What Is a Chronic Disease?
A chronic disease is a medical condition that has lasted for several months that requires ongoing medical attention or is limiting the activities you are able to complete as part of day-to-day life. The leading cause of disability and death in the U.S. is chronic disease such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Chronic disease is often caused by risky behaviour choices such as smoking or second-hand smoke exposure, poor nutrition, excessive alcohol use and a lack of physical activity. Chronic diseases need to be managed and treated for the rest of a person's life as there is no vaccine or cure for chronic diseases.
