What Does ‘Chronic Illness’ Actually Mean?

CHRONIC IS A TERM you’ve probably heard used to describe certain medical conditions. But you might know what it really means or which types of illnesses it refers to.

Chronic conditions are diseases that may develop slowly and last for several months, years, or your entire life, as opposed to acute conditions that usually develop suddenly and only last a few days or weeks.

“Having a chronic illness is not the same experience for everyone,” explains Israel De Alba, M.D., an internal medicine physician at the University of California, Irvine Health.

These illnesses can be mild or severe, he says. “Some require minimal treatment and have a minor impact on daily activities. Others are very severe, expensive to care for, and rapidly progress.”

Chronic diseases are relatively common. About 6src percent of Americans have at least one, and 4src percent have two or more, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Here’s what you should know about chronic illnesses, including which conditions are considered chronic, who’s most at risk, and whether you can prevent them.

What is a chronic illness, exactly?

GENERALLY, A CHRONIC illness is a medical condition that lasts for six months or longer, usually requires ongoing care and treatment, and may limit your daily activities, says Sumanth Prabhu, M.D., cardiologist-in-chief at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. They may also be referred to as chronic diseases or chronic conditions.

These illnesses can affect people in different ways, he says.

“Chronic illnesses can have no symptoms or can be debilitating, affecting quality of life,” adds Jamie Horrigan, M.D., an internist and gastroenterology and hepatology fellow at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire.

Chronic conditions can sometimes worsen over time, Dr. De Alba says. Some require extensive treatment, while with others, you may just need to take medications but the illness doesn’t otherwise affect your life.

“The good news is that, in many cases, there are effective interventions to control the severity and progression of the disease,” he explains.

Still, chronic conditions are the leading cause of illness, disability, and death in the U.S., Dr. De Alba says.

Which medical conditions are considered chronic?

MANY DIFFERENT TYPES of diseases can be considered chronic, including obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes, says Abby Cheng, M.D., an assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at Washington University Medicine and a part of the St. Louis Long Covid Initiative.

Autoimmune diseases, long Covid, arthritis, dementia, depression, stroke, and cancer are other examples, she says. Asthma, HIV, and AIDs are also chronic conditions, Dr. De Alba says.

So are cystic fibrosis, hypothyroidism, high cholesterol, and addiction, Dr. Horrigan adds.

Many cardiovascular conditions are chronic—for example, coronary artery disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and arrhythmia, Dr. Prabhu says.

Gastroenterology diseases, like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, are also chronic, Dr. Horrigan says. “These are lifelong conditions with no cure that can be managed with medications, surgeries, and dietary and lifestyle modifications.”

Pain can also be a chronic illness. It may be a symptom of a chronic condition, like arthritis, says Wayne Giles, M.D., dean of the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health.

Or, pain alone, such as chronic lower back pain or headaches, can be a chronic condition when it lasts for several months, needs ongoing medical care, and affects your daily life, Dr. De Alba says.

Who’s most at risk for a chronic condition?

GENETICS, LIFESTYLE, AND environment play a role, Dr. Giles says.

Anyone can develop a chronic condition at any time, but they’re typically more common in older people, Dr. Prabhu says. More than 8src percent of adults over 65 have at least one chronic condition.

Environmental factors, such as pollution, excessive stress, or abuse, can raise your risk for chronic conditions, Dr. De Alba says. Lifestyle habits, like a poor diet and sedentary lifestyle, might increase the likelihood of developing a chronic condition.

And if you already have one chronic condition, you might be at a higher risk for developing others, Dr. Cheng says. “One reason is that increased inflammation throughout the body contributes to many chronic illnesses, including obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoarthritis, depression, and more.”

Chronic illnesses also tend to share similar risk factors, and how one illness impacts your health could possibly lead to another condition, she adds. “For instance, difficulty being active and engaging in social activities due to osteoarthritis can raise a person’s risk for other conditions, like obesity and depression.”

However, Dr. Horrigan says sometimes, a chronic conditions can come “out of the blue,” and there was nothing you could do to prevent it.

Can you prevent or lower your risk for chronic illnesses?

IN SOME INSTANCES, yes.

While factors like genetics are beyond your control, making lifestyle changes could potentially lower your risk or even prevent chronic conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes, says Dr. Prabhu.

Some ways to lower your risk include stopping smoking, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, managing stress, minimizing your alcohol intake, and eating a diet that’s low in saturated fat with lots of fruits and vegetables, he adds.

Also, staying up-to-date on vaccines, like tetanus and hepatitis B, as well as routine cancer screenings, like colonoscopies and prostate cancer tests, could help, too, Dr. Horrigan says.

However, even when someone has a preventable chronic illness, it’s not necessarily their fault that they develop it, Dr. Cheng says. “A lot of people live in circumstances which make it extremely challenging to practice healthy lifestyle habits.”

For example, she explains that people may not have access to nutritious foods or live in unsafe areas or neighborhoods with heavy traffic that makes outdoor exercise difficult.

Are chronic illnesses curable?

CHRONIC CONDITIONS ARE manageable but not curable, Dr. Prabhu explains.

Often, you need to take medication for the rest of your life to control the condition or have regular monitoring, but the condition won’t necessarily go away, he says.

Many of the conditions are manageable, though. When you have a chronic condition, Dr. Horrigan suggests staying positive and learning about the illness and what you can do to feel well and prevent future complications.

Keep in mind also that you’re not alone, she emphasizes. Surround yourself with a multidisciplinary team of experts and seek out support groups for help.

Most of all, realize that chronic conditions are not always “synonymous with suffering or a death sentence,” Dr. De Alba says. “It’s true that there’s no cure for chronic illnesses, but millions of people with chronic conditions can live a happy and productive life with the right care and support.”