Causes and prevention

Chronic illnesses

 What causes chronic complaints? Is there any way of preventing them?


Chronic illnesses are very varied and can have many cases. In the vest majority of cases, however, genetic inheritance plays a major role in determining people's vulnerability. This not to say that everyone who inherits a certain gene or pattern of genes will inevitably develop a condition such as asthma or heart disease, but rather that the chances are greater than in the population as a whole. Depending on other factors, such as environment, diet and stress, such disease may or may not develop in someone who carries the genetic predisposition. Prevention generlly depends on indentify people who may be at risk, giving, preventive advice on diet, exercise and other health issues, and providing monitoring to pick up any problems befor they have a chance to become serious.

Posted in: Chronic illnesses, diet and stress, heart disease