Once upon a time, people popped to the doctor when they sliced off a finger or suddenly contracted an infectious disease. Suddenly beset by misfortune, a person could count on the good doctor stitching the loose finger back on or giving them a course of antibiotics to tackle that alarming fever. But modern times, and modern health is more complicated than that.
Chronic disease in 2019
The health system that was set up all those decades ago to support sudden and treatable illnesses has not kept pace with our changing health. Now, in 2019, almost 50% of Australians are coping with a chronic disease. Preventable illnesses like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease are now affecting 11.4 million of us and the health system is not keeping pace. Chronic disease, as a result of lifestyle factors, needs intervention early and complex care as it progresses, and that’s where people are falling through the cracks.
Care for today and cure tomorrow's illnesses
And while none of that sounds like good news, there is a way you can protect your own health and avoid chronic disease - and you can start doing it now.
Tick these items off your list and tackle those habits that may predispose you to chronic illness for a healthy future you will enjoy to the full.
- Avoid smoking
- Manage your weight
- Maintain daily physical activity and reduce television watching
- Improve your diet and increase your intake of healthy fats and oils, essential minerals and vitamins
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