By the Numbers — The State of America’s Health Today

• The U.S. spends over $4.5 trillion annually on health care, yet chronic disease rates continue to rise; heart disease, cancer and diabetes remain the leading preventable causes of death
• Nearly 47% of U.S. adults have high blood pressure, while heart disease kills one person every 34 seconds. This accounts for approximately 700,000 deaths annually in America
• Cancer rates continue to climb, with over 2 million new cases reported in 2024. Research links cancer to poor metabolic health and lifestyle factors
• Diabetes affects 38.4 million Americans while obesity impacts 41.9% of all adults. Both conditions disrupt your metabolism and contribute to numerous health complications that cost billions annually
• The modern health crisis in the U.S. is a direct consequence of a system designed to manage and mask symptoms rather than promote health. To reverse this trend, our focus must shift to optimizing cellular health

(Mercola)—The modern health care system is failing at its most basic function — preventing disease and promoting health. Chronic illness has become the norm in the Western world, and despite decades of technical advancements, rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and autoimmune disorders continue to climb.

The United States spends more on health care than any other nation¹ — over $4.5 trillion annually² — yet its health outcomes rank among the worst. The leading causes of death are largely preventable and most share common risk factors, specifically poor diet, metabolic dysfunction, chronic inflammation and exposure to environmental toxins.

Despite this, the health care system remains fixated on expensive treatments rather than tackling the root causes. Billions are funneled into pharmaceuticals and medical interventions that merely manage and mask symptoms. Until this approach changes, preventable deaths will continue to climb, and the financial burden for Americans will only worsen.

Cardiovascular Diseases Remain the Leading Cause of Death Among Americans

According to the American Heart Association, nearly 47% of U.S. adults have high blood pressure. This condition does not appear suddenly; it develops over the years, silently damaging your arteries and straining your heart. For many, the first sign of trouble is a life-threatening event such as a fatal heart attack or stroke. In fact, heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S., killing one person every 34 seconds, which accounts for nearly 700,000 deaths annually.³

• Coronary artery disease is the most common form of heart disease — It occurs when plaque builds up and narrows the arteries, restricting blood flow to the heart. This condition is responsible for over 375,000 deaths annually and often presents no symptoms until a major blockage occurs. When symptoms do appear, they include chest pain, shortness of breath and fatigue — warning signs that circulation is already compromised.⁴
• When an artery becomes fully blocked, a heart attack follows — Every year, 805,000 Americans suffer a heart attack.⁵ Those who survive often experience lasting heart damage, increasing their risk of future complications.

Heart failure is another major contributor to cardiovascular-related deaths, affecting over 6 million Americans. Unlike a sudden heart attack, heart failure develops gradually as the heart weakens and struggles to pump blood effectively.⁶

• Early symptoms of heart failure worsen over time — Early signs of heart failure include persistent fatigue, swelling in the legs or abdomen and difficulty breathing, especially during physical activity. As the condition progresses, fluid retention worsens, and even minor exertion becomes exhausting. In 2022 alone, heart failure was associated with 457,212 deaths.⁷
• Stroke remains the fifth leading cause of death — It kills one in six Americans and leaving many survivors with permanent disabilities.⁸ Ischemic stroke, which account for 87% of all cases, occurs when a clot blocks blood flow to the brain. Meanwhile, hemorrhagic stroke results from a ruptured blood vessel. The symptoms of stroke include slurred speech, loss of coordination and weakness on one side of the body.⁹

Cancer — A Metabolic Disease Fueled by Modern Lifestyles

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S., with over 2 million new cases in 2024 and projected 611,720 deaths during this period.¹⁰ This complex group of diseases affects nearly any part of the body, often developing silently before manifesting noticeable symptoms.

