Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin, M.D., M.B.A, served as the 18th Surgeon General under President Barack Obama. She also served as First Chair of the National Prevention, Health Promotion and Public Health Council that developed the road map for the Nation’s Health called, The National Prevention Strategy. Before becoming “America’s Doctor,” she served her patients at the rural health clinic she founded in tiny Bayou La Batre, Alabama. Dr. Jorge Rodriguez, M.D., is a charismatic no-nonsense physician, nationally-renowned Board Certified Internist. He has the gift for simplifying even the most complicated topics. Dr. Rodriguez divides his time between two practices in Southern California.

While chronic health issues like Diabetes and Heart Disease are most often at the forefront of health conversations, Dr. Benjamin and Dr. Rodriguez will highlight that there are other health concerns that affect communities and that are often not talked about, including vaccine-preventable infectious diseases such as Pneumococcal Pneumonia.

Chronic diseases and disabilities are responsible for 7 of 10 deaths and is 86% of healthcare cost in the U.S.  The most common chronic diseases and conditions are; Heart Disease, Stroke, Cancer, Type 2 Diabetes, Obesity and Arthritis.  They are the most costly and preventable.

More than half of Adult Americans suffer from one chronic disease and 1 of 4 have 2 or more chronic health conditions.  

An analysis from the Milken Institute determined that treatment of the 7 most common chronic diseases combined with productivity losses will cost the U.S. economy more than a $1.0 trillion dollars annually.  Health care spending increased 5.3 % in 2014, topping $3.0 trillion or $9,523 per person which is 17.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).  With the increased costs of Health care these numbers may cause more instability to the U.S. economy.

Dr. Benjamin and Dr. Rodriguez discuss:

• Top Chronic Diseases in the U.S.
• Why Chronic Diseases increases risk for pneumonia.
• Preventions.
• Cultural Barriers.
• What Alarms Dr. Benjamin the most.

For additional information please contact Dr. Regina Benjamin at www.reginabenjamin.net or www.bayouclinic.org and/or Dr. Jorge Rodriguez at www.DrJorge.com.

To listen to my interview with Dr. Benjamin and Dr. Rodriguez, please click below.