Chronic
Compare chronic to acute, which means pertaining to a health-related condition, disease, state, disorder, or set of symptoms that usually begins suddenly, is sharp and/or intense, and lasts for a short period of time. Chronic comes from the Greek word "chronos" meaning "time."
Chronic has several meanings in the field of medicine:
1. Pertaining to a health-related condition, disease, state, disorder, or set of symptoms that lasts and/ or frequently reoccurs over a long period of time. The U.S. National Center for Health Statistics defines a chronic condition as one that has lasted for three months or more. In some conditions, chronic is defined as six months or longer. Chronic conditions often progress slowly and last for the remainder of a person's life. An example of a chronic condition is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is general term for diseases that are characterized by long-term or permanent narrowing of small airways (known as bronchi) connected to the lungs.
2. Someone who suffers from a disease that lasts and/ or frequently reoccurs over a long period of time.
3. Pertaining to long-term or extensive exposure to something. Examples would be chronic exposure to lead, second-hand smoke, or other environmental toxins.
4. Low intensity.
1. Pertaining to a health-related condition, disease, state, disorder, or set of symptoms that lasts and/ or frequently reoccurs over a long period of time. The U.S. National Center for Health Statistics defines a chronic condition as one that has lasted for three months or more. In some conditions, chronic is defined as six months or longer. Chronic conditions often progress slowly and last for the remainder of a person's life. An example of a chronic condition is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is general term for diseases that are characterized by long-term or permanent narrowing of small airways (known as bronchi) connected to the lungs.
2. Someone who suffers from a disease that lasts and/ or frequently reoccurs over a long period of time.
3. Pertaining to long-term or extensive exposure to something. Examples would be chronic exposure to lead, second-hand smoke, or other environmental toxins.
4. Low intensity.
MedFriendly®
"Where Medical Information is Easy to Understand"™