Type 2 Diabetes, Hypertension, Cardiovascular Disease, COPD, Obesity... These are not infectious diseases, they are lifestyle diseases.  In many cases, diseases of choice. Have you ever thought of Chronic Disease as a choice?

We are making poor health decisions. These generally come with consequences and tend to have a cascading effect. One disease can lead to a deterioration of health, which sets off a cascade of co-morbities.

Let us consider health behaviours: not smoking, maintaining a healthy body weight, abstaining from excess alcohol consumption, and getting the standard eight hours of sleep along with some regular exercise. How many of us make the conscious choice to reach several of these goals simultaneously?

In Canada we spend approximately $80 billion annually on Chronic Disease. Our healthcare system was set up to manage disease acutely, with the onus placed mainly on the shoulders of Physicians to carry us through.

Now―amidst a burden of chronic disease, overwhelming health care costs and an aging population―we turn to chronic disease management and a systems approach at the primary care level. Health care teams that include Patient, Physician, RN, Dietitian, Pharmacist, Counsellor and LPN, review, assess and educate people on and how to best manage their chronic disease through client centred care, supporting self-management and facilitating care across the continuum.
 
The management of Chronic Disease is also a choice, but one we must advocate in order to reduce overall demand and costs to the health care system. This, in turn, will lead to improved access and a more sustainable health care system.