The Growing Impact of Chronic Diseases
November 7th, 2008Oxidative stress damage is implicated in all chronic diseases which are the most prevalent and costly health care problems in the United States. Nearly half (45%) of all Americans suffer from at least one chronic disease. More than two-thirds of all deaths are caused by one or more of five chronic diseases: heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes. Many chronic diseases are lifelong conditions, and their impact lessens the quality of life not only of those suffering from the diseases, but also of their family members, caregivers, and others. (1)
Chronic disease not only affects health and quality of life, but is also a major driver of health care costs, threatening health care affordability. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), chronic disease accounts for about 75% of the nations aggregate health care spending. In taxpayer-funded programs, treatment of chronic disease constitutes an even larger proportion of spending – 96 cents per dollar for Medicare and 83 cents per dollar for Medicaid. Much of the persistent increase in spending over the past two decades is attributable to rising disease prevalence, lower clinical thresholds for treatment, and new medical innovations that have emerged to treat chronic and other diseases. (2) This is expected to grow so that by 2030 half the U.S. population will suffer from one or more chronic ailment. (3) An aging population further swells demand. According the U.S. Census data, the number of Americans who are 60 or older will grow from 50 million to 85 million by 2025.
Addressing the oxidative stress that underlies chronic diseases is critical. Increasing awareness of the personal and financial impact of these illnesses is just the first step. Eng3′s activated air device is designed to improve the oxidative response and address oxidative stress damage to help people address and prevent chronic diseases.
(1) Center for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/overview.htm
(2) Center for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/overview.htm
(3) Partnership for Solutions, 2004