From a very early period chronic related to diseases which last a long time. Looking hard, it is possible to find the word used in Greek around about the year 100. The word survives because it was translated from Greek to Latin some 400 years later in the translation of Aurelianus which goes in English with the name On Acute and Chronic Diseases. And it was in the translation from Latin to English by Philemon Holland that the word comes into English, with an explanation – “these long diseases which are called chronic”.
Today key long-lasting or chronic diseases are diabetes, Alzheimer’s, cancer, AIDS and heart disease. Chronic diseases are the main cause of death in many countries. In the United States 7 out of 10 of all Americans die as a result of chronic diseases and impact the quality of life for almost a third of the population. Increasingly governments companies are trying to and the aim is to get to the roots and secure prevention. Not only governments but also companies are concentrating on measures to reduce key risk factors for chronic disease. Successfully tackling the main causes means a significant improvement in health. This is why there are so many campaigns focusing on lifestyle choices – less tobacco and alcohol, more physical activity and better nutrition.
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