“Take control of your health!” That was the resounding message at a roundtable discussion where West Kendall Baptist Hospital [1] and the Florida Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease [2] (PFCD) announced their Hispanic Community Launch. The PFCD is a coalition committed to raising awareness of the rising rates of preventable and treatable chronic diseases.
Healthcare providers, government officials and community partners came together to hear about the importance of aligning to prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity by taking proactive steps to educate the public about the importance of nutrition and exercise.
The following are some notable statistics about Floridian health, according to the Florida Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease:
• Heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and asthma are the leading cause of death and disability in Florida.
• 62 percent of people in Florida have at least one chronic condition.
• 26 percent have 2 chronic conditions, and 11 percent have three or more.
• Treating people with one or more chronic disease consumes 86 cents of every dollar spent on healthcare.
The Baptist Health South Florida News Team was there to hear the call to action from the panelists. Watch it now.