More people than you might expect are living with at least one chronic disease. Chronic Disease Awareness Day aims to build a deeper understanding of what these conditions look like and steps individuals can take to help prevent them or control their symptoms. Below, we’ll discuss facts to know about understanding and managing various types of chronic diseases. Additionally, we’ll cover how improving fitness and making lifestyle changes can help if you or someone in your life is diagnosed with one of these conditions.
What Is Chronic Disease Awareness Day?
More than 90 percent of annual health care spending goes toward treating conditions that patients live with for at least a year and often their entire lives. Building a better understanding of where these diseases come from and how individuals may be able to reduce their likelihood of developing them can go a long way toward reducing certain health care needs over time.
Chronic Disease Awareness Day, which is celebrated on July 10, has two purposes. It aims to raise awareness about control that individuals have over many aspects of their own health. Secondly, it encourages legislative changes. Public health policies that promote healthy lifestyles and give access to essential research, funding, and public health programs are vital.
Types of Chronic Diseases
Health conditions that last for more than a year are considered to be chronic diseases. They can range from causing occasional minor symptoms to having a significant and ongoing impact on your life. Some are curable through a combination of medical treatments and lifestyle changes. However, others are lifelong conditions. According to the Center for Disease Control, approximately 70 percent of people have at least one chronic disease. As a result, these conditions are among the leading causes of death in the United States. Some common types of chronic diseases include:
- Diabetes
- ALS
- Crohn’s disease
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Alzheimer’s disease
Helpful Tips for Preventing Chronic Diseases
Not all chronic diseases can be prevented. However, many are linked to poor nutrition, sedentary lifestyles, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, poor sleep, and other unhealthy lifestyle choices. Taking steps to better understand and make healthy choices can significantly reduce your likelihood of developing many chronic diseases. Additionally, lifestyle changes can also make a significant difference when it comes to reducing the severity of your symptoms. As a result, the overall impact they have on your life is lessened.
Understanding your family’s medical history to the best of your ability can also give you a better idea of which conditions your genetics may make you more likely to develop. Being especially diligent about early and frequent screenings for these chronic diseases can help your doctor identify them as early as possible. As a result, treatment may be more successful. Even if you do not think you are predisposed to developing a specific condition, adhering to screening recommendations can make a significant difference in early detection of both chronic diseases themselves and signs that you may be moving in the direction of developing one that may still be preventable if you immediately begin making essential lifestyle changes.
Build a Healthy Lifestyle With Sworkit Health
Because so many chronic diseases can be prevented or better managed by making healthier lifestyle choices, finding creative and enjoyable ways to stay active plays a key role in reducing your likelihood of developing these conditions and reducing the impact that one that cannot be prevented or you already have has on your life. Sworkit Health provides access to a wide range of at-home workout options for nearly any interest and fitness level to make it easy to start your first fitness routine or try something new. Contact us today to learn more about the benefits of our convenient workout solutions or to start your subscription!
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