BRFSS:
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
The BRFSS, the world’s largest telephone survey, tracks health risks
in the United States. Information from the survey is used to improve the
health of the American people.
Learn more about the BRFSS
Cardiovascular Health
Killing almost one million Americans each year, cardiovascular
disease—primarily heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke—are the
leading causes of death in men and women across all racial/ethnic groups
in the United States. These diseases account for nearly 40% of all deaths.
Deaths are only part of the picture.
More than 64 million, almost 25% of the population, live with cardiovascular
disease. In 2004, cardiovascular disease will cost the nation more than $368
billion in healthcare expenditures and lost productivity. The costs are
growing as the population ages, as are two of the major CVH risk factors,
high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol.
Key strategies for addressing the burden are controlling high blood
pressure, managing high blood cholesterol, improving emergency response,
knowing signs and symptoms, improving the quality of care, and eliminating disparities.
Learn more about CDC's Cardiovascular
Health Efforts
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition affecting about
2.3 million Americans. Approximately 181,000 people are diagnosed with
epilepsy and seizures each year. For the vast majority of epilepsy cases,
no single cause has been determined.
Learn more about
CDC's Epilepsy Efforts
Health-Related Quality of Life Surveillance
In public health and medicine, the concept of health-related quality of
life refers to a person's or group's perceived physical and mental health
over time. Tracking health-related quality of life in different
populations can identify subgroups with poor physical or mental health and
can help guide policies or interventions to improve their health.
Learn more about
CDC's Health-Related Quality of Life Efforts
Prevention Research Centers
Prevention Research Centers strive to improve health promotion and
disease prevention efforts by focusing on high-priority public health
issues, bridging gaps between scientific knowledge and public health
practice, applying and rapidly transferring research results, and
enhancing cooperation between academic institutions and state and local
health departments.
Learn more about the Prevention Research
Centers
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