According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), chronic diseases—such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes—are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States.
- Seven out of every ten people die from a chronic disease, and almost 50% of Americans suffer from one or more chronic conditions.
- Chronic disease accounts for more than 75% of the $2 trillion spent annually on medical care in the United States and is the single largest factor affecting health-related quality of life.
- Approximately 70 Minnesotans die each day from chronic diseases – about 3 every hour.
The Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP)The Minnesota
Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) was signed into law in 2008 as an integral component of a comprehensive health care reform package. The goal of SHIP is to help Minnesotans live longer, better, healthier lives by reducing the burden of chronic diseases through increasing physical activity, improving nutrition, and reducing tobacco use. SHIP is an expanded version of the
Steps to a HealthierMN model.
Dakota County's SHIP Project
In 2009, the Dakota County Public Health Department received SHIP funding to work with community partners to develop and implement programs to improve nutrition, increase physical activity, and reduce tobacco use in schools, workplaces, community settings, and healthcare sites.