Chronic Diseases and Lifestyle Factors

Chronic Diseases

• 7 out of 10 deaths per year in the US are due to chronic diseases.
• 50% of all deaths each year are from cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer.
• 1 in every 3 adults is obese, which increases the risk of CVD, cancers, and type 2 diabetes.

Lifestyle Factors Associated with Chronic Disease

• Too little physical activity is a major risk factor.
• Poor nutrition is a significant contributor to chronic disease.
• Use of tobacco and excessive alcohol intake are also major risk factors.

Physical Activity

• One-third of all adults do not do enough aerobic physical activity.
• The recommended 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day are only consumed by 20-24% of the US population.
• More than 43 million American adults smoke, which is roughly 20%.

Nutrition

• Nutrition is the study of the nutrients in food and the body's handling of them.
• Nutrition influences physical, emotional, social, occupational, and spiritual health.
• Wellness is more than just the absence of disease and includes nutrition and physical activity as critical components.

Disease Types

• There are two major types of disease: infectious diseases and chronic diseases.
• Infectious diseases are caused by an infectious agent such as bacteria or virus.
• Chronic diseases are multifactorial disorders influenced by genetics, environment, and behavior.

Infectious Disease

• Many nutrients influence the immune system.
• Adequate nutrient intake is necessary for the immune system to function properly.

Chronic Disease

• Chronic diseases are on the rise because people are living longer.
• Chronic diseases are, in large part, diseases of aging.
• Incidence increases with increasing age.

Risk Factors for Chronic Disease

• Genetics, age, diet, physical inactivity, degree of body fatness, obesity, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption are all risk factors.
• Many of these risk factors are chronic diseases themselves, such as obesity.
• All of these risk factors, except for age and some genetic disorders, are under the direct control of the individual.

Dietary & Herbal Supplements

• FDA regulates both finished dietary supplement products and dietary ingredients under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA).
• Manufacturer and distributors are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded.