Heart/Stroke

Risk Factors
*  Family/personal history
*  Cigarette smoking
*  High blood pressure
*  High cholesterol

Statistics
*  America's No. 1 Killer
*  42.1% deaths in America
*  Nearly 59 million Americans
    have heart disease.

Interventions
*  Do NOT smoke.
*  Get blood pressure checked
    regularly.
*  Eat a diet low in fat, saturated
    fats and cholesterol
*  Get blood cholesterol checked
    yearly.
*  Exercise regularly and manage
    stress.

Lung Disease

Risk Factors
*  Cigarette smoking and second-
    hand smoke.
*  Pollen, dust, other air pollutants

Statistics
*  10 million Americans have
    asthma.
*  About 15 million Americans
    have chronic obstructive lung
    disease, making it the fourth
    most common cause of death.
   

Interventions
*  Do NOT smoke.  Ask your
    health care provider for
    smoking cessation help.
*  Use air filters to help reduce
    pollen and mold.  Stay indoors
    when pollen or air pollution is
    high.
*  Wear a dust mask while
    performing dusty jobs.
*  Avoid very cold temperatures.

Cancer

Risk Factors
*  Family history of cancer
*  Excessive sun exposure
*  Smoking and second-hand
    smoke
*  Radiation or asbestos exposure
*  Industrial/atmospheric pollution

Statistics
*  America's No. 2 Killer
*  500,000 deaths per year

7 Warning Signs of Cancer
*  Bowel/bladder habit changes
*  Sore that does not heal
*  Unusual bleeding or discharge
*  Thickening or lump in breast or
    elsewhere.
*  Indigestion or difficulty
    swallowing
*  Obvious change in wart or mole
*  Nagging cough or hoarseness

Interventions
*  Eat high fiber foods, fresh
    vegetables and fruits. 
*  Avoid excessive sun exposure,
    use sunscreen, SPF 15 at least. 
*  Over age 50, an annual fecal
    occult blood test and a flexible
    sigmoidoscopy every 3 to 5
    years.
   
*  Screenings for Women:

*  Screenings for Men: Prostate:  Over age 40,  digital rectal exam (DRE) annually.  Over age 50, DRE and prostate specific antigen (PSA) annually.

Liver Disease

Statistics
*  Alcoholic liver disease is the
    11th most frequent cause of
    death.
*  Alcohol consumption is
    associated with 90% of
    cirrhotic liver deaths.
*  About 600,000 new cases of
    viral hepatitis annually.

Interventions
*  Limit alcohol consumption.
    One drink per day for women
    and two drinks per day for men.
*  Avoid viral exposure.
    Hepatitis B is transmitted by
    direct contact with an infected
    person's bodily fluids. Inform
    your health care provider if you
    are a health care worker, have
    received blood products,
    engage in male homosexual
    activity or use illegal drugs.
*  Get vaccinated.
    Hepatitis B can be prevented by
    vaccination.  Ask your health
    care provider about
    vaccination.  

Risk Factors
*  Poverty and discrimination
*  Lack of opportunities for
    education and employment

Statistics
*  Second leading cause of death
    for persons 15-24 years of age.
*  Leading cause of death for
    African American and Hispanic
    youth in this age group.
*  Most homicide victims are
    killed with a firearm.

Interventions
*  Strategies for reducing violence
    should begin early in life,
    before young people adopt
    violent beliefs and behavioral
    patterns.
*  The risk factors must be
    addressed.
*  If you feel you are at risk of
    violent behavior, discuss this
    with your health care provider.

Diabetes

Statistics
*  Approximately 14 million
    Americans have diabetes, only
    half have been diagnosed.
*  Diabetes is a leading cause of
    adult blindness and end-stage
    renal disease, and accounts for
   55,000 lower extremity
    amputations per year.

Accidents

Risk Factors
*  Drinking and driving
*  Failure to use seat belts and car
    seats
*  Environmental hazards

Statistics
*  Auto accidents are the leading
    killer of young adults.
*  Drunk driving is associated with
    more than 40% of motor-vehicle
    deaths involving 16-20 year
    olds.
 *  One out of four children will
     require medical attention for
     accidental injuries.

