Government
HHS offers blueprint to better health for Americans
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted May 17, 2004
Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson announced the federal government's Blueprint for Action initiative outlining steps that individuals and groups can take to help improve overall health status in the United States.
These include engaging in physical activity, maintaining a healthy diet, limiting alcohol intake, quitting smoking, and getting immunizations and screenings. Chronic diseases and conditions account for at least seven out of every 10 deaths in the United States and consume more than 60% of health care spending.
"Much of the chronic disease burden is preventable," Thompson said. "By engaging individuals, families, health care providers and professionals, we can attack this growing epidemic." The blueprint said the most immediate and effective changes in people's lives are controlled by individuals themselves.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/05/17/gvbf0517.htm.
