CHRONIC DISEASE IN ST LUCIA HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE ESSAY

Chronic disease is a disease of a long duration and generally slow progression (WHO, 2010). The U.S. National Center for Health Statistics states that a chronic disease is one lasting 3 months or more. These chronic diseases normally cannot be prevented by vaccines or cured by medication, nor do they just vanish. Chronic diseases are mainly caused by three major risk factors – tobacco use, poor eating habits and physical inactivity. Majority of these risk factors are themselves worsened by poor socioeconomic determinants, such as lack of education and poverty. Most often these determinants are a indication of the main forces driving social, economic and cultural transition, including globalisation, urbanisation and an aging populations.

Chronic diseases are affecting population health as the epidemiological transition progresses and are the lead cause of mortality worldwide and pose increasing problems for the burden of disease and quality of life in developed and developing countries (WHO, 2003). Non communicable diseases include a broad range of conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancers, chronic respiratory disease, mental-health problems and musculo- skeletal disorders. The first four mentioned above account for approximately 50% of mortality globally, and share behavioural risk factors, such as excess calorie consumption, diets high in saturated and transfatty acids, excessive intake of alcohol, physical inactivity, and tobacco smoking. Approximately 35 million people have died from heart disease, stroke, cancer and other chronic diseases in the year 2005. The burdens of these diseases are equally shared among men and women, and are more prevalent in people under the age 70 (WHO, 2004). 80% of chronic disease deaths occur in low and middle income countries.