Statistics show that more than half of all Americans with chronic diseases don’t follow their physician’s advice

American Heart Association. Statistics You Need to Know. Dallas, Tex: American Heart Association; 2005
This substantiates the claim that more than half of all Americans with chronic diseases don’t follow their physician’s medication and lifestyle guidance. Heart disease and stroke can often be prevented, but these diseases remain the number 1 and number 3 killers of Americans, and the demand for treatments continues to grow. From 1979 to 2002, the number of cardiovascular operations and procedures increased 470%. The failure of patients to follow medical advice unquestionably contributes to this problem.

"The American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association recognize that patient education is an important way to help individuals "learn and live," and our Web sites, www.americanheart.org and www.strokeassociation.org, provide easy access to the latest information on heart disease and stroke."