According to the Center of Disease Control, chronic diseases cause 7 out of 10 deaths each year and are responsible for 86 percent of America’s health care costs. As of 2012, about half of all American adults had at least one chronic health problem. About one in four adults had two or more chronic diseases.
Some of the most common chronic diseases include:
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Asthma
- Arthritis
Other types of chronic conditions include:
- Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
- Cystic fibrosis
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Eating disorders
- Gum disease
Unfortunately, these conditions can also cause other long-term complications that may impede daily activities and decrease your quality of life. If you have any of these illnesses, contact your physician immediately and get started on treatment or follow up to manage your condition and improve your quality of life. If you are unsure if you have a chronic illness, your physician also plays an important role in helping to screen for these diseases so that if detected early, it can be treated before serious complications develop.
Causes of Chronic Illness
Who is at risk for these chronic illnesses? Here are a few factors that may contribute:
- Sedentary lifestyle (Lack of exercise)
- Poor diet
- Heavy alcohol use
- Tobacco (cigarette) smoking
- Family history of chronic illnesses
By adjusting your lifestyle, you can greatly decrease your chances of developing some of these chronic illnesses.
It can be a challenge to know exactly what constitutes a healthy diet or what exercise plan is right for you. Your doctor can discuss foods you should eat, as well as foods you should avoid. Plus, we can recommend exercise regimes that are right for your needs and abilities. This will help you maintain a healthy weight and lower the risk of chronic diseases. We can even help you find programs that will aid you in quitting bad habits, like smoking and heavy drinking.
Turn to your physician to have your chronic disease diagnosed and treated, and you can see your quality of life drastically improve. Don’t hesitate - if you think you may be suffering the symptoms of a chronic disease, schedule an appointment today.