Defining Chronic Disease

When it comes to health statistics and problem solving for nutrition, it is essential to establish awareness of the epidemics that plague a society. In our case, that requires a clear definition of chronic disease. The reality is that more people die in America from diet-related diseases than any other cause; meaning, the average American is most likely to die from something that is preventable. That could be you. In examining universal health concerns for chronic disease, maintaining a healthy, nutritionally-balanced lifestyle is the individual’s gateway to a sustainable future.

A noncommunicable disease (NCD) is one that is not passed from person to person; it generally grows slowly but has long-lasting effects. Worldwide, 63% of deaths occur from NCDs [zotpressInText item=”{XE964SCB}”]. Health has many aspects and cannot be defined or determined by a single attribute, such as one’s weight or genetic predisposition. According to the Center for Disease Control, our diet and lifestyle can actually prevent devastating diseases [zotpressInText item=”{SNVSPG5R}”]. Other well-respected, large-scale organizations like the American Heart Association, the National Cancer Institute, and the American Diabetes Association, to name a few all give the same message: eating a healthy diet prevents, regulates and fights chronic disease in the human body.

Despite constant technological advancement which may give the illusion that our culture is continuing to thrive, the state of health in our nation is declining rapidly. In the U.S., over 55% of deaths are due to heart disease, cancer, and stroke, all of which are considered NCDs. International cancer statistics are dwarfed when compared to those of America, where this scourge has seen a consistent rise in the last several decades. A hundred years ago, cancer was practically unheard of. According to the American Institute of Cancer Research, if things continue at the current rate, the number of cancer cases each year will increase 55% by 2030 [zotpressInText item=”{VCEQJHNI}”].That means over 2.2 million people will be diagnosed with cancer annually. Let’s start by looking at the current state of things: According to the American Cancer Society, males have a 47% chance of getting cancer and females have a 38% chance [zotpressInText item=”{FSISHBI9}”]. Close to 600,000 people die from cancer each year in the United States [zotpressInText item=”{FSISHBI9}”]. However, cancer is only one slice of the deadly pie. We have all witnessed its devastating effects; however, if someone survives cancer, they still may have to deal with a more lethal adversary.

America is known for it’s skyrocketing rate of obesity and consequently, obesity-related deaths. The percentage of the obese population has doubled in the past 30 years. One in thirteen Americans have an autoimmune disorder. Diabetes has increased 70% in adults in their thirties [zotpressInText item=”{FSISHBI9}”]. But health conditions like these don’t often exist without some more serious underlying cellular health issues. According to the American Heart Association, heart disease includes heart attack, stroke, heart failure, arrhythmia, heart valve disease, and congenital heart disease [zotpressInText item=”{E2BX6FMM}”]. It is the leading cause of death for men and women in the U.S. and is the number one global killer according to the World Health Organization [zotpressInText item=”{529MN765}”]. Anyone reading this article is more likely to die of heart disease than any other cause. How incredible – that means the primary cause of death throughout the world is preventable through diet!

It is hard to care much about what you put in your body when the consequences seem so far off in the future. Realizing that we don’t want to wait until we have a chronic condition, such as cancer or high blood pressure, before giving nutrition and lifestyle a second thought is crucial We all know and experience daily the obvious link between diet, exercise and health, but we seem to assume that chronic disease has an unperceived cause. Basic keys to prevention are quitting smoking, maintaining healthy homocysteine levels, lowering bad cholesterol, controlling high blood pressure, maintaining a healthy weight, and exercising. All of this is regulated by diet and lifestyle [zotpressInText item=”{JI5QMI3U}”].

Dependent on an incomplete and symptom-based understanding of health, we are too often surprised when we are told that our “diseases” are incurable. But prevention is always the best solution and nutrition is preventative medicine. We cannot escape the fact that whatever goes into our body either helps or harms us. That may be a hard concept to grasp but logic, science and our bodies are screaming at us to face the truth. We cannot continue to trash our bodies, expecting miracle cures for chronic diseases. When we actively take responsibility for nourishing our complex bodies, they respond in kind.

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