Chronic Disease Day July 10th
By: Kaylee Powell
Every July 10th the Good Days organization comes together to recognize Chronic Disease Day, a day focused on bringing awareness to the rising deaths caused by chronic diseases and how this can be lowered. The CDC states that “Chronic diseases are defined broadly as conditions that last 1 year or more and require ongoing medical attention or limit activities of daily living or both.” Chronic Diseases are known to be detrimental to a person’s everyday life and can change how they interact with the world.
According to Clorinda Walley, the current president of Good Days, “Life expectancy in America has begun to drop behind peer nations because of a surge in preventable chronic illness,” said Clorinda Walley, president of Good Days. “At the same time, many individuals with unpreventable conditions lack access to life-saving medication and treatments.” Her goal is to partner with many different organizations to create a healthier nation that prevents the need for medical care in the first place but also provides for scenarios where it is unavoidable.
The Impact of Chronic Diseases
Being diagnosed with a chronic illness can be life-changing for an individual and their families. A diagnosis like this can lead to significant disabilities, reduced quality of life, and limit a person's everyday activity, leading to mental health crises. It can also lead to rising medical bills as a person with a chronic disease may need to see a doctor more often. Earlier prevention can help reduce chronic diseases by creating changes to everyday life such as exercise, diet, and managing stress. Additionally, regular checkups and screenings can help detect chronic illnesses before it’s too late.
How You Can Get Involved
● Educate Yourself and Others: Learning about the different types of chronic diseases, their risk factors, and prevention strategies enables you to share this information with your community and possibly help someone suffering from a chronic disease.
● Advocate for Change: By supporting policies and initiatives that promote healthier lifestyles you can help spread the word to raise funds for chronic disease research. You can also attend events about raising awareness and contact local representatives to advocate for changes.
● Participate in Events: Participate in local or virtual events organized for Chronic Disease Day. There are many events leading up to Chronic Disease Day such as health fairs, seminars, walks, or fundraisers that all raise awareness and support those living with chronic diseases.
● Donate to Organizations: If you have the ability to, many organizations will love to take donations that will go directly into prevention, management, and research. A small contribution can go such a long way for those organizations.
Chronic Disease Day serves as a reminder of how detrimental it can be to live with a chronic illness and serves as a day to cause a big impact. This day focuses on advocacy, awareness, prevention, and getting involved. By bringing awareness to chronic diseases and teaching the public, there is a chance to reduce diagnoses before they become life-changing. Taking action today can build a healthier tomorrow.
Source:
Chronic Disease Day | July 10 - National Day Calendar, www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/chronic-disease-day-july-10. Accessed 19 June 2024.
“About Chronic Diseases.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/chronic-disease/about/. Accessed 19 June 2024.
“Announcing the 2024 Chronic Disease Day Campaign: A National Movement for a Healthier Future.” Healthcare Dive, 16 Apr. 2024, www.healthcaredive.com/press-release/20240416-announcing-the-2024-chronic-disease-day-campaign-a-national-movement-for-a/#:~:text=Chronic%20Disease%20Day%20is%20observed,U.S.%20stem%20from%20chronic%20illnesses.