America’s Silent Epidemic: The Soaring Rise of Chronic Disease

Jeffrey H. Miller, M.D.
Jul 22
3 min read

Updated: Aug 12

When we think about major health threats, we often picture sudden illnesses like heart attacks or the flu.

But one of the biggest challenges facing American families, communities, and the healthcare system isn’t sudden at all.

It’s chronic disease, and it’s quietly impacting millions of lives every day.

A nurse looking at an older man's legs, portraying chronic disease.

How Common Is Chronic Disease?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the numbers are striking:

6 in 10 U.S. adults live with at least one chronic disease, such as diabetes, heart disease, or venous disease.
4 in 10 adults have two or more chronic conditions.

And while chronic disease used to mainly affect adults, that's not the case anymore.

A 2023 report published in JAMA Pediatrics found that 4 in 10 children in the U.S. now live with at least one chronic condition, including asthma, obesity, ADHD, or anxiety disorders.

These statistics show that chronic illness has become a national crisis affecting people of all ages.

What Is a Chronic Disease?

A chronic disease lasts a year or more, requires ongoing medical attention, or limits daily activities. Some of the most common include:

Heart disease
Stroke
Cancer
Diabetes
Chronic lung disease
Obesity
Mental health conditions
Chronic venous disease, which can cause leg swelling, pain, and skin changes, is one of the most common yet under-recognized chronic conditions. The good news is that it’s highly treatable with modern, in-office procedures.

Most chronic diseases are preventable and often linked to behaviors such as poor diet, inactivity, tobacco use, or excessive alcohol.

Why Do Chronic Diseases Matter?

The impact of chronic disease goes far beyond the doctor’s office.

Quality of life: Many people with chronic conditions live with pain, fatigue, or emotional stress every day.

Healthcare costs: Chronic diseases account for 90% of the $4.5 trillion in annual healthcare spending in the U.S.

Productivity: Chronic illness is one of the leading causes of missed work and school.

Lifespan: Many of these conditions reduce life expectancy, especially when unmanaged.

What Can We Do?

Solving this issue is multi-faceted. It involves:

Prevention: Promoting healthy habits early in life, especially for children.

Better access to care: Making sure people can afford and receive timely screenings and treatments.

Education: Helping people recognize symptoms and know when to seek care.

Supportive communities: Making healthy choices easier at home, work, and school.

Here's How Miller Vein Helps

Prevention: We volunteer to work with children to (1) help them in their current phase of life and (2) educate them concerning their health for all future phases of life.

Better access to care: We have a dedicated team of insurance and billing staff to ensure you're taken care of. And we partner with companies like CareCredit to provide access to more flexible payment options.

Education: We continuously educate on health, especially when it comes to chronic venous disease. We want to help people properly identify chronic venous disease or prevent it entirely by establishing healthy habits.

Supportive communities: We're always here for patients, both new and existing. If you have any thoughts, questions, or need some support when it comes to chronic disease, comment below. We appreciate your thoughts, and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Treatments: We offer quick, easy, in-office procedures that require no downtime. These can make all the difference in getting you happy, healthy, and back on your feet.

The Takeaway

Chronic disease is more common than ever, but it doesn’t have to define our future.

Many of these conditions, including chronic venous disease, are treatable and even preventable.

By staying informed and supporting healthier lifestyles, we can take steps toward a stronger, healthier future.

Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Chronic Diseases in America
JAMA Pediatrics (2023): Prevalence of Chronic Conditions in Children
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion: CDC Reports

Stop Letting Your Legs Hold You Back

If you have restlessness, heaviness, aching, swelling, throbbing, or itchiness in your legs—or you notice varicose veins or spider veins—it's time to see a vein specialist.

Schedule an appointment today!