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New U．S．Plan for Disease Prevention Urging Americans to take responsibility for their health,Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson on Tuesday launched a$15 million program to try to encourage communities to do more to prevent chronic diseases like heart disease，cancer and diabetes． The initiative highlights the cost of chronic diseases一the leading causes of death in the United Statesand outlines ways that people Can prevent them，including better diet and increased exercise． In the United States today,7 of 10 deaths and the vast majority of serious illness，disability and health care costs are caused by chronic diseases,the Health and Human Services Department said in a statement． The causes are often behavioralsmoking，poor eating habits and a lack of exercise． I am convinced that preventing disease by promoting better health is a smart policy choice for our future，Thompson told a conference held to launch the initiatiative. Our current health care system is not structured to deal with the escalating costs of treating diseases that are largely preventable through changes in our lifestyle choices. Thompson said heart disease and strokes will cost the country more than$351 billion in 2003． These leading causes of death for men and women are largely preventable，yet we as a nation are not taking the steps necessary for US to lead healthier, longer lives，he said． | 
