Chronic diseases can be disabling and reduce a person’s quality of life, especially if left undiagnosed or untreated.
Chronic diseases are generally incurable, ongoing illnesses or conditions, such as heart disease, asthma, cancer and diabetes. These diseases may be preventable and are frequently manageable through early detection, improved diet, physical activity and treatment therapy. During Oct. 17-21, Tanner Health System’s Get Healthy, Live Well is working to raise awareness about the importance of chronic disease prevention, exercise and good nutrition as part of National Health Education Week (NHEW).
“Many chronic conditions can be prevented, delayed or managed by making simple lifestyle changes,” said Jamie Brandenburg, LPN, chronic disease outreach coordinator at Get Healthy, Live Well. “This week we are asking the community to be mindful of their health and educate themselves about what they can do to lead a healthier lifestyle.”
Sponsored by the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE), NHEW is celebrated during the third full week of October. This celebration focuses national attention on a major public health issue, provides public education and improves consumer understanding of health education’s role in promoting the public’s health. NHEW is recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), chronic diseases are the leading cause of death and disability in the United States — 133 million Americans or 45 percent of the population have at least one chronic disease. In 2016, more than half of adults aged 18 years or older did not meet recommendations for aerobic exercise or physical activity. More than one-third of adolescents and 38 percent of adults said they ate fruit less than once a day, while 38 percent of adolescents and 23 percent of adults said they ate vegetables less than once a day.
Get Healthy, Live Well is educating the public about chronic disease in the hopes of reducing the cost spent on medical treatment and improving the health status of individuals and communities in west Georgia. The initiative offers several evidence-based wellness programs that teach individuals how to prevent, delay or manage their condition. These programs also include strategies to address healthy eating, physical activity and quitting tobacco.
Get Healthy, Live Well’s wellness programs include the Diabetes Prevention Program, Freshstart tobacco cessation, Kids N Fitness, Living Well With Diabetes and the Living Well Workshop. Click here to find and register for Get Healthy, Live Well’s wellness classes in Carroll, Haralson and Heard counties or call 770.214.CARE (2273). For more information about NHEW, visit https://www.sophe.org/nhew.cfm. For more information about Get Healthy, Live Well, visit www.GetHealthyLiveWell.org.