What are chronic diseases?
Chronic diseases are those diseases that the affected person remains afflicted with for the rest of their life and may develop complications, unlike other diseases or what is called acute disease, which an individual suffers from for a certain period and then recovers with treatment.
Some of the most common chronic diseases:
- Type 2 diabetes.
- Hypertension.
- Obesity.
- Some respiratory diseases such as asthma.
- Heart and vascular diseases.
The importance of preventing chronic diseases
The medical rule always states that prevention is better than treatment, and due to the seriousness of chronic diseases and the difficulty of recovery from them after being afflicted, prevention is safer for health, preventing the risks of these diseases and the complications resulting from them.
Moreover, preventing chronic diseases improves the quality of life and avoids the expected treatment costs in case of infection.
Prevention methods are included in the plans of countries to enhance the efficiency of healthcare for individuals, reduce public spending on treatment, and increase individual productivity resulting from improved levels of public health.
Effective strategies for preventing chronic diseases
Anyone can take effective steps towards preventing chronic diseases by adopting a healthy and stable lifestyle, which includes:
1. Healthy nutrition
Healthy nutrition ensures better immunity and improved health, and healthy nutrition includes:
- Eating fruits and vegetables daily.
- Limiting saturated fats and sugars.
- Drinking adequate amounts of water.
- Choosing whole foods rich in fiber.
2. Regular physical activity
One of the most important reasons for improving general health and preventing chronic diseases, especially heart diseases, obesity, and diabetes, is increasing physical activity and exercising. Here are the main tips in this area:
- Exercising for at least 30 minutes daily improves circulation and enhances the burning of excess fats.
- Incorporating physical activity into the daily routine (walking, climbing stairs) ensures improved blood flow to all parts and systems of the body.
- Reducing prolonged sitting.
3. Avoiding smoking
Completely avoid smoking as it causes many chronic diseases and weakens the body's health. Also, make sure to stay away from places with smokers, as being around them causes harm similar to smoking itself.
4. Reducing stress and psychological pressure
Reducing psychological pressure helps improve body performance, and this can be achieved by:
- Practicing meditation or yoga.
- Setting aside time for rest and relaxation.
- Talking to a mental health specialist when needed.
5. Regular check-ups
Regular medical check-ups help prevent the development of some medical conditions in their early stages from progressing to a chronic disease. Therefore, doctors recommend conducting regular medical tests and analyses, which include:
- Measuring blood pressure and blood sugar regularly.
- Conducting early screenings for cancer.
- Monitoring weight and body mass index.
- Some necessary medical tests such as lipid analysis and liver and kidney function tests.
When conducting regular check-ups, the doctor can assess the health of internal organs and the likelihood of developing a disease, which provides an opportunity to change some habits or take some vitamins or medications that prevent the onset of this disease or prolong the time before its onset.
Community awareness to enhance the prevention of chronic diseases
Often, some signs of type 2 diabetes appear early in the form of slight increases in blood sugar levels that do not reach the same height as a diabetic patient, along with some combined symptoms called “insulin resistance”; in this case, if discovered early, it is possible to prevent the progression to actual diabetes by improving dietary habits, enhancing physical activity, and consuming some elements that stimulate the improvement of the body's overall condition, thus preventing the progression to diabetes.
This occurs in all chronic diseases, and therefore, preventing chronic diseases is not impossible, but it requires community awareness to motivate individuals to monitor their health and care. Many countries conduct early campaigns for the early detection of chronic diseases and prevent disease progression to enhance public health in the community.
