America's Health, By The Numbers
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - One of the ways we measure whether or not our country is getting healthier is to take a look at statistics related to disease and death.
The American Heart Association has gotten together with the National Institute of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to take a look at heart disease and stroke.
According to the latest information, about 33% of the population has high blood pressure and 80% are aware they have the condition. The problem is only 48% are managing it well, two thirds of adults are overweight and a third are obese. Eight percent of the population has diabetes.
One out of every six deaths in the United States is the result of coronary heart disease and an estimated 785,000 Americans suffered a heart attack last year. Stroke accounts for one out of every 18 deaths in the United States.
But there is good news despite these numbers. Between 1997 and 2007 deaths from cardiovascular disease declined by 27.8%. During the same timeframe the stroke-death rate declined by 44%.
Reported By Dr. Brian McDonough, KYW Newsradio Medical Editor