Interventions
Avoid automobile tragedies
*  Buckle your seat belt!
*  Children under 40 pounds: use
    a car safety seat.
*  Children 40-70 pounds:  Use a
    booster seat with the car safety
    belt.
*  For older children:  Use car
    safety belts at all times.
*  Whenever possible, put children
    in the back seat of the vehicle.
Make your home safe
*  Keep medicines and other
    dangerous substances in
    childproof containers.
*  Keep hot water temperature
    below 120 degrees.
*  Keep unused electrical outlets
    covered with plastic guards.
*  Use smoke detectors and check
    batteries yearly.
*  Lock up guns and ammunition.
*  Keep emergency numbers near
    the telephone.
*  Prevent choking:  Keep coins,
    balloons, peanuts and hot dogs
    away from children.
Teach your children safety
*  All children should wear a
    safety helmet when riding on a
    bicycle, motorcycle, or four-
    wheeler.
*  All children should use
    protective equipment when
    playing contact sports, roller
    skating or skateboarding.
*  Don't allow your child to ride on
    or drive heavy farm equipment.

Pneumonia/Influenza

Risk Factors
*  Elderly population
*  People with chronic illnesses or
    medical problems.

Statistics
*  About 60,000 Americans die
    each year from pneumococcal
     infection or influenza (flu). 
*  Only 14% of the elderly have
     received the pneumococcal
     vaccine, and only 30% of
     eligible adults receive annual
     vaccinations.

Interventions
Get vaccinated!
*  Vaccinations can prevent or
     minimize the effects of these
     infections.
*  The flu vaccine should be given
    annually (each fall).
*  The pneumococcal vaccine is a
    one-time vaccine (certain high-
    risk patients can receive every 6
    years).
Who should get vaccinated?
*  People 65 years and older.
*  Adults (and children over 2
    years old) who have a chronic
    illness such as:  diabetes,
    kidney disease, lung disease,
    heart disease and liver disease.
*  Nursing home residents.
*  People with a weakened immune
    system.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

Risk Factors
*  Unprotected sexual contact
*  Sharing unclean intravenous
    needles
*  Exposure to contaminated blood
    products
*  Maternal-fetal transfer

Statistics
*  CDC estimates that 800,000 to
    1.2 million Americans are
    infected with the AIDS virus.
*  AIDS is a leading cause of death
     in men ages 35-44.
*  More than 200,000 Americans
    have died from AIDS.

Interventions
*  Practice safe sex.
*  Do not share unclean intravenous
    needles.
*  Check with your health care
    provider for ways to decrease
    your risk of infection.

Birth Defects and Complications

Statistics
*  There are 3,000 to 5,000
    different birth defects.
*  More than 150,000 babies are
    affected each year.
*  Every 3½ minutes a baby is born
    with a birth defect.

Interventions
Pre-pregnancy planning
*  Take folic acid, 400 micrograms
    daily.
*  Eat nutritious foods and take a
    multi-vitamin.
*  Achieve your ideal body weight;
    being over or under-weight may
    cause problems during
    pregnancy.
*  Check your vaccination records,
    be sure you have had rubella and
    measles vaccinations.
*  Stop smoking and minimize
    alcohol intake.
*  Get medical problems like
    diabetes, epilepsy or high blood
    pressure under control.
*  Ask your health care provider to
    evaluate your health and identify
    any health risks.
*  Discuss any previous problem
    pregnancies or familial birth
    defects with your health care
    provider.
Healthy pregnancy
*  Exercise, don't drink, smoke or
    use drugs.
*  Eat a nutritious and balanced
    diet.
*  Take prenatal vitamins and
    increase your calcium intake.
*  Avoid exposure to toxic
    substances and chemicals.
*  Don't eat undercooked meat or
    handle cat litter; they can cause
    toxoplasmosis, which can
    seriously harm a developing
    baby.
*  Ask your health care provider
    which prescription or over-the-
    counter drugs are safe.

* * *

You make choices as you travel the road
of life that impact the two factors that
affect 70% of your health status -
Lifestyle & Environment!

50% Lifestyle - Diet, Exercise, Safety
20% Environment - Safe, Sanitary, Protected
20% Genetics - Family History
10% Medical Care