ASPECTS

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that a majority of Americans have endemic health problems. 51.8% (129 million) of us have been diagnosed with at least 1 of 10 chronic conditions, 24.6% (61 million) of adults have a chronic condition and 27.2% (68 million) have two or more chronic conditions.

Top 10 chronic health conditions
1. hypertension
2. coronary heart disease 
3. stroke 
4. diabetes 
5. cancer 
6. arthritis 
7. hepatitis 
8. weak or failing kidneys 
9.  asthma
10. COPD (emphysema and/ or chronic bronchitis)
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Chronic diseases and conditions will continue to burden the U.S. health care system unless more dramatic, proactive measures are taken. To further complicate matters, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused medical hesitancy among some of those affected by chronic illness when urgency is the better response.

Within this issue of Aspects, we explore some of these ongoing chronic health care hurdles. We also profile hypertension expert John Flack, MD, chair of the Department of Internal Medicine. Dr. Flack and his colleagues have been hard at work trying to slow these trends for decades. 

With each medical advance against a chronic illness, the prospect of a better life gleams on the horizon. Steering the