The Future Of Heart Disease
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - We all know that medical costs are on the rise. But in some areas of medicine the news is far worse than in others. Take the latest information from the American Heart Association. They project the future costs of cardiovascular disease treatment in the US to go way up.
If heart disease rates remain as they are today, there will be a tripling of the direct costs associated with treatment of cardiovascular disease – up to $818 billion in 2030. Think about it. In the United States, 1 in 3 Americans has some form of heart disease. By 2030, that number is expected to rise to 116 million people.
There is another important point related to this information and it is potentially good news. These estimates do not account for changes in therapy or new discoveries that may lead to reductions in heart disease.
Of course one area is often overlooked in all of these budget related issues. We need to put money and efforts behind our words. Let's start making it easier for people to get healthy foods and reward healthy food choices, especially in our economically challenged neighborhoods. An investment now will reap rewards later.
Reported By Dr. Brian McDonough, KYW Newsradio Medical Editor
