The leading cause of disability and death in the United States is chronic disease. Heart disease and diabetes lead the list. ...more

December 27, 2009

The leading cause of disability and death in the United States is chronic disease. Heart disease and diabetes lead the list. About 133 million Americans live with at least one chronic disease and more than one in 10 have three or more. Your humble author is well acquainted with these numbers in so far as 18 months ago I received a new lease on life, a liver in an 8-hour transplant surgery. The costs are staggering. Chronic disease accounts for 75 percent of the more than $2 trillion spent on health care each year. Coronary heart disease alone, which afflicts 16.8 million Americans, costs some $165 billion a year. ...more

December 27, 2009

President-elect Barack Obama this week coped with an unwelcome distraction in accusations against Illinois' governor but continued to make key appointments and make inauguration plans. ...more

December 13, 2008