Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Acute vs. chronic Illness


Most people are familiar with acute illness, such as appendicitis, typhoid fever or pneumonia, which comes on suddenly and often has an identifiable cause. Generally, such an illness is treatable. Often the individual regains normal health, and usually does not remain sick very long. On the other hand, a chronic illness often begins gradually and may have several causes. Also, rarely is a chronic illness cured, and it usually persists for an indefinite period of time. Diabetes, heart disease and arthritis are examples of chronic illness. Many factors can affect the course of a chronic illness, including heredity, lifestyle (e.g., stress, diet, exercise) and even environment. As a result, it's difficult to predict how you may feel from one day to another.

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