Chronic Diseases
What are Chronic Diseases?
The World Health Organization defines chronic diseases as “diseases of long duration and generally slow progression.” Common themes found in other definitions state that chronic diseases:
- have many causes but often share common risk factors (i.e. tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy eating, and/or excessive alcohol use),
- usually begin slowly and develop gradually over time,
- can occur at any age, although they become more common in later life,
- can impact quality of life and limit daily activities, and
- require ongoing actions on a long-term basis to manage the disease, with involvement from individuals, health-care providers and the community.
Chronic diseases impact the health of the population as well as the sustainability of the health-care system. Over half of Newfoundland and Labrador residents aged 12 years and older have at least one chronic disease; many people live with more than one.
Through its policy initiatives the Department of Health and Community Services is focusing on a select number of diseases and conditions that affect a large portion of the population and have a significant impact on quality of life. These include:
- Arthritis
- Cancer
- Chronic pain
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Kidney disease
- Lung disease
- Stroke