Chronic Disease
                     CHRONIC 
DISEASE
CHRONIC DISEASE
• A disease or condition that usually lasts for 3 months 
or longer and may get worse over time. 
• Chronic diseases tend to occur in older adults and can 
usually be controlled but not cured. 
• The most common types of chronic disease are 
cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and arthritis.
Source: www.cancer.gov
WHAT ARE THE 
CHRONIC DISEASES?
• Chronic diseases tend to become more common with 
age. 
• The leading chronic diseases in developed countries 
include arthritis, cardiovascular disease such as heart 
attacks and stroke, cancer such as breast and colon 
cancer, diabetes, epilepsy and seizures, obesity, and 
oral health problems
Source: www.medicinenet.com
ARTHRITIS AND 
RELATED CONDITIONS
• Arthritis and related conditions are the leading cause 
of disability in the US affecting nearly 43 million 
Americans. 
• Although cost-effective interventions are available to 
reduce the burden of arthritis, they are underused.
Source: www.medicinenet.com
CARDIOVASCULAR 
DISEASE
• Three health-related behaviors--tobacco use, lack of 
physical activity, and poor nutrition--contribute 
markedly to heart disease. 
• Modifying these behaviors is critical for both 
preventing and controlling heart disease.
Source: www.medicinenet.com
CANCER
• Cancer is largely controllable through prevention, 
early detection, and treatment. 
• Reducing the nation's cancer burden requires reducing 
the prevalence of the behavioral and environmental 
factors that increase cancer risk.
Source: www.medicinenet.com
DIABETES
• It is a serious, costly, and increasingly common 
chronic disease. Early detection, improved delivery of 
care, and better self-management are the key 
strategies for preventing much of the burden of 
diabetes.
Source: www.medicinenet.com
EPILEPSY
• Epilepsy and seizures affect about 2.3 million 
Americans, and result in an estimated $12.5 billion in 
medical costs and lost or reduced earnings and 
production annually in the US. 
• People of all ages are affected, but particularly the 
very young and the elderly. 
Source: www.medicinenet.com
OBESITY
• Obesity has reached epidemic proportions among 
people in all age groups. Obesity among adults has 
doubled since 1980. 
• People who are obese or overweight are at increased 
risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, 
arthritis-related disabilities, and some cancers.
Source: www.medicinenet.com
ORAL HEALTH 
PROBLEMS
• Oral health problems are an important and often 
overlooked component of an older adult's general 
health and well-being. 
• Oral health problems can cause pain and suffering as 
well as difficulty in speaking, chewing, swallowing, and 
maintaining a nutritious diet.
Source: www.medicinenet.com
CHARACTERISTICS OF 
A CHRONIC DISEASES
• Chronic illnesses are mostly characterised by:
• Complex causes
• Many risk factors
• Long latency periods (time between the onset of the illness 
and feeling its effects)
• A long illness
• Functional impairment or disability.
Source: www.medicinenet.com