Chronic Disease

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. Some of the most common chronic diseases include:

Other types of chronic conditions include:

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.

Unfortunately, these conditions can also cause other long-term complications, including kidney failure, disability and limb amputation. Your doctor, however, can often help prevent these diseases altogether, or find the best ways to treat your condition and manage your symptoms. Through routine medical visits, we can pinpoint issues while they are manageable – sometimes even when still reversible.

Causes of Chronic Disease

So, what causes chronic diseases in the first place? While there are many factors, one of the main issues is unhealthy behaviors such as:

By changing these habits, 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. They can also recommend exercise regimes that are right for your needs and abilities. This will help you maintain a healthy weight and lower your risk of chronic diseases. They can even help you find programs that will aid you in quitting bad habits, like smoking and heavy drinking.