Your 4Life PlanDid you know that achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is one of the key components of preventing and controlling chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and some cancers? The 4Life Plan encourages all Floridians to attain and maintain a healthy weight. The plan also promotes chronic disease prevention and control with four basic healthy behaviors: eat healthy foods, be physically active, avoid tobacco use, and have regular check ups with your health care provider. Nearly 70 percent of chronic conditions can be prevented by making these lifestyle changes. Find helpful ways to start your 4Life Plan by clicking the links next to the numbers below. Overview of Bureau of Chronic Disease PreventionChronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are among the most prevalent, costly, and preventable of all health problems. In Florida in 2007, almost one of every three deaths was due to heart disease and stroke, and almost one of every four deaths was due to cancer. However, consideration of deaths alone severely understates the burden of chronic disease. The prolonged course of illness and disability from chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and arthritis results in extended pain and suffering as well as in decreased quality of life for thousands of Floridians. Our state cannot reduce its enormous health care costs, much less its priority health problems, without addressing the prevention of chronic disease in a fundamentally more aggressive manner. Chronic Disease DefinitionThe Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention works to improve individual and community health by preventing and reducing the impact of chronic diseases and disabling conditions. Although chronic diseases are among the most common and costly health problems, they are also among the most preventable. Chronic disabling conditions cause major limitations in activity for more than one of every 10 Americans or 25 million people. Chronic diseases have a long course of illness. They rarely resolve spontaneously and they generally are not cured by medication or prevented by vaccine. Chronic diseases account for nearly 70 percent of deaths and affect the quality of life of 90 million Americans.
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