Raising Awareness on Chronic Disease Day 2024

9th July 2024

Every year on July 10th, Chronic Disease Day shines a spotlight on the millions of individuals worldwide living with chronic illnesses. These persistent conditions, ranging from heart disease and diabetes to autoimmune disorders and mental health challenges, significantly impact the lives of patients and their families. This year, we come together to raise awareness, support ongoing research, and promote better health outcomes for those affected by chronic diseases. 

Understanding Chronic Diseases

Understanding Chronic Diseases

Chronic diseases, also known as noncommunicable diseases, are long-term health conditions that often progress slowly and can be managed but not cured. They are broadly defined as conditions that last a minimum of 1 year and require ongoing medical attention, or limit daily activities [1]. Chronic diseases include a wide array of illnesses such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, cancer, and mental health disorders. According to the World Health Organization, chronic diseases are the leading cause of mortality worldwide, accounting for 74% of all deaths annually [2].

The Impact on Individuals and Society

Chronic diseases not only affect the physical health of individuals but also their mental well-being, quality of life, and financial stability. Patients often require ongoing medical care, medication, and lifestyle adjustments. Additionally, the societal burden is immense, with increased healthcare costs and loss of productivity.

Advances in Chronic Disease Management

Advancements in medical research have led to improved diagnostic tools, innovative treatments, and personalized care plans. Breakthroughs in gene therapy and biologics are also offering new hope for treating previously untreatable conditions. Additionally, the expanding databases of genomic sequences available to researchers is accelerating the development of targeted therapies for chronic diseases and improving our understanding of disease mechanisms.

One notable example of technological advancements is the development and increasing accessibility of wearable health devices [3]. These allow for continuous monitoring of conditions like diabetes and heart disease, providing real-time data to patients and healthcare providers. Across NHS England we will see new exciting initiatives to tackle diabetes, with the planned 5-year roll-out of a new device developed by researchers at the University of Warwick to monitor glucose in Type 1 diabetes patients, and expansion of the Healthier You type 2 diabetes prevention program [4], [5].

Already this year we have seen many advancements through chronic disease research. For more on recent breakthroughs in cancer diagnosis and treatment, check out our previous blog.

How You Can Help

On Chronic Disease Day, everyone can contribute to raising awareness and supporting those affected. Here are a few ways you can make a difference:

• Educate Yourself and Others: Learn about different chronic diseases and share this knowledge with your community.

• Support Research: Donate to organisations dedicated to chronic disease research and patient support.

• Advocate for Better Healthcare: Join advocacy groups to push for improved healthcare policies and access to treatments.

• Offer Support: Reach out to friends, family, or colleagues living with chronic diseases and offer your support and understanding.

• Share your Story: Individuals living with chronic disease can share their stories about what and who motivates them through the “I stay strong for” social media campaign #ChronicDiseaseDay.

Spreading Awareness Together

Join us this Chronic Disease Day in spreading awareness and making a positive impact. At Alto Marketing, we are committed to supporting your science communication needs. Contact us today to discuss how we can help promote your products and services.

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References

1. CDC, ‘About Chronic Diseases’, Chronic Disease. Accessed: Jul. 08, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.cdc.gov/chronic-disease/about/index.html

2. ‘Non communicable diseases’. Accessed: Jul. 08, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/noncommunicable-diseases

3.S. Canali, V. Schiaffonati, and A. Aliverti, ‘Challenges and recommendations for wearable devices in digital health: Data quality, interoperability, health equity, fairness’, PLOS Digit. Health, vol. 1, no. 10, p. e0000104, Oct. 2022, doi: 10.1371/journal.pdig.0000104.

4. ‘Life-changing technology will be rolled out to people with type 1 diabetes’, News & Events. Accessed: Jul. 08, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/?newsItem=8a1785d78c5ec690018c81ea5c7f4c8c

5.‘NHS England » NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (NHS DPP)’. Accessed: Jul. 08, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.england.nhs.uk/diabetes/diabetes-prevention/