The term chronic comes from the Latin word chronĭcus , which has its most distant etymological antecedent in the Greek chroniká . The concept is used in different ways according to the context .
In the field of medicine , a chronic condition is one that extends over time and is habitual for the patient. These diseases usually have a slow progression.
Genetics , harmful habits and the absence of formal education are factors that can influence the acquisition and development of a chronic disease. It is important to keep in mind that, in general, chronic illnesses are incurable.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ), diabetes mellitus and heart failure are some of the most common chronic diseases. Sometimes, the risk of contracting these conditions is reduced by adopting a healthy lifestyle: avoiding smoking , for example, minimizes the chances of suffering from COPD .
Chronic pain , meanwhile, is an annoying and unpleasant sensation that is experienced for at least several weeks. It can be caused by an infection , an injury or a tumor , to name a few possibilities, although sometimes there is no obvious cause.
It is important to note that there are two kinds of pain from a clinical point of view, and the other is called acute . One of its most contrasting characteristics with the chronic one is that it does not usually last for very long periods (the latter can last several years). Acute pain is associated with a kind of "warning" or "alert" to the body about the presence of an injury, and it is common for it to fade at the same time that the body returns to good health.
The long duration of chronic pain, in addition to its magnitude and its different locations in the body, cause negative consequences that are added to the merely physical ones: social problems due to not being able to work, study or even interact normally, can be add cases of anger, depression, frustration, anxiety or low self-esteem. Sleep disorders, sudden mood changes and constant fatigue are other common complications.
Broadly speaking, the symptoms that chronic pain patients usually present are distinguished by the part of the body they affect (which can be the back or head, among others) and by the underlying causes (arthritis, cancer and damage to the joints). some nerve are three very common examples). Regarding the characteristics of the pain, according to the description that those who suffer from it make of it, we can indicate that it is a discomfort that is accompanied by stiffness, a sensation of pressure and throbbing, burning and palpitations, in addition to being a "dull" pain . », meaning that although it is not so intense, it is persistent and not exactly easy to locate.
To make a diagnosis of chronic pain, the doctor must begin by investigating the patient's health history. The latter, for its part, must offer you as detailed a description as possible, indicating the location, intensity and frequency, so that the treatment is appropriate and effective. Since the causes can be varied, certain tests are usually indicated to rule out some diseases.
Something that has been ingrained or has been going on for a long time can also be classified as chronic. A journalist, to cite one case, can mention that flooding is a chronic problem in a city. This reporter makes this statement because, for a century, the town has always flooded when it rains, a reality that is linked to the lack of infrastructure works that allow water to be channeled properly.