Key Symptoms and Risk Factors of Chronic Diseases
Have you ever looked at any diseased person who has been showing symptoms for a long time and keeps visiting doctors regularly? Do you also wonder why their illness lasted for so long? If the answer to any of these questions is yes then you are thinking in the right direction. These diseases are different from your regular flu or fever. But how? Let’s see.
Diseases can be classified into two broad categories, namely chronic diseases and acute diseases. Before discussing chronic diseases and poor health associated with them, let’s take a slight idea of acute diseases. Acute disease is a disorder that has recently onset and lasts for a short time and accompanies distinct symptoms. Strep throat and appendicitis are examples of acute diseases. Chronic diseases or chronic illnesses are diseases that occur gradually and may last for a long time, even for a lifetime. It leads to hampering of the organ and organ system thereby affecting the lifestyle and quality of life. Arthritis, Asthma, COPD and Diabetes are some of the chronic diseases examples.
A List of Examples for Chronic Diseases
Below are a few more chronic illness examples:
AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Disease)
Amputation
Allergies to food and environmental irritants
Asthma
Cancer
Colitis
Cystic fibrosis
Hearing loss
Heart disease
Hepatitis
Lung disorders
Irritable bowel syndrome
Kidney disease
Blindness
Stroke
Crohn’s disease
Spinal Cord injury
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What Are the Symptoms of Chronic Diseases?
Chronic disease can have severe side effects on the body of a patient and some of the common symptoms associated with various chronic diseases are as follows:
Weakening fatigue
Anxiety, hopelessness and depressed mind
The urge of frequently urinating
Loss of hunger or appetite
Intolerable body pain
Bruises or wounds all over the body
High Blood Pressure
High Sugar Levels
Abnormality in blood report
Risk Factors for Chronic Diseases
Non - Modifiable Risk Factors: These are the risk factors associated with hereditary, age, gender and age. These are not because of the choices of a person and the risk factors are non-modifiable or not alterable. Some of the examples due to these risks include hypertension, diabetes and coronary heart disease.
Behavioural Risk Factors: These are the risk factors associated with numerous lifestyle habits that increase the probability of chronic diseases. Some of these risk factors are obesity or overweight, physical inactivity, unprotected sex habits and high alcohol consumption.
Cultural and Environmental Risk Factors: These are the risk factors associated with societal class structure, changes in purchasing behaviour, access to and level of education and wealth of the local population. Some of these factors include exposure to hazardous materials such as air/water/soil/food, climate change, occupational hazard, ionizing radiation and viruses.
Causes of Chronic Diseases
Various causes of chronic diseases are associated with the above risk factors; some causes of chronic diseases related to these risk factors include:
Unhealthy diet, excessive smoking, tobacco use and physical inactivity (Associated with Behavioural Risk factors).
Age and hereditary (Non-modifiable risk factors).
Globalisation, population ageing and urbanization (Cultural, political and environmental factors).
Raised blood pressure, high blood pressure, abnormal blood lipids and overweight (intermediate risk factors).
Prevention of Chronic Diseases
Certain precautionary measures and good lifestyle habits help in preventing chronic diseases. Chronic diseases can be controlled and certain risk factors can be eliminated if we follow healthy eating habits, quit smoking, get regular physical exercises or yoga, avoid drinking too much alcohol, control body weight, intake deep night sleep and be aware of family history. It is often difficult for people to transform their regular habits and change their lifestyle, however, if we strive to gradually replace bad habits with healthy habits such as daily physical activity, less consumption of junk food and unsuitable diet control negativities, having the strength to deal with treatments and have the confidence to fight against chronic situations.
How are Chronic Diseases and Poor Health Related?
We are now well aware of chronic disease, its causes, symptoms and examples. Let us now understand poor health and how both are related to each other. Poor health is a situation where a person is unable to perform physically, socially or mentally what he or she is required to do. Chronic diseases are highly effective to result in the poor health of a person since it is associated with abnormal functioning of various organs in the body. Various health issues become a part of a person's daily life due to chronic diseases and many of these are non-curable, only manageable. Many chronic diseases are fatal and some are highly expensive to cure. Therefore, a healthy diet and regular exercise is a must for people of all ages. This will not only prevent chronic diseases but make you all-time healthy, hearty and keep diseases at bay. As a result, people will have good health instead of poor health.
