Final answer:
Over 1/3 of adults and 12% of children in the U.S. use complementary health practices to enhance their well-being and manage chronic diseases, alongside conventional medicine. These practices encompass various modalities, and their adoption reflects broader efforts to improve health outcomes through lifestyle modifications and preventative strategies.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the latest survey reported by the CDC, over 1/3 of adults and 12% of children in the United States use some form of complementary health practices to improve their health, manage symptoms of chronic diseases, or counteract the side effects of conventional medicine.
Complementary health practices refer to approaches and techniques that are used in conjunction with conventional medical treatments to promote overall well-being and address health-related issues. These practices are often seen as complementary rather than alternative because they are used alongside mainstream medical care.
Complementary health practices are often integrated with standard medical treatments and can include various modalities such as dietary supplements, meditation, chiropractic care, and acupuncture. With the rise of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer—as well as behavioral risk factors like a sedentary lifestyle and poor nutrition—many Americans are turning to additional health strategies that can provide support for conventional treatment methods and promote overall well-being.
Preventative measures, healthy lifestyles, and informed choices are key to managing and improving one's health. It is evident that lifestyle and diet significantly impact the incidence of noninfectious diseases, which can be largely prevented through such interventions.