What is Chronic Medical Conditions?

Ryan Brennan • January 1, 2023

There’s nothing more important in life than maintaining one’s health and wellness – not just physically, but mentally, spiritually, emotionally, behaviorally, and habitually. Without health we have absolutely nothing, but with it, we have the foundation of what makes us, us – the foundation of living, thriving, and being.

While many of us will go to great lengths to avoid illness, injury, and infection, none of us are fully immune to the uncertainties that life presents us with. And the unfortunate reality – or harsh truth – that we must accept is that life can present us with a wide range of health concerns, complications, and other issues.

Understanding how to navigate these health conditions and being able to receive the necessary treatment is vital to the recovery process, allowing the patient an opportunity to cope with the impact it has on their day-to-day life. And since not all conditions are created equal, that need for understanding is multiplied.

Chronic Conditions vs. Acute Conditions

Medical conditions can often be grouped into one of two categories – chronic medical conditions and acute medical conditions. The difference between the two will not only change the way the condition is treated moving forward, but also impact the effect the condition has on the individual’s quality of life.

Let’s take a brief look at the difference between the two types of conditions:

Chronic Conditions - any medical condition that persists for at least three months and is generally caused by unhealthy behaviors, habits, and lifestyle decisions.
Acute Conditions - any medical condition that lasts less than one month and is generally caused by an infection or virus of some kind (or injury).

While chronic health problems are known to develop slowly and stick around longer, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re more severe or dangerous than acute medical conditions. In fact, some acute conditions pose a much greater risk and/or threat than some chronic conditions – and vice versa.

Examples of Chronic Medical Conditions?

Chronic medical conditions come in a wide range of forms and can affect any area of the body – including, but not limited to, the organs, bones, skin, and much more. And while there are hundreds upon thousands of medical conditions that can be categorized as chronic, some are more common than others.

Don’t worry, we’re going to list some of the most notable chronic conditions below:

Heart (cardiovascular) disease, heart failure, and/or stroke
Asthma and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Chronic respiratory diseases
Osteoporosis
Arthritis
Diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure
Kidney disease
Depression and other mental health disorders
Oral disease
Cancer (breast, colorectal, lung, prostate, etc.)
Alzheimer’s disease and/or dementia
Substance abuse and/or addiction

For the most part, having a chronic medical condition isn’t the end of the world. With the technology we have today and the advancements we’ve seen in medicine over the past few decades, many chronic diseases have safe and effective treatments available to help patients live as close to a normal life as possible.

How Many People Experience Chronic Medical Conditions?

Many people don’t understand or have simply never thought about how common chronic diseases are in the world today. In the United States alone, more than 60% of adults have been diagnosed with at least one chronic illness, while roughly 40% of adults have been diagnosed with multiple chronic conditions.

Let’s take a look at some other eye-opening health statistics that show the overwhelming effect chronic illnesses have on the world today:

Roughly 85% of older adults have at least one chronic disease
Chronic illnesses result in nearly $3.8 trillion of health care costs annually
Roughly $1 billion in health care costs are contributed to chronic pain and/or diabetes
Nearly 95% of all health care costs by older patients are contributed to chronic disease
More than 75% of all health care costs are contributed to chronic conditions
Roughly three-quarters of all deaths are due to chronic disease

It’s no secret that a majority of the United States – and world, for that matter – are suffering from or living with a chronic medical condition. While some are more severe than others, all chronic diseases will have a negative impact on the individual’s life – making it difficult to live a happy, healthy, and rewarding life.

The Many Demands & Stresses of Chronic Conditions

Being diagnosed with a chronic medical condition can be life-changing – and not necessarily in a good way, either. They present a number of challenges and obstacles that the patient must now learn to navigate in their life, which often takes time, energy, and effort (a significant burden) out of the things they care most about.

Let’s take a look at some of the most notable demands and stresses that come with chronic conditions:

Physical symptoms
Emotional and mental impact
Having to deal with continued treatment
Being in constant communication with doctors
Loss of confidence and self-esteem
Social isolation and/or loneliness
Financial impact of treatment and doctor visits
Family members live in constant fear of the condition worsening

Since chronic medical conditions are often the result of dangerous lifestyle decisions, poor behaviors, and unhealthy habits, they can often be avoided and/or prevented in most individuals. Of course, damage to your body and overall health can’t always be reversed, so it’s best to seek medical treatment immediately.

What Types of Doctors Help Treat Chronic Medical Conditions?

Living with a chronic medical condition isn’t always easy – as explained above – but that doesn’t mean patients are left behind in the dust as they learn to cope with their symptoms. In fact, there are a number of different types of doctors available to help diagnose, treat, and prevent chronic medical conditions.

At the forefront of every patient is their primary care physician – who acts as the middleman between the patient and the care they receive. They’re the ones who are going to monitor your health at large and will ensure you’re being sent to the right people, for the right tests, and to receive the right treatment.

Outside of your primary care doctor, patients will have one (or several) specialist doctors that monitor your health in a more specific manner – for example, some doctors specialize in internal medicine, while others might specialize in pediatric medicine. Either way, it’ll always come back to your primary care doctor.

Are you experiencing symptoms that have persisted for several months? Are you worried that your chronic condition is taking away from the beauty we call life? Are you ready to finally gain some sense of control over your disease and take part in chronic disease prevention? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of those questions, please contact us right away!

You can schedule an appointment with Dr. Shaun Jang by calling us at (702) 202-3663, e-mailing us at contact@goodsamaritanlv.com, or filling out our online form – we can’t wait to meet you and your family!

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