Let’s just start with looking at our health problems recently & the statistics. According to the “Mayo Clinic” in 2011 the top male and female problems vary a little. The health problems that are similar to them are the ones we need to be more concerned about since the ones I will be presenting to you are brought on to many Americans cause of poor health habits (which includes diet with activity). They state that cardiac disease is #1 killer for both men and women. The American Heart Association in 2011 stated that cardiac disease, which does cause many heart attacks and strokes, with killing more people than all forms of cancer combined. Two major factors that would decrease the amount in cardiac disease is people stop smoking and eating HEALTHIER=low fat, low sodium and occasional fast foods, if ever in your diet. Fast foods frequently eaten just don’t cut healthy. Another helpful key is routine exercise.                                                                                                                                                                 Lung cancer was the cancer that caused most deaths in both men and women. Women are also greatly affected with breast cancer and colorectal cancer, according to the Mayo clinic 2011. To help in decreasing the chance of cancer eat HEALTHY, wear sunscreen, don’t smoke, and get regular cancer screenings.                                                                                                                                              *COPD=Respiratory Diseases classified as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease includes Emphysema and Bronchitis. The National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute in 2011 recommended quit smoking to prevent COPD (esp. Emphysema which is the largest RISK factor in getting it). When you smoke you expand the lung tissue and keep expanding it as you continue smoking. It doesn’t reverse and after years you have difficulty exchanging oxygen (when inhaled) with carbon dioxide (when exhaled) at the lung base & this is because of stretching the lung tissue (called alveoli) so bad. The answer is either QUIT or NEVER smokes and band smoking. The U.S. lung cancer census would go down markedly in a 5-10 years. Diabetes II is a diabetes that you are not born with but can get later in life. It is also a leading killer for both men and women in the U.S. A lot of cases seem to be due to unhealthy eating that goes into obesity that causes the individual to end up with diabetes. This disease causes damage to many organs of the body in time. Due to the high glucose levels (hyperglycemia) it damages the kidney causing for many to be put on hemodialysis 3x/week usually, giving heart disease, neuropathy (down the legs usually), and retinopathy=blindness, in time for many. To prevent this disease losing weight (with staying in a normal body mass index), doing routine exercise, and eating healthy will help a great deal, especially started young. *In 2011 Alzheimer’s disease was the fifth leading cause of death in women and the tenth in men. We really don’t know what the etiology is but there may be a link between this disease and heart disease, including head injuries. What could help this prevent this? One eating healthy, two routine exercise-as simple as walking regularly daily or 2 to 3 times a week and eating healthy to prevent cardiac disease. Also, drive safely with the seat belt on, no texting, and no cell phone to prevent a MVA & hitting your head.  Kidney disease in 2011 the ninth leading cause of death for both males and females in the U.S. It can be caused by high blood pressure or diabetes, according to the Mayo Clinic. The American Diabetes Association stressed the importance of keeping your blood sugar under control if you are a diabetic in order to prevent kidney disease if done soon enough. To prevent this disease is the same as cardiac and diabetes prevention (listed above) but the sooner started the better.   This ends part 1 and tomorrow I will provide information on what Americans can do in decreasing these diseases, in time.