3 Tips to Combat Chronic Disease

Approximately 90 cents of every dollar spent on health care is for patients with chronic disease. This includes cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, COPD, asthma, heart disease, and obesity, amongst others.

With more than half of the adult population in the U.S. living with at least one chronic condition, and nearly one in three living with two or more chronic conditions, it’s clear that we need to put forward a more concerted effort to fight these life-altering illnesses.

In this blog we’ll provide three tips for fighting chronic disease.

Focus on preventive care and treatment.

Recent chronic disease data from the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) shows that behavioral changes and treatment advances can combat chronic disease and reduce health care spending.

Preventive care includes physical activity, smoking cessation, abstinence from alcohol, and healthy eating.

Treatment advances include the advent of new medicines, therapies, and technologies that can support those suffering from chronic illness.

Improve ease of use for health insurance.

A 2016 Annual Report released by America’s Health Rankings showed that there is a strong correlation between chronic diseases, such as obesity, and difficulty accessing health care.

If using insurance is difficult, it creates an unnecessary barrier for patients to receive treatment or preventive care.

Partnering with organizations that lobby for your health care rights, such as New York Health Works and Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, is a great way to take action and let your voice be heard.

Get involved.

All across the U.S., wellness programs and initiatives are being developed to help prevent disease and promote overall health. While these programs are a great start, they are often siloed within their community, without access to resources to replicate their program or learn from similar efforts across the country.

By getting involved with some of these programs, you can help to raise awareness and provide education about chronic disease prevention and management.

There is hope for those with chronic disease. When treated properly, conditions can improve and we can work towards disease prevention. Our hope is that by partnering with organizations like PFCD and by educating and informing the public about their health, we can make a difference in the health of our nation.