As of 2017, around 60% of Americans have one or more chronic medical conditions. This means millions of Americans are living with a serious, long-lasting health condition. Studies have shown that the risk of developing a chronic medical condition increases with age.
Chronic medical conditions can increase the risk of falls in the home. A fall can have a serious effect on the long-term health of the individual, especially if they have a chronic medical condition. With that in mind, in this this article we will look at the 8 most prominent chronic medical conditions in the US.
What is a Chronic Medical Condition?
According to the CDC, a chronic medical condition is defined as a condition that lasts for more than one year that requires ongoing medical attention and/or limits daily living activities. As a result, there are many conditions that can be considered chronic medical conditions.
Many of these conditions can be caused by the same factors. These include:
- Smoking (and secondhand smoke)
- Poor nutrition (including obesity)
- Physical inactivity
- Excessive alcohol consumption
However, there can be other causes, such as environmental or genetic factors.
Table of Contents
| Alzheimer’s Disease | Asthma | Cancer | Chronic Kidney Disease |
| COPD | Diabetes | Heart Disease | Stroke |
Cancer
Unfortunately, almost 4 in 10 people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Cancer is a condition caused by uncontrolled cellular growth. These cells then spread through the body. As they develop, they cause damage to other cells around them. This can impact the proper functions of the body.
When cancer develops in one area of the body, there is a chance the cells can travel to other areas. This is known as “metastasis”.
Signs of Cancer
If you are experiencing changes to your body’s usual functions, this could be a sign of cancer. People experiencing the following symptoms should seek a medical opinion as soon as possible:
- A sudden, unexplained lump on the body
- Unexplained bleeding
- Changes in bowel habits
You may develop other symptoms depending on the type of cancer you have developed. It is important to remember that these symptoms may not mean you have cancer, but it is always best to be safe.
Cancer Treatment
Fortunately, cancer is treatable. While there is not yet a true cure, the cancerous cells can be killed or removed. The three most common forms of cancer treatment are:
- Surgery – The cancerous cells, often in the form of a tumor, are removed from the body. This treatment is often performed in concert with one or both other treatment types.
- Chemotherapy – Powerful medication is used to kill the cancer cells.
- Radiotherapy – High-energy X-rays are used to target cancer cells and kill them.
Cancer treatment can be a long and grueling process. Patients are likely to experience health complications along the road to recovery. However, cancer is survivable. As of 2019, it was estimated that there are 16.9 million cancer survivors in the United States.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Also known as COPD, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a term covering various diseases that cause breathing-related difficulties. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are two such examples of COPD.
More than 16 million Americans have been diagnosed with COPD, and many more have it without knowing. Most cases are linked to people over the age of 45. Smokers are also particularly vulnerable.
Signs of COPD
Many forms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease will display similar symptoms. These will include difficulty breathing, chest tightness, and chronic coughing. People affected by COPD may also be more vulnerable to respiratory infections.
Often, these signs can be caused or exacerbated by smoking or exposure to certain chemicals. Areas of increased air pollution are also likely to contribute to the development of COPD.
COPD Treatment
Like many chronic medical conditions, there is no true cure for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, treatments are available. Some may require lifestyle changes, while others involve medication. Treatments include:
- Stopping smoking
- Inhalers and tablets
- Pulmonary rehabilitation
- Lung transplant (in rare cases)
Asthma
Like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma is a chronic condition affecting the lungs. However, it is a different condition. People with asthma experience episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing.
Its severity can vary between those living with the condition. For some people it is little more than a minor obstacle. For others it can be life-threatening. Roughly 25 million Americans have asthma, making it one of the most common chronic medical conditions.
Signs of Asthma
The symptoms of this condition vary from person to person. Obvious signs include asthma attacks, which are characterized by severe shortness of breath accompanied by coughing or painful wheezing. However, asthma symptoms can be present even when a person is not having an attack. These include:
- Shortness of breath
- Tightness or pain in the chest
- Wheezing when breathing out
- Trouble sleeping due to shortness of breath or coughing
- Frequent coughing, worsened by respiratory viruses
Certain activities and environmental conditions can worsen asthma symptoms. These include exercise – especially when the air is cold or dry – fumes and dust, or allergies including pollen or pet hairs.
Asthma Treatment
For people living with asthma, there are a few treatments available to relieve symptoms. There is currently no cure for asthma, however. The most common, and most well-known, treatment for asthma is an inhaler. There are two types available:
- Reliever: Designed to treat symptoms as they appear.