• Poor metabolic health and lifestyle choices contribute to cancer development — The relationship between cancer and poor metabolic health resulting from a poor diet, sedentary lifestyle and exposure to environmental toxins is well-established. Cancer cells thrive in environments characterized by chronic inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic stress.^11,12
• Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths — Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in both men and women but remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, accounting for one in five of all cancer fatalities.¹³

Symptoms often include a persistent cough, chest pain, hoarseness and coughing up blood. Smoking is the primary risk factor, linked to about 80% to 90% of cases, but non-smokers are also at risk, particularly due to factors like radon exposure and air pollution.¹⁴

• Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women — An estimated 281,550 new cases are expected annually in the U.S. It is the second leading cause of cancer death among women, following lung cancer. Early signs include a lump in the breast, changes in breast shape or size, dimpling of the skin or nipple discharge.¹⁵ Studies show that obesity and insulin resistance significantly increase breast cancer risk.¹⁶
• Standard mammograms come with limitations and risks — Regular mammograms are typically recommended for early diagnosis. However, be aware that mammograms come with significant drawbacks.

While they are often promoted as life-saving tools, research shows they do not substantially reduce breast cancer mortality. Instead, they expose women to ionizing radiation, which itself increases cancer risk, and have high rates of false positives, leading to unnecessary biopsies, surgeries and treatments.^17,18

• In men, prostate cancer is the most common cancer — In 2024, there were an estimated 299,010 new cases of prostate cancer in the U.S.¹⁹ Advanced stages lead to urinary difficulties, pelvic pain and blood in the urine. Prostate health is strongly influenced by diet and metabolic function, with research linking insulin resistance and chronic inflammation to more aggressive disease progression.²⁰

Meanwhile, colorectal cancer, the third most common cancer in both men and women,²¹ has been linked to lifestyle factors such as poor diet, chronic inflammation and gut dysbiosis.²²

Prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes Continues to Soar

Like heart disease and cancer, diabetes is another consequence of widespread metabolic dysfunction, driven by poor diet and insulin resistance. Diabetes is a significant public health concern in the United States, affecting approximately 38.4 million people, or 11.6% of the population, as of 2021.²³

• Type 2 diabetes makes up the vast majority of diabetes cases — The two primary forms are Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disorder leading to insufficient insulin production, and Type 2 diabetes, where the body becomes resistant to insulin’s effects.

Type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90% to 95% of all diagnosed cases in adults.²⁴ The prevalence of diabetes has been rising steadily, with significant implications for public health. In 2021, diabetes was mentioned as a cause of death in a total of 399,401 death certificates.²⁵

• Diabetes leads to serious complications and massive economic costs — Beyond mortality, diabetes contributes to cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, nerve damage and vision problems, just to name a few. These complications diminish your quality of life and impose substantial economic burdens, with the total cost of diagnosed diabetes in the U.S. reaching $412.9 billion in 2022.²⁶
• At the cellular level, diabetes is associated with impaired insulin secretion and action — In Type 2 diabetes, pancreatic β-cells, responsible for insulin production, often exhibit dysfunction and reduced mass. Factors such as chronic inflammation, oxidative stress and metabolic disturbances contribute to β-cell failure.²⁷ Additionally, insulin resistance in peripheral tissues like muscle and fat impairs glucose uptake, exacerbating hyperglycemia.²⁸

The Statistics on Obesity

Obesity is now an epidemic in the U.S., affecting 41.9% of adults and nearly 20% of children. It is a major driver of heart disease, diabetes and even cancer. While conventional advice focuses on “calories in, calories out,” this oversimplified view ignores the underlying metabolic dysfunction that makes obesity so difficult to reverse.

• Mainstream medicine ignores the metabolic root causes — Instead of addressing poor mitochondrial function, insulin resistance and chronic inflammation, mainstream medicine has embraced quick-fix solutions by Big Pharma like Ozempic (semaglutide).

These weight loss injections have surged in popularity, but they fail to correct the metabolic damage driving obesity, leading to muscle loss, nutrient deficiencies and long-term reliance on medication. In fact, those who stop taking Ozempic regain the weight they’ve lost, a phenomenon known as “Ozempic rebound.”

• The consequences of obesity extend far beyond weight gain — It disrupts energy metabolism, leading to insulin resistance, systemic inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction. It also alters your gut microbiome, reducing populations of beneficial bacteria that regulate appetite, digestion and fat metabolism. This gut dysbiosis contributes to food cravings and poor appetite control.
• Reversing obesity requires restoring mitochondrial health — Supporting insulin sensitivity and eliminating metabolic disruptors such as industrial vegetable oils and ultraprocessed foods are also crucial.

