Word parts
What it means
A long-lasting illness that tends to come on slowly and needs ongoing care, such as diabetes mellitusdy-uh-BEE-teez MEL-ih-tusA long-term disease in which blood glucose stays high because the body makes too little insulin or cannot use it well.Full entry , heart diseaseHART dih-ZEEZA general term for any condition that affects the structure or function of the heart.Full entry , chronic kidney diseaseKRON-ik KID-nee dih-ZEEZKidney damage or reduced kidney function that lasts longer than three months.Full entry , COPDsee-oh-pee-dee (said as letters)Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a long-term lung disease that makes it hard to move air out of the lungs.chronic long-lastingobstructive blockingpulmon/o lung-ary relating toFull entry and arthritis. Chronic diseases are the leading causes of death and disability in the US. Many share the same risk factors: smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise and heavy drinking. The opposite is an acute illness, which comes on suddenly and is short.
For the nurse
Teaching for self-management is central: medicines, diet, activity, symptom checks and when to call the provider. Ask how the condition affects daily life, work, money and mood.
At a glance
| Spanish | enfermedad crónica |
|---|---|
| Also written | chronic diseases |
Related terms
exacerbation
A time when a long-term disease suddenly gets worse, or its symptoms flare up.
health promotion
Helping people take actions that keep them well and improve their health.
self-care
The things people do for themselves to look after their own health and daily needs.
chronic condition
A health problem that lasts a long time, usually a year or more, and needs ongoing care or limits daily life.