disease - According to the American Heart Association cardiovascular disease was responsible for over 34% of deaths in the United States and is the single leading cause of death in America today. There are many things you can do to greatly reduce your chances of developing heart disease. Stop smoking, maintain a healthy weight, eat a diet rich in fresh fruit and vegetables while cutting back on the salt and fat.

2. Cancer - It has been estimated that there will be 570,000 deaths attributable to cancer in the United States in 2010. The American Cancer Society estimates that 170,000 of these deaths will caused by smoking and excessive drinking and are completely preventable. Another 170,000 will be caused by obesity, poor nutrition and lack of exercise. One million cases of skin cancer will also be diagnosed that could have been prevented by using sunblock. Sadly enough, over two thirds of the cancer deaths in America are self inflicted.

3. Stroke - Stroke is one of the major killers in America, ranked number four for men and number three for women. When an artery in the brain is blocked by a clot the part of the brain supplied by the blood vessel can’t get blood and oxygen. This causes the cells of that part of the brain to die and consequently the part of the body that it controls will stop functioning. Making some changes in your lifestyle can greatly reduce your risk of stroke. Smoking, being overweight, diabetes, living a sedentary life and improper nutrition can all contribute to the risk of stroke.

4. Respiratory Diseases - Respiratory diseases that block airflow in your lungs such as emphysema and bronchitis are part of a group of diseases defined as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is a leading cause of death in the United States and worldwide. COPD is primarily caused by smoking so the most important thing you can do to prevent COPD is to stop smoking now. Once your lungs are damaged it can’t be reversed so the sooner, the better.

5. Type 2 Diabetes - Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and affects 90% of the people with the disease. Causing nerve damage, kidney damage, heart disease and even blindness type 2 diabetes is a leading cause of death in the United States. Lifestyle is a major factor in the development of diabetes so lower your weight, keep your blood pressure under control and stick to a healthy diet rich in vegetables and fruits.

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Tags: Cancer

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