Almost 12 million Americans suffer from asthma. Asthma is the number one reason why children miss school and is the top reason children are admitted to the hospital. An estimated 552,200 Americans will die of cancer this year, which is more than 1,500 people a day. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States and is responsible for about 25 percent of deaths in America. Noncancerous cells in the body grow, divide and produce more cells to keep the body functioning properly.
Cells become cancerous, however, when they begin dividing without control or order.
There are many different types of cancer, including skin, breast, colon, prostate and lung cancer. Whereas there is no known medical cure for cancer, early detection can mean the difference between life and death. Scientists agree that heredity does play a role in some types of cancer, but, like most genetic diseases, the cause of cancer is probably a combination of one s environment, one s family tree and chance. Heart Disease Coronary heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. This type of disease occurs when the coronary arteries, through which blood and oxygen flow to the heart, become partially or completely clogged and thus damage the heart.