As researchers continue to map the estimated 100,000 human genes, they have learned that as many as 4,000 diseases have a genetic, or inherited, component. In some, such as cystic fibrosis and sickle-cell anemia, genes are directly responsible for the disease. In others, such as breast, colorectal, and ovarian cancers, genes impart a susceptibility to develop the disease.

Along with genes identified as links to diseases, the number of genetic tests available to determine whether a person will develop a certain disease or whether a person is at increased risk is growing. These tests can be both a blessing and a curse.
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Every year, chronic diseases claim the lives of more than 1.7 million Americans. Yet many of these deaths can be prevented. The major chronic disease killers—heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes—are often directly related to how individuals behave in their daily lives. In other words, you can do plenty to prevent them from shortening your life. But first, you need to know something about them.

Cardiovascular diseases are the nation’s leading killers. Diseases of the heart and blood vessels claim nearly 1 million lives annually. Approximately one-third of those people die prematurely—younger than their average life expectancy. Among the most common cardiovascular diseases are coronary artery disease, the leading cause of death; stroke, the third leading cause of death; and hypertension (high blood pressure), which contributes to death from both heart attack and stroke.

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