The Benefits of Health Maintenance

In brief: Despite major medical advances, life expectancy has increased relatively little over the past 35 years. Most of today's serious illnesses are related to such chronic conditions as heart disease, cancer, and arteriosclerosis, rather than to acute infectious diseases. These chronic diseases affect the national economy as well as the health of individuals. Many authorities believe that 50% to 80% of the deaths related to these conditions could be prevented or postponed through proper nutrition, weight control, exercise, smoking cessation, and stress management. Accordingly, physicians should take a more active role in disease prevention efforts. A procedure for physicians to use in health assessment and risk management for M individual patients is outlined.