Freakonomics

chapter 5

The most common cause of death in America is heart disease. Why does you think this seems less insidious than, say, cancer or AIDS? Is this connected to the sense of control one has over the factors leading to heart disease?

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Last updated by Aslan
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I I think you are correct. The idea that heart disease depends on largely dietary and tobacco lifestyle choices appeases many people's fears. There are many drugs that can used to treat heart disease that are considered benign compared to toxic chemo-therapy and HIV drugs. Many people think that heart disease is a manageable illness compared to imminently life threatening diseases like cancer and AIDS.