America's No. 1 Killer: Cardiovascular Disease. How Americanized do you really want to become?

[FortLaudy 10]

All this talk about socializing health care and one huge issue always pops up in my mind: Number 1 killer in the US: Heart Disease, causes: mostly preventable.

So we might have to pay higher taxes because some people decide to keep their fat lazy arses glued on a sofa and stuff themselves with junk food? I'm for free (or perhaps forced) education instead...

Despite significant reductions in morbidity and mortality, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States today. It represents a wide array of illnesses, including heart attack, angina, congestive heart failure, sudden cardiac death, hypertension, stroke and diabetes mellitus.

As we age and gain weight, the prevalence of cardiovascular disease only increases. There are multiple risk factors, most importantly hypertension, smoking, obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes. A family history of early or premature heart disease also raises the risk.

Aggressively lowering the blood pressure or cholesterol levels decreases cardiovascular events in those affected," Dr. DiPette said. "In addition to lifestyle changes such as weight reduction, decreasing the salt in our diets, increasing physical activity and moderating our alcohol consumption, we have many safe and well-tolerated medications to treat hypertension.

Individuals must understand the risk factors directly involved in cardiovascular disease and take personal responsibility for modifying these factors to live longer, healthier lives.

It has truly shocked me to see the foods people in America decide to order at a restaurant or put in their shopping cart or feed to their own children, there seems to be a complete lack of understanding coupled with complete ignorance about where food comes from and how it is processed and what exactly they're are putting into their bodies...

[Jenn! 918]

Once you socialize health care, I think it's perfectly acceptable to ban things that would ultimately drive costs up, say, transfats. I think you have to support both or neither.

Or else you exclude care for preventable things. Heart attacks not covered for people with high BMI, for example. But where do you draw the line?

Edited February 20, 2010 by Jenn!

[FortLaudy 10]

Once you socialize health care, I think it's perfectly acceptable to ban things that would ultimately drive costs up, say, transfats. I think you have to support both or neither.

Or else you exclude care for preventable things. Heart attacks not covered for people with high BMI, for example. But where do you draw the line?

I truly hope that is the plan, also free contraceptives. I just cannot stand it when people don't take personal responsibility for things such as their health, income and living conditions and then expect a free handout to deal with whatever went wrong. Drives me nuts. Education! Education! Education! please

[Darnell 8,479]

Good topic. I propose any further monies for research be paid for, by special tax on high fructose corn syrup.

[Fandango 1,440]

I am not a fan at the gov't mandating what I can eat.

[FortLaudy 10]

I am not a fan at the gov't mandating what I can eat.

What about what is available for kids to eat at public schools? Transfats and high fructose corn syrup ok for the kids too?

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

you already do pay for other peoples' bad decisions through higher premiums - "socialized" medicine won't change that!

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I am not a fan at the gov't mandating what I can eat.

Neither am I. But I think a reasonable approach would be to recoup the cost to society of foods that are known and shown to be harmful to one's health and will, hence, drive up costs in the health care system. You can have it and eat it if you so desire but they won't be as cheap as they once were. Imagine if HFCS wouldn't be the cheap choice anymore...

[FortLaudy 10]

you already do pay for other peoples' bad decisions through higher premiums - "socialized" medicine won't change that!

But we'll be paying more taxes agreed? And this health care probably going to mostly people who decide to #### up their own health? #######

You are what you eat is what I believe, I just can't understand how people think here and the things they decide to eat, it's pretty disgusting to me most of the time... and directly affects their health, now the taxpayer is going to foot their bills too? to keep fat lazy ignorant people alive? unreal...

[Fandango 1,440]

What about what is available for kids to eat at public schools? Transfats and high fructose corn syrup ok for the kids too?

What schools serve is different, obviously. I'm not saying I eat a diet of transfats and HFCS...but if I wanted to, I would...and I wouldn't be a fan of the gov't saying otherwise.

But what kids eat is not my concern either....it is up to their parents.

________

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Since you can't exactly audit what people eat, to determine whether or not a person should receive healthcare, I'd say it isn't any of your business at the end of the day.

Sure, ban food advertising for kids, ban harmful food additives that change your body chemistry. Sure, educate people in schools to have a better grasp of nutrition and healthy living.

But you will, and should, pay for those people regardless of whether or not they take "personal responsibility" to your satisfaction.

[FortLaudy 10]

Neither am I. But I think a reasonable approach would be to recoup the cost to society of foods that are known and shown to be harmful to one's health and will, hence, drive up costs in the health care system. You can have it and eat it if you so desire but they won't be as cheap as they once were. Imagine if HFCS wouldn't be the cheap choice anymore...

Yes, like cigarettes and alcohol I suppose, great idea.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Aggressively lowering the blood pressure or cholesterol levels decreases cardiovascular events in those affected," Dr. DiPette said. "In addition to lifestyle changes such as weight reduction, decreasing the salt in our diets, increasing physical activity and moderating our alcohol consumption, we have many safe and well-tolerated medications to treat hypertension.

Need a link to back up your article.

Lets have some balance....list the #1 killer for the top 20 countries who's immigrants have been approved visa's to the US.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

...now the taxpayer is going to foot their bills too? to keep fat lazy ignorant people alive? unreal...

You're already footing that bill - it's not like we let the fat and lazy - as you put it - die today.

[FortLaudy 10]

But you will, and should, pay for those people regardless of whether or not they take "personal responsibility" to your satisfaction.

Wrong on so many levels