Scientists have estimated that approximately half of all deaths in the United States are attributed to largely preventable behaviors and exposures, such as tobacco use, diet and physical activity, and alcohol consumption. These findings are similar to reflections reported more than 100 years ago by public health authorities. Is it inevitable that half of the population will die prematurely, even as the average life span increases?
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
National Prevention Council.National Prevention Strategy: America's Plan for Better Health and Wellness. Washington, DC: US Dept of Health & Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General; 2011. Available at: http://www.healthcare.gov/center/councils/nphpphc/strategy/report.pdf. Accessed June 29, 2011.
2.
National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council.2012 Annual Status Report. Washington, DC: US Dept of Health and Human Services, National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council; 2012. Available at: http://www.healthcare.gov/prevention/nphpphc/2012-npc-status-report.pdf. Accessed July 6, 2012.
3.
O'DonnellMP. National prevention strategy released. Am J Health Promot.2011;26:iv–vii.
4.
RigbyE.How the National Prevention Council can overcome key challenges and improve Americans' health. Health Aff (Millwood). 2011;30(11):2149–2156.
McGinnisJMFoegeWH. Actual causes of death in the United States. JAMA. 1993;270:2207–2212.
7.
MokdadAHMarksJSStroupDFGerberdingJL. Actual causes of death in the United States, 2000. JAMA. 2004;291:1238–1245.
8.
LeeIMShiromaEJLobeloF. Effect of physical inactivity on major non-communicable diseases worldwide: An analysis of burden of disease and life expectancy. Lancet. 2012;380(9838):219–229.
9.
PiersonJ. The relation of sanitary science to national wealth. The Sanitarian. 1883;12:248–249.
10.
PiersonJ. The relation of sanitary science to national wealth. Proceedings, addresses, and discussions at the sanitary convention held at Ionia, Michigan, December 13 and 14, 1883. Lansing, MI: Michigan State Board of Health; 1884:2–7.
11.
MunroHS. The retraining of the human animal for the restoration of health. The Medical Herald. 1912;31(2):116–126.
12.
BrownsonRCHaire-JoshuDLukeDA. Shaping the context of health: A review of environmental and policy approaches in the prevention of chronic diseases. Annu Rev Public Health. 2006;27:341–370.
13.
McGinnisJMWilliams-RussoPKnickmanJR. The case for more active policy attention to health promotion. Health Aff (Millwood). 2002;21(2):78–93.
14.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Effectiveness in disease and injury prevention: Estimated national spending on prevention–United States, 1988. MMWR. 1992;41:529–531.
15.
TobiasMJacksonG. Avoidable mortality in New Zealand, 1981–97. Aust N Z J Public Health. 2001;25(1):12–20.
16.
NolteEMcKeeCM. In amenable mortality–deaths avoidable through health care–progress in the US lags that of three European countries. Health Aff (Millwood). 2012;31(9):2114–2122.
17.
TanneJH. Premature death rate in US is almost double that in France, study shows. BMJ. 2011;343:d6352.
18.
NolteEMcKeeM. Variations in amenable mortality–trends in 16 high-income nations. Health Policy. 2011;103(1):47–52.
19.
NolteEMcKeeM. Measuring the health of nations: Analysis of mortality amenable to health care. BMJ. 2003;327(7424):1129.