Pharmaceutical weight loss injections like Ozempic offer a temporary reduction in appetite, but they do not fix the cellular-level dysfunction driving obesity. Again, without addressing its underlying metabolic factors, weight loss methods will continue to fail, and obesity rates will keep rising.

Autoimmune Disorders Affect Millions — Here’s the Breakdown

Autoimmune diseases encompass a wide range of conditions where the immune system mistakenly attacks your body’s own tissues. Here are some key statistics on the prevalence of specific autoimmune diseases:

• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects approximately 1.3 million Americans, making it the third most common type of arthritis after osteoarthritis and gout.^29,30
• Psoriasis impacts about 3% of the U.S. population, translating to over 7.5 million individuals.³¹
• Type 1 diabetes accounts for roughly 5% to 10% of all diabetes cases, with an estimated 1.7 million Americans diagnosed with this condition.^32,33
• Graves’ disease affects approximately one in 100 people in the United States, making it a leading cause of hyperthyroidism.³⁴
• Autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s disease), the most common cause of hypothyroidism, affects about five in 100 Americans.³⁵

These conditions not only impose significant health challenges but also highlight the importance of understanding their underlying mechanisms. Research has emphasized the vital role of cellular health in the development and progression of autoimmune diseases.^36,37

For instance, mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in conditions like lupus, where stressed cells release mitochondrial DNA, triggering immune responses that exacerbate the disease.³⁸ Additionally, dysregulated cell signaling, particularly involving cytokines, contributes to inflammation and tissue damage in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.^39,40

The Decline in Quality of Life — Are You Really Living Longer, or Just Dying Slower?

The average American spends about 12.4 years battling diseases, relying on medications, hospital visits and surgeries to function.⁴¹ Meanwhile, life expectancy in the U.S. has seen significant fluctuations. After declining to 76.4 years in 2021 (the lowest in two decades), it increased to 77.5 years in 2022, and further to 78.4 years in 2023.⁴² But the real issue isn’t just how long people are living — it’s the quality of those years.

• Longevity without health leads to dependence and disability — Many adults enter old age disabled, medicated and unable to remain independent, requiring constant medical intervention. Longevity without health is not a victory — it’s a prolonged decline.
• The use of prescription medications has skyrocketed — The prevalence of chronic diseases has led to a surge in prescription medication use. In 2020, approximately 6.3 billion prescriptions were filled in the U.S., averaging about 19 prescriptions per person.⁴³ From 2017 to March 2020, 49.9% of Americans used at least one prescription drug in the past 30 days, with 24.7% taking three or more and 13.5% taking five or more.⁴⁴
• Medications do not address the root causes — Medications such as statins, antihypertensives and diabetes drugs are no longer temporary solutions but lifelong prescriptions. However, these treatments only manage symptoms. They do not address the underlying causes, leading to prolonged dependency without restoring optimal health.
• Disability rates are also rising — More than 61 million Americans are living with some form of disability.⁴⁵ Issues like joint pain, fatigue and neuropathy limit mobility and independence, further diminishing quality of life.
• Most disabilities are linked to preventable chronic conditions — Many of these disabilities result from chronic conditions that could have been prevented through earlier interventions focusing on metabolic health. For instance, arthritis, heart disease, diabetes and stroke are among the leading causes of disability in the United States. These conditions are often linked to modifiable risk factors such as poor nutrition, physical inactivity and smoking.

Quality Issues with the Supplement Industry

When conventional medicine fails, many turn to supplements in search of better health. The supplement industry is now worth over $50 billion a year, with millions of people relying on their products to make up for what they aren’t getting from their diet.