Conclusion
Reading this topic teaches us about how serious the problem of chronic diseases is and why it is a matter of concern worldwide. You have also learnt about the factors which are majorly responsible for its wide propagation. After reading this topic we also learnt how it can be prevented and how they are related to poor health. But more than anything, studying this topic teaches us how alarming the situation is and how important it is for us to focus on health.
To read more such topics on biology you can refer to Vedantu’s website. You can also read about types of diseases from Vedantu's website. For the NEET the topic of Human Health and Disease is very important.
FAQs on Chronic Diseases and Poor Health Explained for Students
1. What is the main difference between a chronic disease and an acute disease?
The primary difference lies in their duration and onset. An acute disease, like the common cold, appears suddenly and lasts for a short time. In contrast, a chronic disease, such as diabetes or asthma, develops gradually and persists for a long period, often for a lifetime, requiring long-term management.
2. How does a long-term chronic disease lead to a state of poor health?
A chronic disease contributes to poor health by continuously disrupting the body's normal functions. This long-term suffering isn't just physical; it can affect a person's ability to work, learn, or socialise, leading to mental stress and fatigue. Therefore, it negatively impacts a person's complete physical, mental, and social well-being, which defines a state of poor health.
3. What are some common examples of chronic diseases, and what makes them chronic?
Common examples include diabetes, arthritis, asthma, and high blood pressure. They are considered chronic because they are long-lasting conditions that are generally not cured completely but can be managed. They require ongoing medical attention and often involve significant lifestyle adjustments to control symptoms and prevent complications.
4. What are the major risk factors that can lead to the development of a chronic disease?
The main risk factors for chronic diseases can be grouped into a few categories:
- Behavioural Factors: These are related to lifestyle, such as an unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, and use of tobacco.
- Non-Modifiable Factors: These are factors you cannot change, like age, genetics, and family history.
- Metabolic Factors: These include conditions like obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, which are often intermediate steps toward developing other chronic illnesses.
5. Is it a misconception that all chronic diseases are non-infectious? Explain with an example.
Yes, this is a common misconception. While many well-known chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes are non-infectious, some infectious diseases can become chronic. A key example from the syllabus is AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), caused by the HIV virus. It is an infectious disease that progresses into a chronic condition requiring lifelong management.
6. What is the importance of understanding the difference between being 'healthy' and simply 'disease-free'?
This distinction is crucial. Being 'disease-free' means you don't have a specific diagnosed illness. However, being 'healthy' is a broader state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, as defined by the WHO. For example, a person might be disease-free but still be unhealthy due to high stress or poor nutrition. Chronic diseases highlight this difference, as they impact all three aspects of health.
7. Can an improperly treated acute illness, like a throat infection, develop into a chronic condition?
Yes, an acute illness can sometimes lead to a chronic condition if it is severe, recurs frequently, or is not treated properly. For instance, an untreated streptococcal throat infection can lead to rheumatic fever, which may cause permanent, chronic damage to the heart valves. This shows the importance of timely and appropriate medical care for acute problems.
8. How do everyday lifestyle choices, such as diet and exercise, play a crucial role in preventing many chronic diseases?
Lifestyle choices are fundamental to prevention. A balanced diet provides essential nutrients and helps maintain a healthy weight, while regular physical activity strengthens the heart, improves circulation, and helps control blood sugar. By avoiding harmful habits like smoking and managing stress, you can significantly reduce the risk of developing major chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.
9. Do chronic diseases always show severe symptoms from the start? Explain the nature of their onset.
No, many chronic diseases have a gradual or 'insidious' onset. Symptoms may be very mild or even absent in the early stages, making them difficult to detect without regular health check-ups. For example, high blood pressure or early-stage type 2 diabetes may not cause any noticeable discomfort. The damage occurs slowly over many years, and symptoms often become severe only after the disease is well-established.
10. Why is a condition like arthritis a classic example of how a chronic disease affects a person's overall well-being?
Arthritis is a classic example because its impact goes far beyond just joint pain. It affects a person's well-being in multiple ways:
- Physical Health: It causes chronic pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility, making daily activities difficult.
- Mental Health: The constant pain and physical limitations can lead to frustration, anxiety, and even depression.
- Social Health: It can limit a person's ability to work, participate in hobbies, or socialise, leading to isolation.
