Chronic Disease Prevention

Chronic diseases are the leading cause of illness, disability, and death in America.

Six in 10 American adults have at least one chronic disease, and four in 10 adults have two or more chronic diseases, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chronic diseases are those that go on for a long time and often don’t go away completely. They are among the most common and costly health problems; however, we often know how to prevent them. Chronic diseases can affect everyone.

Risk factors are anything that increases the chance a person or group of people will get sick, hurt or die. You can lower your chances of getting a chronic disease by keeping a healthy weight, eating healthy food, getting enough exercise, and not using tobacco or drinking too much alcohol.