Today's Diseases

In this century a number of diseases have been brought under control. Smallpox, polio, tuber­culosis, and diphtheria once caused widespread death and disability. Now, thanks to vaccines, immunization programs, and other preventive measures, they are no longer significant threats. Indeed, smallpox has been completely wiped out. Not a single case of it exists anywhere in the world.

However, as one group of diseases comes under control, a new problem appears. Today, the leading causes of death in the United States are chronic diseases—diseases that last a long time and that generally worsen slowly. Heart disease and cancer, the two major killers today, are chronic diseases. These diseases are "new" in the sense that years ago many people died from other diseases before a chronic disease had time to develop. Chronic diseases also tended to go undiagnosed in the past because doctors did not have the knowledge or diagnos­tic equipment that they have today.

The medical profession continues to find ways to treat chronic diseases, but because these diseases are not caused by a single, simple in­fection, they have no single, simple cure. The best that the medical profession can do is treat them once they develop.

The chronic diseases can be prevented, how­ever. By taking certain preventive measures, individuals can greatly reduce their chances of suffering a chronic disease.