Millions of people worldwide suffer and die from preventable diseases every year. In 2005, 35 million people died from chronic diseases, many of which were preventable. In fact, chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes, are the leading cause of mortality in the world and are the cause of 60 percent of all deaths each year.1
In the United States, chronic diseases account for more than 75 percent of the approximately $2 trillion Americans spend each year on health care.2 The United States spends more money on health care than any other nation, yet has a lower life expectancy than more than 40 other countries, down from 11th just two decades ago.3 While substantial progress has been made in the development of new medical technologies, the chronic disease burden continues to rise in part because of preventable risk factors such as obesity and exposure to tobacco smoke.
Chronic diseases are prevalent among all populations across the United States. However, underserved communities and racial and ethnic minorities are disproportionately impacted by these diseases and have higher disability and mortality rates and lower life expectancies when compared to other Americans.
All across the world, the growth in the disease burden of chronic disease accelerates the loss of human life, decreases productivity, and increases economic costs to families and nations. The trajectory of these burdens is both unsustainable and preventable. In order to curb the rise in chronic diseases, a cultural transformation is needed to move from a treatment-oriented society to one that promotes disease prevention and the achievement of optimal health and wellness. Canyon Ranch Institute is committed to catalyzing the possibility of optimal health for all people.
Click on the links below to learn about some of the perspectives and best practices in health and wellness that inform the science of health and Canyon Ranch Institute's vision for a healthy world.
Prevention
Integrative Health
Health Disparities
Health Literacy
1 WHO. Preventing Chronic Diseases: A Vital Investment. 2005. Available at: http://www.who.int/chp/chronic_disease_report/en/index.html
2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Costs of Chronic Diseases. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/overview.htm
3 CIA. World Factbook. Life Expectancy. Available: https://www.cia.gov/library/pub....ctbook/rankorder/2102rank.htm
