Chronic Diseases

Higher emergency admissions for depressed older men

(Medical Xpress)—Depressed older men are twice as likely as those not suffering depression to be admitted to hospital, according to a study published today in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Psychology & Psychiatry created Dec 10, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Feeling unwell? Your mobile could be your best defence against infection

Reporting disease using mobiles and online systems is the next weapon against emerging infectious diseases, a new study suggests.

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Dec 07, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Paradox of aging: The older we get, the better we feel?

Presently, there are about 40 million Americans over the age of 65, with the fastest-growing segment of the population over 80 years old. Traditionally, aging has been viewed as a period of progressive decline in physical, ...

Health created Dec 07, 2012 | popularity 3.5 / 5 (2) | comments 2 | with audio podcast

Adult antiviral drug effective in suppressing hepatitis B in teens

A recent clinical trial found that the adult antiviral drug, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (tenofovir DF), is safe and effective in treating adolescents with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Trial results published in the December ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Dec 05, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Bye bye Mediterranean diet, the poorest can't afford it anymore

Recently the Mediterranean diet has achieved lots of distinctions, from the inclusion by the UNESCO in the Olympus of the World heritage list to a long series of dedicated congresses and meetings held everywhere in the globe ...

Health created Dec 05, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Use of clinical decision-support system can improve HIV care

(HealthDay)—Use of a clinical decision-support system (CDSS) appears to be beneficial in HIV care, with improvements noted in CD4 cell counts and clinic follow-up, according to a study published in the ...

HIV & AIDS created Dec 04, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Low percentage of medical residents plan to practice general internal medicine

Colin P. West, M.D., Ph.D., and Denise M. Dupras, M.D., Ph.D., of Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., conducted a study to evaluate career plans of internal medicine residents.

Other created Dec 04, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Phone calls to help adults delay the onset of diabetes

(Medical Xpress)—A pilot medical program at Virginia Tech will use an automated calling system as part of larger program to help adults who are at risk for developing diabetes. The calls will be designed to encourage patients ...

Health created Dec 04, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Sneak peek at early course of bladder infection caused by widespread, understudied parasite

Using standard tools of the molecular-biology trade and a new, much-improved animal model of a prevalent but poorly understood tropical parasitic disease called urogenital schistosomiasis, Stanford University School of Medicine ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Nov 29, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Depression a key factor in health of Parkinson's patients: study

(HealthDay)—Depression is the most important determinant of the health status of people with Parkinson's disease, according to early findings from a large study of Parkinson's patients.

Parkinson's & Movement disorders created Nov 28, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Child maltreatment linked to mental and physical health disorders in later life

(Medical Xpress)—Child physical abuse, emotional abuse and neglect is linked to mental health disorders, drug use, suicide attempts, sexually transmitted infections and risky sexual behaviour in adulthood, according to ...

Health created Nov 28, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 17 | with audio podcast

Study finds high fructose corn syrup-global prevalence of diabetes link

A new study by University of Southern California (USC) and University of Oxford researchers indicates that large amounts of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) found in national food supplies across the world may be one explanation ...

Diabetes created Nov 27, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

New behavioral strategies may help patients learn to better control chronic diseases

One of the most important health problems in the United States is the failure of patients with chronic diseases to take their medications and do all that is necessary to control their illnesses.

Health created Nov 27, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Are you ready for flu season?

Each year the flu puts more than 200,000 Americans in the hospital and causes anywhere from 3,000 to 49,000 deaths. With the exception of the H1N1 flu (also called swine flu) in 2009, most of these deaths ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Nov 27, 2012 | popularity 1 / 5 (1) | comments 1

Findings on overeating may aid in the fight against obesity when metabolic and psychological treatments fail

(Medical Xpress)—A similar, insidious craving plagues all addicts, no matter the substance of choice. A new study published in NeuroImage from Center for BrainHealth scientists Dr. Francesca Filbey, assist ...

Neuroscience created Nov 26, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast


A chronic disease is a disease or other human health condition that is persistent or long-lasting in nature. The term chronic is usually applied when the course of the disease lasts for more than three months. Common chronic diseases include asthma, cancer, diabetes and HIV/AIDS.

In medicine, the opposite of chronic is acute. A chronic course is further distinguished from a recurrent course; recurrent diseases relapse repeatedly, with periods of remission in between.

While often referred to as "non-communicable diseases", also usually lasting medical conditions, the latter are distinguished by their non-infectious cause. In contrast, some chronic diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, are caused by transmissible infections.

This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.

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Ketamine shows significant therapeutic benefit in people with treatment-resistant depression

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Vicious cycle: Obesity sustained by changes in brain biochemistry

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White matter imaging provides insight into human and chimpanzee aging

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