Chronic diseases are those disease processes that last for a prolonged time. Most are incurable. The onset may be acute, but unresponsive to treatment, or it may develop slowly and progressively worsen over time. A non-communicable disease is not contagious or passed from one person to another through touch or contact with body fluids. Chronic non-contagious diseases affect all body systems.
Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic kidney disease is often missed in the early stages because the initial symptoms--headache, nausea, fatigue, itching and loss of appetite--are common of many other diseases. As kidney function worsens, symptoms such as a change in skin color to very dark or very light, insomnia, excessive thirst, feet and hand swelling, unusual breath odor, drowsiness and bone pain develop.
Diagnostic exams to determine kidney function include a urinalysis and blood tests to check for any abnormalities in creatinine levels, blood urea nitrogen and electrolytes. Chronic kidney disease is a slowly progressing loss of kidney function that leads to end-stage renal disease, or ESRD. Medline Plus reports that chronic kidney disease and ESRD affect more than two out of every 1,000 people in the United States. Chronic kidney disease will ultimately require dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a painful chronic disorder in which the cells from the lining of the uterus grow in other places, such as the pelvic lining, ovaries or fallopian tubes. The endometrial tissue follows the same monthly cycle as a menstrual cycle--it bleeds, but there's no place for the blood to go except into surrounding tissue. The irritation from the trapped blood can cause scar tissue.
The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that endometriosis affects 6 to 10 percent of American women of childbearing age, and it is a leading cause of infertility in women. Symptoms of endometriosis include pelvic pain, heavy bleeding during menstruation and infertility. Treatment options include drug therapies for symptom relief, surgical removal of the uterus and ovaries and comfort measures such as therapeutic massage.
Chronic Cystitis
Cystitis is an infection of the lower urinary tract, which includes the urethra and bladder. The lower urinary tract is normally sterile; however, the introduction of bacteria causes inflammation and irritation and, ultimately, cystitis. Cystitis becomes chronic when there are repeated episodes of more than two occurrences within six months or if a urinary tract infection lasts longer than two weeks, as reported by Drugs.com, an online medical encyclopedia.
Symptoms of chronic cystitis include lower pelvic pressure, painful and frequent urination, bloody urine and a strong urine odor. Treatment for chronic cystitis includes long-term antibiotic therapy to remove the infection and reduce the chances of it migrating to the kidney.