- Preventer: Used every day to stop symptoms occurring.
However, for more severe cases of asthma, tablets and injections can be provided. These are usually only used if other treatments do not relieve symptoms.
Heart Disease
There are several different forms of heart disease, but they all pose a major risk to the health of many Americans. In fact, there are about 359,000 deaths as a result of heart disease every year. This makes heart disease one of the leading causes of deaths in the United States.
Often, people living with heart disease are not aware of it until they experience a heart attack. However, there are signs that could help warn you. Heart disease is also more common amongst people who:
- Have diabetes
- Are overweight or obese
- Eat an unhealthy diet
- Are not physically active
- Consume excessive amounts of alcohol
Signs of Heart Disease
Because there are various forms of heart disease, it is difficult to sum up all the potential signs. However, there are certain symptoms that are more common across the various conditions. While a heart attack or sudden heart failure are definite signs of heart disease, we all want to identify the condition before we reach that stage.
Therefore, you should look out for chest pains, tightness, or pressure. Angina is a significant sign of heart disease. Shortness of breath, pain in the arms and legs, and arrhythmia are also prominent signs of heart disease.
Heart Disease Treatment
The type of treatment a person living with heart disease receives will depend on their condition. However, many heart disease treatments will involve the following:
- Lifestyle Changes – Changes in diet and exercise habits, as well as cutting down on smoking and alcohol, can lower the risk of heart complications.
- Medication – Certain medications can relieve the symptoms of heart disease. While they won’t reverse the effects, they can reduce the likelihood of symptoms worsening.
- Surgery – In some cases, surgery may be necessary to treat heart disease. This could involve inserting stents or even a heart transplant.
Diabetes
There are almost 29 million Americans diagnosed with diabetes. This is a condition that impacts how the body processes food into energy. It reduces the effectiveness of the body in producing insulin, or the efficiency of the insulin’s response to blood sugar.
Too much blood sugar can result in more serious health problems. These include heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease. People who are overweight or have family members with diabetes are at increased risk of developing it.
Signs of Diabetes
There are three main types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational. Each is brought on by a different trigger, requiring different forms of treatment, but their effects are similar. The following symptoms are signs of diabetes. If you experience them, you should consider visiting a doctor.
- Urinating more often, especially at night
- Increased thirst
- Unexplained loss of weight
- Increased hunger
- Blurry vision
- Numb or tingling hands or feet
- Frequently tired
- Dry skin
- Slower healing
- Frequent infections
A person with type 1 diabetes may also experience nausea, vomiting, or stomach pains. Someone with type 2 diabetes might not notice any symptoms for years. Gestational diabetes only occurs during pregnancy.
Diabetes Treatment
People with diabetes must take extra care to monitor their blood sugar levels. One of the main methods of treating diabetes is to stick to a meal plan that is low in sugars and high in fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. However, people living with type 1 diabetes must treat their condition with insulin therapy. This may take the form of insulin injections.
There are also other forms of medication that can reduce the impact of diabetes. These often help your body to break down foods or change how your body processes sugars.
Chronic Kidney Disease
When functioning normally, the kidneys filter the blood in your body. They remove toxins, waste, and excess fluid. However, if you have kidney disease, they cannot fulfil this function properly. This can lead to other health complications, such as heart disease or stroke.
It is estimated that 1 in 7 US adults have chronic kidney disease. However, many are not aware they have the condition. While not all cases of chronic kidney disease will progress to kidney failure, lifestyle changes may be necessary to prevent the condition from getting worse.
Signs of Chronic Kidney Disease
Unfortunately, it can be difficult to identify whether a person has chronic kidney disease. In its early stages, there are no obvious symptoms. As it advances towards kidney failure, however, you may start to notice:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Muscle cramps
- Swelling in the feet and ankles
- Dry, itchy skin
- Trouble sleeping
- Changes in urination habits
If you notice any of these symptoms, you should consult a health professional. Blood and urine tests will be carried out if kidney disease is suspected. People with diabetes and/or high blood pressure and smokers are at increased risk or developing chronic kidney disease.
Chronic Kidney Disease Treatment
Like most chronic medical conditions, kidney disease is currently incurable. However, treatments are available that can relieve symptoms and stop it from getting worse. The main forms of treatment are lifestyle changes and medication. Lifestyle changes include quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet, and doing regular exercise.
