Healthy People 2010 Initiative Expects Life Expectancy, Quality of Life to Increase

According to the Healthy People 2010 website, federal agencies are working to achieve two major health goals by the year 2010. Increase quality of life with more years of healthier living, and to eliminate health disparities in different segments of the overall population.

As one of the objectives of Healthy People 2010, it challenges people from all around the nation to take very specific steps to help ensure that each person has good health as well as a long lived life. Healthy People 2010 also wants people to make better choices in their life regarding themselves as well as their family by choosing the right doctor, health insurance, get the right health information if needed, and to live a healthy lifestyle.

What exactly is Healthy People 2010? It is a set of numerous health objectives for our Nation to achieve. The health objectives can be used by all people, communities, organizations as well as others to develop different and unique programs to improve the overall health of our people. Leading health indicators will include, physical activity, overweight and obesity, tobacco use, substance abuse, responsible sexual behavior, mental health, injury and violence, environmental quality, immunizations, and access to health care.

According to Healthy People 2010, the indicators are to help people understand the overall importance of health promotion as well as disease prevention. Healthy People 2010 is encouraging everyone to participate by campaigning to improve overall health in the next decade. Taking these sort of drastic actions can have a direct impact of increasing a person's quality of life as well as eliminating specific health problems.

Individuals, groups, and organizations are being asked to integrate the Healthy People 2010 campaign into their current programs, special events, publications as well as their meetings. They are asking that schools, colleges, and other organizations to use activities to promote a healthier life to members of the community. Health care providers are also encouraged to help encourage their patients in making the right choices when it comes to their health. By getting the word out and taking these steps towards a healthier life style, the goal of Healthy People 2010 does not seem to far from reach.

The top 10 agencies who are involved in making Healthy People 2010 a reality are the Administration on Aging, Administration for Children and Families, Agency for HealthCare Research and Quality, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Food and Drug Administration, Health Resources and Services Administration, Indian Health Services, National Institute of Health, and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

SOURCE : Healthy People 2010
http://www.healthypeople.gov/default.htm