What is a chronic disease?

Chronic diseases, fully termed chronic non-communicable diseases, refer to a group of diseases characterized by insidious onset, long duration, and persistent or recurring clinical manifestations. These diseases usually lack clear evidence of infectious biological causes; their etiology is complex, and in some cases not yet fully identified. Common chronic diseases include cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, etc.), diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Chronic diseases have high prevalence, disability, and mortality rates among populations, posing serious threats to human health and imposing a significant burden on social resources. As most chronic diseases are preventable and controllable, actively improving lifestyle habits and enhancing health management are of great importance for their prevention and control.