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Chronic disease

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What is chronic disease?
Am I at risk of getting a chronic disease?
Aren’t chronic diseases inevitable for older people?
I am still young so why change now?

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Information below is sourced from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report Chronic diseases and associated risk factors in Australia, 2006.

What is chronic disease?

Chronic diseases are conditions that tend to be long-lasting and persistent in their symptoms or development such as some cancers, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.

Chronic diseases are major diseases which may require ongoing medication but most chronic diseases are preventable for most people through healthy lifestyle choices. Evidence shows that improving diet and being more physically active can help prevent or delay the onset of some chronic diseases.

Am I at risk of getting a chronic disease?

By adulthood the effects of exposure to risk factors such as tobacco, physical inactivity and obesity may manifest as chronic diseases – such as some cancers, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes estimated to be responsible for nearly 80 per cent of the total burden of disease and injury in Australia.¹ These chronic diseases are more prevalent to some population groups, particularly Indigenous Australians. It also should be noted that lifestyle based chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes are now being diagnosed in children and teenagers.

Evidence has shown that positive changes in some lifestyle behaviours can prevent or delay the onset of chronic disease.

Aren't chronic diseases inevitable for older people?

Chronic disease is not inevitable for older people. Some chronic diseases can run in families but how you live your life now can influence whether you develop a disease in later life. There are simple measures you can take to decrease your risk of chronic disease and other health problems, and it is never too late.

I am still young so why change now?

The way you live your life now, even when you’re young, will impact on your future health. Evidence shows that improving your diet and being more physically active can help prevent or delay the onset of such chronic diseases. You will find that the changes you make to your diet and physical activity now can greatly increase your energy, helps you sleep better, reduces the risk of depression and can help to prevent a range of chronic diseases.

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