Chapter 6: Chronic Disease is Out of Control

Chronic disease, defined as disease that persists, causes about 70 percent of the deaths in the United States (1). The impact of chronic disease will continue to increase as the population ages. Arthritis, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, lung disease, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, diabetes and osteoporosis are common chronic disease that leads to depression, disability and death. 

One hundred and thirty-three million Americans live with at least one chronic disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States (1).

Chronic disease leads to death if not managed properly. Health care providers have a responsibility to heal the sick, but the constraints of the current medical system limit their ability to do this. Therefore, it is critical to partner with your doctor to manage chronic disease.

Chronic disease will worsen as the population ages. Twenty-five percent of those over the age of 65 are considered to be in fair to poor health.

Chronic disease is the cause of significant disability. In those over 65, thirty-three percent have activity limitations due to chronic disease.

Chronic disease is poorly controlled for multiple reasons. Among them are lifestyle choices. Smoking is a common cause of chronic disease. Being obese or overweight is another common cause of chronic disease. Limited physical activity also contributes to chronic disease.

Due to the poor lifestyle led by Americans, chronic disease is out of control. The number of people with chronic disease or at risk for chronic disease is staggering.

• Sixteen percent of people over 20-years-old have high cholesterol
• Ten percent of people over 20-years-old have diabetes (only 7.7% have been diagnosed
• Two percent of those over the age of 20 have diabetes and do not even know it
• Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death, killing 24 per 100,000 people
• Heart disease is the number one cause of death affecting over 25 million people per year
• High blood pressure affects 32% of those over the age of 20
• High blood pressure is responsible for almost 36 million office visits each year

The role of the health care consumer is to understand their disease. By understanding your disease, you will be better able to partner with the health care system to assure your disease is being managed properly. Proper management of a disease is not the sole responsibility of the doctor or the patient, but a team effort.

Take the responsibility for managing your health and disease seriously. No one is more interested in you staying healthy than you. You have a responsibility to partner with your doctor to manage your disease. Part of the reason the American health care system is ranked so poorly is because health care consumers do not take responsibility for their health.

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