The medications taken do not treat chronic kidney disease directly. However, they do control other health problems that are caused by kidney disease. They can lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol, aid with water retention and address anemia.
In later stages of chronic kidney disease, however, you may require dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Stroke
In the US, more than 795,000 people have a stroke every year. This makes it one of the most common chronic medical conditions in the country. While the stroke itself only lasts a short time, the consequences can be long-lasting. Therefore, we have included it on this list.
Sometimes known as brain attacks, strokes occur when blood supply to the brain is blocked or a blood vessel in the brain bursts. This causes parts of the brain to become damaged or die; his can result in brain damage, disabilities, or death. Brain cells start to die within minutes of losing their blood supply. This means it is important to act fast in the event of a stroke.
Signs of Stroke
Stroke can often strike suddenly and without warning. However, there are certain signs that reveal whether someone is having a stroke. All of them can occur suddenly. These are:
- Numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, often on one side of the body
- Confusion, trouble speaking, or difficultly understanding speech
- Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Difficulty walking and loss of balance or coordination, often because of dizziness
- Severe unexplained headache
You can remember the signs of a stroke by thinking F.A.S.T.
F – Face: Has their face fallen on one side? Can they smile?
A – Arms: Can they raise both arms and keep them there?
S – Speech: Is their speech slurred?
T – Time: If you notice any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.
If these symptoms are affecting you, do not drive yourself to a hospital. Call an ambulance or ask someone else to drive you there.
Stroke Treatment
What makes a stroke count among the most common chronic medical conditions is the length of recovery and the damage it can cause. People who have had a stroke may struggle with paralysis, cognitive impairment, trouble speaking, numbness, random pains, and continence difficulties. These can all have a negative impact on their ability to live independently – or on their confidence.
Most stroke treatment is built around rehabilitative therapies. Professionals will work with the stroke patient to relearn certain skills such as speech and movement. Support will also be needed with eating, drinking, dressing, bathing, and other daily tasks. Over time, a person who has had a stroke can get better, but sometimes they may end up permanently disabled. It is also worth remembering that after a person has had one stroke, they are more vulnerable to having strokes in future.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Affecting around 1 in 9 adults aged 65 or over, Alzheimer’s Disease is one of the most prominent chronic medical conditions in the US. It is a condition that affects the brain, slowly destroying memory and thinking skills. It is the most common cause of dementia in older adults.
People with Alzheimer’s disease often display behavioral changes alongside their loss of memory. This is a result of the disease damaging the parts of the brain that regulate behavior and emotions. As the condition advances, it also damages the parts of the brain responsible for language. Eventually the condition can cause damage that results in death.
Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease
In the earliest stages of the condition, Alzheimer’s disease often has no symptoms. Most often, symptoms will not begin until a person is in their mid-60s. However, Alzheimer’s symptoms have been known to begin between a person’s 30s and 60s – this is called early-onset Alzheimer’s.
First symptoms end to differ between patients. Memory issues are amongst the most common symptoms; however, they may display:
- Poor judgment
- Loss of interest in daily tasks
- Repeated questions
- Getting lost
- Hallucinations or delusions
- Impulsive behavior
- Aggressive behavior
Symptoms will worsen as the condition advances. In later stages, these symptoms can affect breathing, eating, and drinking, which can lead to serious health conditions or even death.
Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment
There are various medications available that can treat Alzheimer’s symptoms, though there is currently no cure. Some treatments can slow the progression of the disease. Others help people living with Alzheimer’s to manage their behaviors.
Many of these treatments take the form of medication. Some, such as galantamine, improve the functions of nerve cells, allowing them to communicate better. Others help to combat anxiety or hallucinations to reduce distress in people living with Alzheimer’s disease. However, there are also therapies that can improve quality of life and improve the memory of people with Alzheimer’s.
Medical Alert Alarm
With 60% of Americans living with chronic medical conditions, Direct Medical Alert recognizes the need for additional peace of mind around the home. We all want to know that help is available when we need it.
The Medical Alert Alarm is designed to benefit seniors and those living with chronic medical conditions or disabilities. In the event of a fall or emergency, pressing the button on your alarm pendant puts you in touch with our professional Care Team. They will then arrange help on your behalf.
With a Medical Alert Alarm, you will always be in safe hands. Find out more today and get a quote for your Medical Alert Alarm.