Chronic diseases exact a substantial toll on people who live with them and the community at large. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that nearly 50 percent of the population in the United States has one or more chronic diseases. Healthy life choices, such as participating in a regular program to stay physically active, avoiding tobacco use, limiting alcohol intake and achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight, significantly reduce the risk for most common chronic illnesses.
Cardiovascular Diseases
The heart and blood vessels comprise the cardiovascular system, which performs the life-sustaining mission of delivering nutrients and oxygen to the body tissues. Most cardiovascular diseases prove chronic, developing and progressing gradually over time. In Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics 2010, the American Heart Association reports that nearly 37 percent of the population in the United States has one or more cardiovascular diseases. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, proves most common with 74.5 million people affected. Approximately 8.5 million adults have had a heart attack, 6.4 million have had a stroke and 5.8 million have heart failure. Obesity, lack of physical activity and smoking are important modifiable risk factors that significantly contribute to the risk for cardiovascular disease.
Lung Diseases
The lungs extract oxygen from the air, which crosses into the blood stream for delivery by the cardiovascular system. The exchange of gases occurs in delicate lung structures called air sacs, or alveoli. Conditions that damage these structures or the larger lung airways can significantly compromise the capacity to take in sufficient oxygen to sustain the body. The American Lung Association reports that as of 2008, more than 35 million adults and children in the United States had chronic lung disease. These illnesses include asthma, chronic obstructive bronchitis, emphysema, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, sarcoidosis, bronchiectasis, silicosis and asbestosis. Smoking is the leading cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a prevalent form of chronic lung disease.
Gastrointestinal Diseases
The gastrointestinal system processes and absorbs nutrients from food to maintain and fuel the body. This body system includes the food pipe, or esophagus, stomach, bowels, pancreas, liver and gallbladder. Chronic gastrointestinal diseases can significantly affect quality of life and the capacity to maintain a healthy body. The medical reference text "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine" notes that chronic diseases of the intestines include celiac disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulosis, Whipple's disease, short bowel syndrome and Crohn's disease. Chronic liver diseases include alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, chronic hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis C, hemochromatosis, Crigler-Najjar syndrome, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, primary sclerosing cholangitis, chronic cholangitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, Wilson's disease and autoimmune hepatitis. Other chronic gastrointestinal diseases include achalasia, peptic ulcer disease and chronic pancreatitis.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Chronic Disease and Health Promotion
- American Heart Association: Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics 2010 Update At-A-Glance
- American Lung Association: Lung Disease Data 2008
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 16th Edition"; Dennis L. Kasper, M.D., et al., Editors; 2004
- National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute: COPD
