The ability to obtain and maintain good health is not only a serious problem that exists in the United States of America, but is also one that exists in a number of other different countries throughout the world. On a day to day basis, people are dealing with the many effects or consequences that result from a lack of adequate health. Whether these effects or consequences cause a drastic alteration in an individual’s lifestyle or cause an individual to succumb to a disease, the impact that they leave behind is very significant. As a result of this, it is important that individuals within the United States and other parts of the world combat the issue of poor health to ensure that everyone obtains and maintains a standard of health that is satisfactory. In discussing the problem of acquiring and preserving good health, it is important to analyze statistics pertaining to this problem.

In analyzing statistics, it is important to begin with those health statistics that are relevant to the United States of America. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are a number of different ailments or factors that affect the health of many individuals in the U.S. These would include cholesterol levels, heart disease, obesity, asthma, diabetes, hypertension, and the amount of exercise that an individual engages in. In terms of cholesterol level, from 2003 to 2006 the number of adult individuals that had an elevated cholesterol level was sixteen percent (“Cholesterol,” 2009). This result is quite alarming because almost a fifth of adults had high cholesterol. It looking at that, the possible lifestyles of the average adult today that leads to this must be taken into account. Due to the hectic and busy nature of the lifestyles that some adults lead in modern society, the proper nutritional or dietary factors of the food that is consumed are somewhat ignored. As a result, some adults consume a variety of foods that are not healthy and can raise the cholesterol level.

Similar to cholesterol level, heart disease is a factor that impacts health. About 26.6 million individuals were afflicted with the illness in 2006 and about 631,636 individuals passed away from it (“Heart Disease,” 2009). These statistics are very alarming in that many individuals are succumbing to an ailment that can be effectively avoided with the maintenance of good health through living a healthier lifestyle. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention go on to discuss another factor that affects good health, obesity. The statistics linked to obesity are very disturbing. Between 2005 and 2006, sixty-seven percent of the adult population was either overweight or obese, thirty-four percent of the adult population was considered to be just obese, eighteen percent of people between twelve and nineteen years of age were regarded as overweight, and children in the  age bracket of six to eleven years were deemed overweight (“Obesity and Overweight,” 2009). These statistics are very scary when taking into account the percentage of young people who are afflicted with obesity. The statistics show that obesity starts in the young population. When individuals are young, they form many habits in terms of the food they consume and the activities that they perform to stay active. If the young population of individuals never develops the necessary habits and methods necessary to maintain good health, then the young population will carry on the poor habits or methods into adulthood. In response to that, problems with weight need to be combated early in the young population to alleviate the existence of the same problems with weight in regards to the adults.

Along with the previously mentioned factors or ailments, the ailments of asthma, diabetes, and hypertension also have an effect on health. About 16.4 million adult aged individuals and 7 million kids had asthma in 2008 (“Asthma,” 2009). In terms of diabetes, ten percent of the adult population had the disease whether it was diagnosed or undiagnosed between the years of 2003 and 2006 (“Diabetes,” 2009). Thirty-two percent of the adult population also had hypertension between 2003 and 2006 (“Hypertension,” 2009). Again, these statistics show that these ailments are impacting the health of many Americans and should be alleviated by taking greater strides towards better health. As previously stated, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated the amount of exercise that an individual engages in as a factor that contributes to health. According to the organization, in 2007 that thirty-one percent of the adult population engaged in some sort of exercise while thirty-nine percent did not (“Exercise or Physical Activity,” 2009). This adequately displays how little of an emphasis is placed on exercise. A fair amount of exercise is needed to obtain a proper level of health.

Now that the health statistics that are relevant to the United States have been discussed, it is important to look at the health statistics that are relevant to the world. According to the World Health Organization, in 2004 a total of 7.2 million individuals worldwide died of coronary heart disease, 5.71 million individuals died of a stroke, and 4.18 million individuals died of infections linked to the lower respiratory system (“The Top Ten Causes of Death,” 2004). These statistics are very shocking because they show that the realm in which diseases can cause significant effects is so wide. These statistics show that major health ailments and factors not only affect the ability to have good health for the United States, but also affects the ability to have good health for the rest of the world. In taking this into account, there must be a unified front to insure that everyone can adequately have good health. No individual should succumb to ailments and factors that can be prevented. It is up to each and every individual to take part in becoming healthier. Whether it be eating more nutritious food or exercising, something must be done to put an end to poor health. In a world that is constantly changing and evolving, everyone must be involved in altering the way in which they live to change and evolve with it.

Works Cited:

Asthma (2009). Retrieved October 14, 2009 from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/asthma.htm.

Cholesterol (2009). Retrieved October 14, 2009 from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/cholest.htm.

Diabetes (2009). Retrieved October 14, 2009 from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/diabetes.htm.

Exercise or Physical Activity (2009). Retrieved October 14, 2009 from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/exercise.htm.

Heart Disease (2009). Retrieved October 14, 2009 from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/heart.htm.

Hypertension (2009). Retrieved October 14, 2009 from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/hyprtens.htm.

Obesity and Overweight (2009). Retrieved October 14, 2009 from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/overwt.htm.

The Top Ten Causes of Death (2004). Retrieved October 14, 2009 from World Health Organization Web site: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs310_2008.pdf.

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