Cardiovascular disease is responsible for over one third of deaths in the United States.The AMA believes that if something is not immediately done, statistics will exponentially rise over the coming years.
On Monday the AMA announced a renewed initiative to combat both heart and cardiovascular disease. By partnering with community organizations and independent medical groups across the nation, the AMA hopes to continue to fight this growing problem in the United States.
The fight against cardiovascular disease is the first step in what the AMA plans to be a five-year program. Phases will focus on improving medical education, clinical safety protocol and physician/client relationships. According to AMA President Jeremy Lazarus, M.D. "the toll of these diseases on our nation is staggering — in terms of human suffering and health care costs. The direct and indirect cost of cardiovascular disease and diabetes is more than $535 billion a year."
The first phase of the multi-year initiative will focus on "preventing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes and improving outcomes for those with these conditions."
The initiative will also work in conjunction with John Hopkins Medicine to further inform the public. The AMA believes that by 2017, it can reduce the high blood pressure and health risks of over 10 million citizens. The AMA will also be partnering with the YMCA to teach improved physical fitness practices. Studies show that cardiovascular disease and diabetes are often more prevalent within the Native American, Latino and African American communities.
Diabetes is found in almost 10 percent of American citizens. One in four deaths in the United States is attributed to some variation of heart disease. These are statistics that the American Medical Association (AMA) believes to be unacceptable. With that in mind the AMA plans to fight this growing problem head on.
In a prepared statement, the AMA spoke of a coordinated effort, in which "America's physicians work together with patients, communities and other members of the health care team [to] have a tremendous impact on health outcomes," by trying to regulate the blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels of every-day citizens, the AMA believes they can win this battle.
