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What are chronic diseases?
Some examples of chronic diseases are asthma; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; cancer; diabetes; heart, stroke and vascular disease; and osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis.
Chronic diseases:
- have complex causes, and often more than one cause
- usually begin gradually, although they can begin suddenly and have brief and severe stages
- occur at all ages, although they occur more often later in life
- compromise quality of life through physical limitations and disability, and
- are long-term and persistent, and can cause health complications and deterioration of health.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in Australia, despite a marked drop in death rates since the late 1960s. Around 3.4 million Australians are estimated to have cardiovascular disease, with around 800,000 of these people experiencing some degree of disability as a result (reference: AIHW (2010). Australia’s Health 2010, page 142).
Cancer ranks second as an overall cause of death, and now causes the death of more middle-aged Australians than cardiovascular disease.
Diabetes is the eighth leading cause of death in Australians aged 65 years and over. Type 2 Diabetes (more information) is projected to become the leading cause of disease burden by 2023, partly attributable to the expanding problem of overweight and obesity.
Asthma affected more than 2 million Australians (1 in every 10) in 2007-08.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affected approximately 591,000 (or 2.9 per cent) of the population in Australia in 2004-2005. COPD is a disease of older age groups.
Arthritis and other musculoskeletali conditions were estimated to affect more than six million Australians (3 in every 10) in 2001. These cause more disability than any other medical condition, affecting about 34% of all people with a disability.
Lifestyle changes have increased our risk of chronic disease. Smoking, alcohol use, physical inactivity, poor diet and nutrition, excess weight, high blood pressure, and high blood cholesterol are examples.
Read more: Prevention and awareness of chronic diseases
Read more: Living with a chronic disease
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