| Joint effort announced to prevent
4 big diseases
By Megan Rauscher
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The American Cancer Society, American
Diabetes Association, and the American Heart Association today announced
a unified set of health recommendations for the public -- and joint
screening guidelines for physicians -- to reduce the risk of cancer,
diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
"This is the first time in history that these organizations
have joined forces to combat all four diseases," Dr. Ralph
B. Vance, president of the American Cancer Society, said during
press briefing Tuesday, adding that these four diseases account
for nearly two out of every three deaths annually in the U.S.
The three-year advocacy, public and professional health education
campaign entitled "Everyday Choices for a Healthier Life,"
will deliver four simple health messages to the public: First, eat
a healthy diet and maintain a healthy weight. Second, be physically
active (30 minutes per day 5 days per week). Third, don't smoke
and avoid being around others who are smoking; and fourth, see a
physician regularly to assess your personal health risks.
"These four everyday choices we believe have epic power to
lower the risk of becoming one of the 1.5 million Americans who
lose their lives to cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke each
year," said John Seffrin, CEO of the American Cancer Society
and moderator of a press briefing.
For physicians, the three agencies have developed a single set
of evidence-based, cost-effective recommendations for prevention
and early detection of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
These recommendations include the following:
For men and women:
- Blood pressure measurement - every 2 years starting at age 20.
- Body mass index (BMI) measurement - at each regular checkup starting
at age 20.
- Blood cholesterol level - at least every 5 years starting at
age 20.
- Blood glucose test - every 3 years starting at age 45.
- Colorectal screen - every 1 to 10 years depending on the test
used, starting at age 50.
For women:
- Clinical breast exam - starting at age 20, every 3 years; yearly
after 40.
- Mammography - yearly starting at age 40.
- Pap Test - yearly starting at age 20; every 1-3 years after age
30.
For men
- PSA testing and digital rectal exam to be discussed with patients
at age 50.
The complete ACS/AHA/ADS Scientific Statement: Preventing Cancer,
Cardiovascular Disease, and Diabetes is published in the June 15th
rapid access issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart
Association, the July issue of Diabetes Care, and the July/August
issue of the American Cancer Society's CA: A Cancer Journal for
Clinicians.
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