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Many people have small pouches in their colons that bulge outward through weak spots. Each pouch is called a diverticulum. About 10% of Americans older than age 40 years have diverticulosis, which, when the pouches become infected or inflamed, is called diverticulitis. The main cause of diverticular disease is a low-fiber diet.
More than one-third of adult Americans are obese. Diseases that kill the largest number of people annually, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, stroke, and hypertension, can be attributed to diet.
People about to have surgery must tell their health care providers about all supplements they take.
More than 150,000 Americans killed by cardiovascular disease are younger than the age of 65 years.
According to the FDA, adverse drug events harmed or killed approximately 1,200,000 people in the United States in the year 2015.