Skip to main content
  • Chronic diseases are illnesses that are not contagious and that develop slowly. They can limit your daily activities over the long-term. Often, they can’t be cured.  However, most chronic illnesses can be avoided. They generally occur from a group of causes that affect people throughout their lives.

    Chronic diseases include cardiovascular disease; diabetes; hypertension; diseases of the musculoskeletal system (which lets the body move); neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis; mental health problems; and cancer.