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Putnam: Change behaviors to avoid chronic diseases

Longview News-Journal - 5/14/2017

Do you know what a chronic disease or condition is?

According to the Centers for Disease Control, chronic diseases and conditions -such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, type 2 diabetes, obesity and arthritis - are among the most common, costly and preventable of all health problems. Here are some statistics from the organization:

As of 2012, about half of all adults - 117 million people - had one or more chronic health conditions. One of four adults had two or more chronic health conditions.

Seven of the top 10 causes of death in 2010 were chronic diseases. Two of these chronic diseases - heart disease and cancer - together accounted for nearly 48 percent of all deaths.

Obesity is a serious health concern. During 2009?2010, more than one-third of adults, or about 78 million people, were obese. Nearly one of five youths aged 2?19 years was obese.

Arthritis is the most common cause of disability. Of the 53 million adults with a doctor diagnosis of arthritis, more than 22 million say they have trouble with their usual activities because of arthritis.

Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, lower-limb amputations other than those caused by injury, and new cases of blindness among adults.

The National Institutes of Health says that these long-term diseases affect people of all ages, both rich and poor, in every ethnic group. Many chronic diseases have genetic components, which raise disease risk in certain people or populations. The environment can contribute to risk, and so can lifestyle choices, including your diet, physical activity and whether you smoke.

These diseases can cause other problems. Several years ago, my father began having problems with his eyes. A doctor in Nacogdoches diagnosed his issue stating that he had macular degeneration. There were not a lot of options for treatment at that time. The physician said it would progress, eventually causing blindness. He also had been diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes.

I was in college and learning all about the body. I began doing research because I was amazed that there was no treatment. I also started discussing this with friends in the medical field. One friend mentioned an ophthalmologist in Shreveport who was doing a trial study on a drug used to stop the progression of macular degeneration. I got on the phone trying to set up an appointment and the receptionist told me that the ophthalmologist was not taking any new patients. The friend made a phone call and they scheduled my father right away.

I drove him to his appointment and watched the doctor use a long needle to inject a drug called Avastin in his eye. It looked painful and I remember thinking how thankful I was that it was not my eye. He had to do this several times, but we are thankful because the medication stopped the progression.

Why am I sharing personal stories with all of the readers? So that you are aware of just one problem caused by chronic diseases.

The University of Texas Health Science Center recently provided a fact sheet on Gregg County. There are about 124,108 residents in this county. Of those, 36.8 percent - or 45,672 residents - have been diagnosed with diabetes. About 31.5 percent - or 39,094 residents - have been diagnosed with high blood pressure. The fact sheet states that 34.2 percent, or about 42,444 people, are obese.

The CDC also states that health risk behaviors are unhealthy behaviors you can change. Four of these health risk behaviors - lack of exercise or physical activity, poor nutrition, tobacco use and drinking too much alcohol - cause much of the illness, suffering, and early death related to chronic diseases and conditions.

What are some of the things you can do to prevent chronic disease? Stop smoking or using tobacco, get out and walk for about 30 minutes a day, eat fresh fruits and vegetables, and limit your sugar consumption. You can teach your children or grandchildren so that they can prevent this from occurring when they are older.

AgriLife Extension offers Diabetes classes, weight loss programs, worksite wellness programs and information on how to quit tobacco use.

Please don't wait until you are diagnosed. Do something now. It can be just a simple change from getting up off of the couch and walking for 30 minutes. If you, your business or organizations is interested in any information or program, please call Tami Putnam at the extension office (903) 236-8429.

- Tami Putnam is a Texas A&M AgriLife extension agent for Gregg County.

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