What Are Chronic Diseases & How To Treat

Stethoscope laying on a form

People in Hawaii are just as susceptible to chronic disease as people anywhere else. The "chronic" definition is a condition that develops gradually and persists for a long period of time. Having a chronic illness can severely decrease your quality of life, but there may be options for managing symptoms that become available to you after you receive your diagnosis. 

Major Chronic Diseases

Chronic disease can range in severity. Some conditions are mild and have only minimal impact on your life. Others are major chronic diseases that greatly impact quality of life. In many cases, part of what makes medical conditions chronic is that they have no cure. Treatment options involve managing symptoms so that they are not so troublesome. Here are some examples of major chronic conditions that may affect you or your family members in Hawaii. 

Heart Disease & Stroke

The cardiovascular system includes the heart and blood vessels. If the blood vessels get clogged with cholesterol and other materials, it can affect circulation and increase blood pressure. The chronic ill health effects that can result are known collectively as heart disease or cardiovascular disease. Heart attack and stroke can occur when blood flow to the heart or the brain is insufficient because of cardiovascular disease. One in three deaths in the United States occurs due to cardiovascular conditions, including stroke and heart attack. 

Cancer

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Approximately 600,000 people die of cancer every year, and thousands more are diagnosed with it. Cancer is the growth of abnormal cells in the body. Left untreated, these cells can spread to other areas, making the condition harder to treat. 

There are many different kinds of cancers. Some are more treatable than others, but all generally have a better prognosis if caught in the early stages before they have a chance to spread. Some can be diagnosed early with regular screening tests, while others are preventable with vaccines and lifestyle modifications. 

Diabetes

Diabetes is a deficiency of the hormone insulin, which affects metabolism by raising the blood sugar to unsafe levels. A serious chronic disease in itself, diabetes can also lead to or complicate other medical conditions. Diabetes affects over 34 million people in the United States, but approximately a quarter of those do not know they have it. Prediabetes is an elevated blood sugar level that puts you at risk for diabetes. Though dangerous, prediabetes is reversible, but only about 10% of people who have it are aware of it. 

Other Chronic Diseases

There are many other serious chronic diseases. Some are present from birth, while others are acquired later in life. They can affect many different systems in the body and negatively impact overall well-being and quality of life: 

  • Crohn's disease: A type of inflammatory bowel disease affecting the large and small intestines

  • Eating disorders: Compulsive eating behaviors that can have serious complications

  • Asthma: A chronic condition that occasionally causes acute narrowing of the airways

  • Arthritis: Inflammation of the joints

  • Osteoporosis: Loss of bone mass that causes brittleness and increases the risk for fractures

  • Dementia (e.g., Alzheimer's disease): Degenerative loss of cognitive function, often progressive

Major Risk Factors

Treating chronic diseases can be a challenge. Fortunately, many are preventable. Four main risk factors contribute to the development of many chronic illnesses. 

Tobacco Use

People think of tobacco as damaging the lungs, but it harms nearly every other bodily organ in one way or another. It impedes healing from injuries by decreasing blood flow. It is also carcinogenic, meaning that it can cause cancer of the lungs, mouth, or throat. 

If you do not smoke, it does not necessarily mean that you are safe from the effects of tobacco. In the United States, 58 million people who do not use tobacco are exposed to secondhand smoke, perhaps from a family member or at their workplace. In children, secondhand smoke increases the risk of respiratory infections, impaired lung function, and sudden infant death syndrome, while adults may develop coronary artery disease or lung cancer, all because of someone else's bad habit. 

Poor Nutrition

Nutrients from the foods you eat provide the building blocks by which your health is maintained and the fuel to make your body go. Unfortunately, many Americans forgo healthy foods like fruits and vegetables in favor of cheap and easy processed foods and sugary drinks. The negative effects of poor nutrition include obesity, tooth decay, and brain function deficits. 

Lack of Physical Activity

Physical activity helps to strengthen the cardiovascular system. Even with no other risk factors, lack of physical activity can lead to heart disease. It can also contribute to weight gain, especially when combined with poor nutrition. Lack of physical activity can increase your risk for certain cancers. Four-fifths of high school students and three-quarters of adults in the United States do not get enough physical activity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention standards. 

Excessive Alcohol Use

While drinking alcohol in moderation is not very dangerous, there are health risks involved with heavy drinking, which involves consuming between eight and 15 alcoholic beverages per week, depending on your gender. There are also risks associated with binge drinking, which involves consuming more than four or five drinks on a single occasion. Excessive alcohol consumption is a risk factor for chronic diseases of the liver, including cirrhosis, hepatitis, and fatty liver disease. It can also increase the risk of stroke, high blood pressure, and heart conditions such as irregular heartbeat and cardiomyopathy, which affects the heart muscle. 

Begin Your Chronic Disease Treatment in Waikiki Today

You may not think of an urgent care clinic as the first place to go to treat chronic disease. While we do not provide long-term management of your condition, we can perform screenings and diagnose certain conditions. We can also refer you to providers who can work with you to develop a treatment plan. Contact us for more information or just stop by our office. You do not need to make an appointment beforehand to be seen in our clinic.

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