What Are Chronic Illnesses?
There are two types of illnesses: acute and chronic. Acute illnesses (like a cold or the flu) are usually over relatively quickly. Chronic illnesses, though, are long-lasting health conditions (the word “chronic” comes from the Greek word chronos, meaning time). Having a chronic condition doesn’t necessarily mean an illness is critical or dangerous — although some chronic illnesses, such as cancer and AIDS, can be life threatening. But chronic illnesses can also include conditions like asthma, arthritis, and diabetes. Although the symptoms of a chronic illness might go away with medical care, usually a person still has the underlying condition — even though when properly treated he or she may feel completely healthy and well much of the time. Each health condition has its own symptoms, treatment, and course. Aside from the fact that they are all relatively long lasting, chronic illnesses aren’t necessarily alike in other ways. Most people who have a chronic illness don’t think of thems
