The differences in the prevalence, mortality, and burden of disease and other adverse health conditions that exist among specific population groups. For example, a well documented health disparity exists around hypertension or high blood pressure. African Americans have a much greater rate of hypertension or high blood pressure than do Caucasians; in other words, the prevalence of hypertension or high blood pressure is higher among African Americans than it is among Caucasians. Another example of a health disparity would be in rate of death, or mortality, for lung cancer. Proportionally more people die of lung cancer in the South than in any other region of the U.S. Another way that health disparities exist is in the burden of disease on a population. The burden of disease reflects the impact of an illness on a group of people. It can be measured in many ways, including lost years of life, work absences, and effect on quality of life. One disparity in the burden of disease is that poor people with chronic diseases suffer more limitations in activity than people with same chronic diseases who have money. (All examples from Health, United States, 2002) Another example of disproportionate burden of disease is the fact that the rate of death among American Indians and Alaskan Natives is 740% higher than the rate of death for alcoholism in other US populations. (Source: Indian Health Service publication Facts on Indian Health Disparities; 2001).