Chronic Diseases Overview
Chronic diseases are considered those that last for months or years and affect millions of Americans on a yearly basis, costing billions of dollars in health care costs as well as untold pain and suffering. Unfortunately, a large majority of chronic disease processes are preventable. Education is the key in reducing the number of individuals suffering such long-term conditions and disease processes. Preventative care and lifestyle changes may increase and enhance quality of life for many.

New Approaches to Old Problems
Today, more people from around the world are falling back on tried and true methods of medical care that take a more natural approach to understanding the causes of chronic disease as well as treatment for chronic disease that affects multiple body systems. Alternative Medicine, also known as Natural medicine, Holistic medicine and or CAM – Complimentary and Alternative Medicine are being used more widely in traditional medical practices throughout the U.S. and the world. Alternative medicine takes the approach of treating the whole body, and not merely symptoms of organic or physiologic origin.

Common Types of Alternative Medical Approaches to Illness and Disease
While the causes of chronic disease processes are still unknown in some cases, some of the most common chronic disease treatment approaches used today to address chronic diseases prevention include those that have been around thousands of years, and some modern developments.

• Acupuncture
• Naturopathic medicine
• Biofeedback Therapy
• Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
• Yoga
• Ayurvedic Medicine
• Homeopathic medicine
• Herbal Therapy

Who Benefits from Alternative Medical Practices?
Any individual suffering from a wide range of issues, from depression to constipation to chronic health disease or problems may benefit from alternative medical approaches to health. Some of the most common disease risk factors treated by alternative medicine today include:

Chronic Disease Risk Factors

• Heart Disease
  Coronary artery disease (CAD)
  Angina
  High blood pressure
  High cholesterol
• Cancer
• Strokes (often caused by)
  Atherosclerosis
  CVAs (cerebrovascular events)
  Smoking
  Diabetes
• COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
  Emphysema
  Chronic Obstructive Bronchitis
• Diabetes
• Obesity – (which contributes to)
  Diabetes
  Hypertension
  High blood pressure
  Gall bladder disease
  Heart disease

Additional illnesses that respond positively with alternative medical approaches for the best treatment for chronic diseases include:

• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Insomnia
• Stress
• Gynecological disorders
• Eating disorders
• Back pain (including lumbar and cervical Spondylosis)
• Computer Vision Syndrome
• Psoriasis
• Allergic Respiratory Diseases

Benefits of Alternative Chronic Disease Care Therapies
Individuals engaging in alternative or natural therapies do not have to deal with the unwanted side effects that are often caused by oft-prescribed conventional drugs and medications. While such drugs are often vital and important in the treatment of illnesses and disease processes, alternative chronic illness care therapies help address pain relief as well as methods to maintaining a healthy body. Used in combination with conventional medicine, alternative therapies are not meant to cure or replace current medical protocol, but to coincide with it, creating truly integrated medicine for the 21st century.

Preventing and Treating Chronic Disease
Various treatments and measures may be taken to address chronic systemic disease or chronic infection and chronic illness, conditions and are determined by age, overall health, type of disease and the status of that disease. However, individuals are encouraged to eat better, exercise more and live healthier lifestyles that encourage physical activity and healthy diets. While some chronic disease processes are genetic in nature, understanding and recognition of chronic disease processes allows individuals to seek early treatment and potential reversal of many of the damaging effects of some conditions.

How much does Care of Chronic Diseases Cost?

• Diabetes treatments cost taxpayers an average of $174 billion a year
• Costs to treat obesity has risen to over $100 billion a year
• Treatment for arthritis costs an average of $128 billion a year
• Results of smoking costs Americans roughly $193 billion every year

Costs of alternative chronic health therapies depend on what form is being utilized and where that treatment is offered. Find better ways to spend that money. Take charge of your health and learn how to eat healthy, exercise and prolong not only your life, but enhance the quality of your life.

While medical travelers may save hundreds or even thousands of dollars outside of the United States with international treatment plans for a multitude of chronic diseases, those who take preventative measures and take care of themselves will save in more ways than their pocketbook.

Where Do You Find Alternative Medicine Practitioners?
Physicians and D.O.'s (Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine) today often offer their patient’s alternative chronic illness and chronic infections medicine and treatment therapies in conjunction with current treatment plans. D.O.'s are fully trained and licensed physicians, just like M.D.'s, who may specialize in surgery, family medicine, pediatrics and so forth. However, D.O.'s treat the body unit as a whole, using what is commonly referred to as the "whole person" approach.