• Supplements can help but cannot reverse years of poor lifestyle habits — While they are valuable tools for augmenting your health, they do not magically undo years of damage caused by poor diet and lifestyle — especially if those habits remain unchanged. Worse, many of today’s commercial supplements are low-quality, poorly absorbed and designed more for profit than for health.
• The problem isn’t with supplements themselves — It’s with who controls the industry. Just as Big Pharma profits off chronic disease, profit-driven companies and venture capital firms have infiltrated the supplement market with cheap, ineffective formulations that prioritize mass production over efficacy. Many of these products contain synthetic ingredients, fillers and contaminants, offering little to no real benefit.
• Cost-cutting measures compromise product quality — Instead of focusing on nutrient bioavailability and formulation, these companies cut costs by using inferior raw materials, outsourcing manufacturing and relying on aggressive marketing rather than results. As a result, consumers looking for real health solutions are often met with products that lack potency, contain unverified ingredients or are loaded with artificial additives.
• Regulatory loopholes make it easy for low-quality products to dominate store shelves — Unlike pharmaceuticals, supplements do not require FDA approval before being sold, which means many brands can make bold health claims without delivering on them.
• Misleading marketing terms create false trust — Terms like “clinically tested,” “doctor recommended” and “scientifically formulated” often create a false sense of trust, even when the product lacks real efficacy.

Some studies supporting these claims are funded by the companies themselves, making their reliability questionable. This means that you need to be selective about what supplements you take and where you get them from. To help you on your search, look for brands that prioritize purity, potency and bioavailability.

That said, remember that supplements alone cannot replace proper nutrition and lifestyle choices. While certain nutrients are difficult to obtain in optimal amounts from food alone, supplements should always support, not replace, a foundation of real food, movement and metabolic balance.

The Wakeup Call

The epidemic of chronic disease that we’re facing today is not solely a result of genetics nor is it a part of normal aging — it is a predictable outcome of the systemic failures in medicine, nutrition and consumer health education. To address the modern health crisis, a shift is needed, not just in personal health choices, but in medicine itself.

For decades, conventional medicine has focused on treating symptoms rather than addressing the underlying cause of chronic disease. If you follow this conventional model, you’ll likely end up on a lifetime of prescriptions with little to no real improvement in your health. This is not real health care; it’s simply disease management.

But here’s the good news — chronic illness is largely preventable and, in many cases, reversible. Our body is not meant to break down prematurely. Instead, it’s designed to heal and repair itself. Modern medicine has failed, but that doesn’t mean we have to continue down the same path. The key to reversing this current trajectory is addressing health where it truly begins — at the cellular level.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the State of Health Today

Q: Why are chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes still rising despite massive health care spending?

A: The U.S. spends over $4.5 trillion annually on health care, yet chronic disease rates continue to climb. This is largely because the health care system focuses on treating symptoms with medications and interventions rather than addressing root causes like poor diet, metabolic dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and toxin exposure.

Q: How are heart disease and stroke impacting Americans today?

A: Nearly 47% of adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure, with heart disease killing one person every 34 seconds — about 700,000 deaths each year. Coronary artery disease, heart attacks, heart failure, and strokes are all major contributors to mortality and disability, often developing silently and becoming apparent only through severe events.

Q: What role do metabolic health and lifestyle play in cancer and diabetes?

A: Cancer, the second leading cause of death in the U.S., is strongly linked to poor metabolic health, inflammation, and unhealthy lifestyle choices. Similarly, Type 2 diabetes, which affects 38.4 million Americans, stems from insulin resistance and poor diet, leading to complications such as heart disease, kidney failure, and nerve damage — costing billions annually.

Q: Why is obesity such a persistent issue, and are weight-loss drugs a solution?

A: Obesity now affects 41.9% of adults and 20% of children, driven by metabolic dysfunction rather than simple calorie imbalance. Quick-fix solutions like Ozempic may temporarily suppress appetite but fail to address the root causes, resulting in “Ozempic rebound” and long-term medication reliance. True reversal requires improving mitochondrial health, insulin sensitivity, and eliminating metabolic disruptors.

Q: What’s the key takeaway for improving health and reversing this crisis?

A: Chronic disease is not an unavoidable part of aging or genetics — it’s the result of systemic failures in medicine and lifestyle. The current system prioritizes symptom management over prevention. Reversing this crisis requires shifting focus to cellular health, nutrient-rich diets, physical activity, and personalized interventions rather than relying on pharmaceuticals alone.

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