Did You Know Most Chronic Diseases Can Be Prevented?

The Abbott Edge newsletter has the latest on life-changing health technology and innovations, and tips for living a full life. In this month’s edition, we sort through the buzz around chronic diseases and explore how they can be prevented.

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LET’S DIVE IN

Life gets busy. Habits don’t stick. And information overload is real, leaving you guessing about what's right for you and your family when it comes to health. Add in concerns about chronic diseases, such as heart disease, hypertension and diabetes, to the mix and, suddenly, managing your health feels like a lot. 

But finding clarity in those decisions and staying healthy is possible — and so is preventing chronic diseases. 

For one, healthy habits can make a big difference in how you feel every day and on your long-term health. They can be as basic as exercising more, eating right, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol, managing stress and getting quality sleep. 

Beyond building healthy habits, there are even more measures we can take to prevent chronic diseases (which are also called noncommunicable diseases, or NCDs) from bringing down someone’s quality of life. It might be in the form of a diagnostic test or a life-changing medical device. These are tools that Abbott brings to the fight to stay healthy.  

We’re also building communities of support to help even more people on their health journeys. Take Abbott HeartMates as an example. This program connects people living with heart conditions in one support network where they can build each other up. And that’s just one of many communities. 

Whether it’s through prevention, diagnoses or solutions, we’re here to help you find clarity in the chaos — and not let a chronic disease get in your way. 

HEALTH TECH PULSE 

Numbers and data to know in the world of Abbott and health tech. 

• In the U.S. alone, six out of 10 people are living with at least one chronic disease and four out of 10 people have two or more chronic diseases (CDC). The most common forms of NCDs include heart disease, diabetes and hypertension. 

• Taken together, NCDs like heart disease and diabetes account for many of the leading causes of premature death worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 75 percent of global deaths were due to NCDs. 

• Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death in the U.S., claiming nearly 1 million U.S. lives annually. 

• Diabetes is a chronic disease affecting some 830 million people around the world (WHO). 

• An estimated 80 percent of premature heart disease and strokes are preventable (CDC).

HACK YOUR HEALTH 

Tips to help you live your life fully. 

The numbers can be scary. But let’s focus on what you can do to prevent chronic diseases.

“It’s really about taking an active role in your health,” says John Stutts, Medical Director in Pediatric Nutrition at Abbott. 

1. Move daily. 

Regular physical activity provides significant physical and mental health benefits, including the prevention and management of NCDs. 

The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. If you struggle finding time, it can be as easy as walking more. Here are ideas to add more steps throughout your day. 

2. Eat a balanced, nutritious diet. 

Your metabolic health powers everything your body does, from circulating blood to digesting food. Here are ways to improve it. Tracking your glucose levels can help, too. 

3. Get quality sleep. 

The power of sleep shouldn’t be undermined. “Sleep is really critical for all of us to restore our energy and to help prevent us from getting sick,” Stutts says. 

4. Manage your stress. 

This includes finding a healthy work-life balance. Adopting healthy habits can help you find time to prioritize your health throughout your day. When you don’t, stress can really impact your immune system and inflammation in your body, often leading to chronic diseases like heart disease. 

While these four bullet points don’t guarantee you anything — certainly not freedom from serious illness for life — you can think of them as building blocks for your health that you can stack up over time. And if you need help adopting those healthy habits, there are science-backed ways to do that too. 

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