Chronic Disease

Chronic diseases — such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes — are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. Chronic diseases account for 70 percent of all deaths in the U.S., which is 1.7 million each year. These diseases also cause major limitations in daily living for almost 1 out of 10 Americans.

There are two types of illnesses: acute and chronic. Acute illnesses (such as a cold or the flu) are usually over relatively quickly. Chronic illnesses, though, are long-lasting health conditions (the word "chronic" comes from the Greek word "chronos," meaning time).

While chronic diseases are among the most common and costly health problems, they are also among the most preventable. Adopting healthy behaviors such as eating nutritious foods, being physically active and avoiding tobacco use can prevent or control the devastating effects of these diseases.

Last updated 3/19/09